Therme ARC
Connected Green Architecture for the Cities of Tomorrow
Therme Arc is Therme Group’s in-house architectural practice. The leading architects at Therme Arc develop spectacular and environmentally friendly architectural concepts, that ensure an optimised environment of wellbeing in all Therme Group resorts.
Therme Group facilities are world-renowned for their ambitious and complex structures. Through state-of-the-art technology, Therme Arc designs some of the most sustainable buildings in the world. Therme Bucharest, for example, is accredited with LEED platinum in sustainability, equivalent to BREEAM Outstanding in the UK.
Therme Group facilities’ architectural design is central to creating their unique wellbeing ecosystems.
Designing Wellbeing for all
Therme Arc creates environments that foster wellbeing, where guests can connect both with nature and each other. In line with Therme Group’s overarching mission of ‘wellbeing for all’, each resort is designed to encourage social interaction and ensure equality of access to space and facilities – a healthy, inclusive environment to spend free time in the city. Furthermore, navigation throughout the space is designed to be intuitive, generating a sense of openness for guests.
Patricia Popescu, Head of Architecture explains the Therme Arc process further:
“I believe that the function of architecture is to design spaces that generate wellbeing. Therefore, we focus our work on our guests, analysing every area, every angle from their perspective. The act of creation means, for us, proving the complex context that increases the general state of the individual, intellectually, morally, socially, emotionally, and physically. We are complex systems: we function well when all our systems function well. We forget ourselves in this process, so our facilities are never an expression of the architect as the artist but rather of the architect as the enabler of wellbeing.
We believe that architecture should be in harmony with humans and their surroundings, that nature is key to our health and should be easily accessed by everyone, that social interaction is central to wellbeing and that technology will make everything possible.”
The biophillic architecture of Therme facilities bring humans and nature together in harmony.
The combination of state-of-the-art technology and design methods with natural elements ensures Therme Group resorts are truly unique.
An Interdisciplinary Approach inspired by Nature
Inspired by nature and bringing together specialists from botany, material science, philosophy and psychology, Therme Arc ensures that each new Therme Group building is a perfect ecosystem, catering to both human and environmental need.
Using Therme Group’s propriety BioTrue™ system of development – a system founded in material and structural biomimicry – Therme Arc replicates highly sophisticated natural processes to develop structures that are sustainable, technologically advanced and in harmony with the natural world. These concepts of biophilic design also help to support visitor’s wellbeing.
Therme Arc’s BioTrueTM designs takes inspiration from nature, using biomimicry to create environments optimised for human wellbeing. The shape of Therme Manchester is inspired by the delicate folds of a rose.
BioTrueTM Architecture
Therme Arc understands that nature holds the answers to many design challenges. BioTrueTM architecture is Therme group’s interdisciplinary design system that, through technology, applies mechanisms from the natural world to inform visionary design concepts.
The BioTrue system replicates with mathematical precision natural shapes, structures and functionality, resulting in ‘living structures’ that endure over time and are self-sustaining. Using this system, Therme Arc’s architects have found that nature can offer integrated solutions to a range of design elements including stability, wind dynamic responses, hydraulics and light and ventilation.
By embracing nature as the original architect, Therme Arc applies natural design solutions that are high performing, visually appealing and energy efficient.
Therme Arc’s interdisciplinary approach allows it to deliver iconic projects across the world.
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Patricia Popescu
Head of Architecture -
Patricia Popescu
Head of ArchitecturePatricia is the Head of Architecture at Therme ARC where her competence in architecture, design, and strategic planning has enabled her to expand and refine Therme Group’s practical expertise in how it builds its facilities.
The vision she pursues in designing Therme Group’s resorts is (re)creating a natural flow between different sensorial spaces. Together, these spaces shape the perfect oasis where one can escape and rediscover a deep state of wellbeing. Biodiverse gardens, thermal water pools, dining and relaxation areas are designed in perfect harmony. Visitors feel free, protected and encouraged to rediscover nature and enjoy being part of a larger community.
Prior to joining Therme Group, Patricia ran a private architecture practice, where she gained experience across diverse areas including interior design, commercial architecture, and urban planning which she now successfully mixes into creating perfectly balanced wellbeing environments.
