Last weekend, the new FORTYSEVEN wellness spa in Baden offered the first glimpse of the completed work of star architect Mario Botta. Where the Romans bathed 2,000 years ago, the Wellness Therme was ceremoniously handed over to the operator ThermalBaden AG by the client Stiftung Gesundheitsförderung Bad Zurzach + Baden and officially inaugurated with an open day.
Outstanding architecture by Mario Botta
Mario Botta’s new thermal baths as seen from the Limmat. Media photo Fortyseven, © Gianni Baumann
The new baths in Baden are located in the important historic district in the immediate vicinity of the banks of the Limmat River. The 47° C spring water for the thermal baths is collected here. The history, the extraordinary location and the strong presence of the river characterise the complex. The architect of the building, Mario Botta, pointed out that he had deliberately not only created a thermal bath with the construction, but a thermal landscape as a connection between bath, city, park and river, which stretch out towards the sky like an open hand with fingers. The Limmat is omnipresent here thanks to the open fronts. Nature is also found in the interior materials: floors and walls in terracotta colours and ceilings furnished with maple wood contribute to a warm atmosphere.
Clad entirely in Veronese natural stone, the different building volumes react to their respective surroundings: a narrow, two-storey timber-framed building stretches along Parkstrasse, a lower volume flanks the historic Verena courtyard, and four trapezoidal volumes of different sizes, which form the fingers of the hand and carry the thermal pools, rise almost above the river space with their light roofs.
The outdoor thermal pool of the Fortyseven – one of architect Mario Botta’s favourite places. Media photo Fortyseven, © Gianni Baumann
The interior also delivers what the exterior promises: from a light-flooded thermal landscape to saunas with a direct view of the Limmat and elegant relaxation rooms to the unique audiovisual experience world Kosmos.
Lots of light inside and a view of the Limmat River
FORTYSEVEN writes about the new wellness landscape: “The new bathing culture in Baden can be experienced most impressively in the thermal water, which bubbles out of the ground as the thermal water richest in minerals in Switzerland and can be enjoyed in different warmth in the 8 indoor and outdoor pools. The very spacious sauna area (11 sauna rooms including steam baths) and the elegant relaxation rooms are the ideal complement to the relaxing bath. In addition to a textile and a nude sauna, the FORTYSEVEN also offers an explicit ladies’ sauna with corresponding rooms.
The futuristic reclining shell in the so-called Mesocosm. Media photo Fortyseven, © Gianni Baumann
A very special area developed especially for FORTYSEVEN, the so-called “KOSMOS”, also offers a completely new visitor experience that cannot be found elsewhere. In the SPA area with its 11 rooms – including 2 couples’ cabins – you can pamper yourself with a treatment and let your soul dangle. The in-house restaurant offers balanced and delicious alternatives to everyday meals and rounds off the unique experience at FORTYSEVEN. All in all, guests will find time to unwind from everyday life for a few hours or treat themselves to a relaxing spa day in our over 4400 m² of space.”
You can find out more about the newly opened FORTYSEVEN thermal spa – whose name, by the way, stands for the 47-degree hot thermal water – in the magazine published for the opening, the editorial content of which you can download here as a PDF. There you will also find details on opening hours, admission prices and how to get there.
