The Architecture for Wellbeing: How Space Shapes Recovery, Rhythm & Ritual
An Interview with Maddalena Gioseffi of NOA By Ollimono Magazine | 30th May 2025
In high-performance living, we tend to glorify movement. Work harder, train longer, stay switched on. But what if the missing half of performance isn’t more motion — it’s intentional stillness? What is the architecture for wellbeing?
This is exactly the question NOA (Network of Architecture) seems to answer every time they design. Known for their transformative hospitality spaces across the Alps and beyond, NOA is the kind of studio that doesn’t just chase aesthetics. They choreograph experience.
With their new wellness extension at Apfelhotel Torgglerhof, NOA has built more than a spa. They’ve designed a sensory sequence for slowing down. We spoke with lead interior designer Maddalena Gioseffi to understand how space can support recovery in the deepest sense.
“Rest is more about mental relaxation than physical repose.”
“In today’s context, I believe that the concept of ‘rest’ is more about mental relaxation than physical repose,” Maddalena tells us. “Therefore, I consider it essential to design spaces that provide a sense of support, where the user feels relieved from the burden of decision-making.”
At Apfelhotel, every detail is intentional. Nothing screams for your attention. Instead, the architecture seems to whisper. The sauna isn’t tucked away, but revealed through a glass door that opens directly onto a terrace. The gym is grounded into the earth, yet opens into apple orchards. Stillness isn’t a mood here, it’s a material.
“We also understand the rituals of the wellness world.”
We often think of rituals as spiritual or cultural. NOA thinks of them as architectural.
“We do not design solely from an architectural perspective,” says Maddalena. “We also understand the rituals of the wellness world.”
That understanding shows up in the flow of the spaces — niches instead of open halls, spaces that guide the body into pause. Whether it’s a resting nook for a book, or a mirror that pulls nature into your line of sight, the architecture for wellbeing is built to gently suggest what you should do next: slow down.
“Comfort plays a key role in relaxation.”
Let’s talk tactility.
NOA’s choice of materials isn’t just beautiful; it’s grounding. Wallpaper made from real leaves. Black steel aged to look like it’s weathered decades. Skylights that double as indoor planters. Stone referencing the mountains. Doors made from reclaimed wood.
This is how place becomes presence.
“Comfort plays a key role in relaxation,” Maddalena adds. “A niche for resting a book, hooks for hanging robes, or individually controlled reading lights contribute to a seamless and restorative experience.”
“A sheltered and tranquil zone.”
The yoga and gym space is one of the most poetic parts of the project. It’s both open and enclosed, present and peaceful. Glass walls fold away to let movement extend into the landscape. Mirrors bounce light and green back inside. The terrain does half the architectural work.
“It was essential for us to create a sheltered and tranquil zone, separate yet seamlessly connected to the wellness area above,” Maddalena explains.
It works. You feel it in your bones.
“A space filled with noise can be unsettling.”
What if a building could downregulate your stress response?
That’s the subtle genius of NOA. Sound isn’t an afterthought. Lighting is dim, but intentional. Privacy is built in. And perhaps most importantly, the space doesn’t just look calm. It feels calm.
“Acoustics are essential,” Maddalena says. “A space filled with noise and distractions can be unsettling.”
The quieter the space, the louder your body speaks.
“Architecture of wellbeing should permeate all types of spaces.”
We often think of wellness as a luxury. NOA argues it should be an architectural default.
“We believe architecture for wellbeing should extend beyond dedicated wellness areas and permeate all types of spaces we design, including offices and private residences,” says Maddalena.
The next wave of wellness design, she says, is about holistic, movement-integrated, nature-connected environments. It’s not a gym next to a sauna. It’s a lifestyle designed for longevity.
And that’s why NOA is so OLLIMONO.
In a world that equates success with speed, NOA is designing for the pause. For the inhale. For the kind of rest that doesn’t slow you down, it makes you last longer.