Patricia is a graduate of the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urban Planning in Bucharest, holding an MArch. She is also a member of the Romanian Order of Architects, ARB and RIBA.
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Johannes Flügel
Head of Architecture, Therme ARC DE -
Johannes Flügel
Head of Architecture, Therme ARC DEJohannes Flügel is the Head of the Architecture Department at Therme ARC, where he is in charge of the design and execution planning of thermal spa facilities all over the world. This includes leading the team of the architects of Therme ARC GmbH in Markdorf.
Prior to joining Therme ARC, Johannes worked at the Architekturbüro WUND, Friedrichshafen, where he was engaged among other projects in the design and realization of several large spas in Germany.
Johannes holds a diploma in architecture from the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany, and is a member of the German Chamber of Architects.
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Peter Häusler
Architect and Engineer -
Peter Häusler
Architect and EngineerPeter Häusler has dedicated almost his entire professional life to building and sustaining the WUND Group of Companies, i.e. the Wund Therme Group. He is now in the project development of THERME facilities.
His extensive background includes studies of Architecture in Germany and California, USA, senior management positions in various companies of the Wund group, the project development of the Thermal Spa Munich-Erding and several years as general manager of the operating company for the initial four years.
Parallel to full-time work, he received his MBA in International Real Estate Management in 2011.
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Walter Klas
Head of Interior Design -
Walter Klas
Head of Interior DesignWalter Klas is a master craftsman with a diploma in interior design. After several years as managing director and project manager in a large carpentry company he entered advanced training in interior design at the State Centre of Distance Studies in Darmstadt, Germany and graduated with a diploma. In 2012 he joined the Wund Group as Director of Interior Design.
In this function he was responsible for the interior design of the new large thermal spa projects and hotels in the Black Forest Titisee Neustadt, in Bad Wörishofen and Sinsheim, in Erding near Munich and Euskirchen near Cologne. He joined Therme ARC in 2018 in the function “Head of Interior Design”.
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Zoia Bafani
Head of Planning Division -
Zoia Bafani
Head of Planning DivisionIn her function as Head of Planning, Zoia is responsible for identifying trends and drivers that influence and affect the business strategy, creating graphic and narrative reports of the projects, analyzing the impacts of our buildings on both the urban and natural environments and sets them in the particular context of the region.
Her engagement with Therme Group extends from BIM implementation to concept and design through space planning, scheduling, budget planning for various projects. She is involved in coordination of projects with third parties in the development of preliminary and final design.
Her previous experience includes such projects as office buildings – IBM Romania, BCR ERSTE Bank, Mercedes offices, Timpuri Noi Offices, retail and residential buildings and restoration projects in Bucharest, where she participated in concept design, permit process, and coordinating and supervising contractors on site.
Zoia holds a Master of Architecture degree from the Faculty of Architecture, Spiru Haret University, in Bucharest Romania. She is also a member of the Romanian Order of Architects.
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Alexandru Popescu
Senior Architect -
Alexandru Popescu
Senior ArchitectAlex joined Therme ARC in 2020, as a senior member of the Architecture team. Whilst he has worked across many sectors, for the last 20 years he has specialised in masterplan design, large scale retail, residential, office, sports and leisure architecture. His previous role was Associate Director in an Italian design firm.
Alex is responsible for managing project teams in dealing with all aspects of design stages: planning, procurement packages, coordinating construction phases and implementation on site. However, his role is predominantly focussed on the coordination and implementation of projects during the detailed design phases.
At Therme ARC he is particularly committed to delivering green focused and contemporary architectural designs in order to create spaces dedicated to their occupants and orientated around wellbeing.
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Ana Ivan
Architect -
Ana Ivan
ArchitectAna Ivan works as an architect at Therme Arc, where she uses her extensive experience in architectural practice, as well as interior, stage and product design to further develop and expand Therme Group’s expertise in building new facilities. She is skilled in applying creativity to finding solutions for appealing, yet functional project developments.
Ana is a graduate of the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urban Planning in Bucharest, holding an M.Arch.