It’s not a spa, and not quite a water park either.Within an hour of arriving at Therme Bucharest in Romania, I had floated beneath palm trees, raced down waterslides and watched a documentary in a sauna room. This clearly wasn't going to be a typical day at a wellness spot.But it did give me a glimpse of what we might expect when Singapore gets its own version in 2030.
Last year, global wellness operator Therme Group had announced its plans to build a S$1 billion wellness destination at Marina South Coastal, next to Marina Barrage and Gardens by the Bay. The official groundbreaking was held on Friday (Jun 19).On paper, it’s unlike anything Singapore has had: Therme Singapore will span more than 720,000 sq ft, which is equivalent to approximately nine football fields.The seven-storey main building will house 20 indoor and outdoor water bodies, more than 200,000 plants, 18 waterslides, over 70 treatment, sauna and wellness rooms, multiple F&B offerings and social spaces. Outside, a coastal park spanning approximately 4ha will connect Marina Barrage to the development.
It’s definitely not Sembawang Hot Spring Park. But wellness places that have evolved beyond traditional spas have already been popping up in recent years. Some now offer enough activities for visitors to spend an entire day there.So aside from being really huge, how different can it be?To find out, I headed to Romania upon the invitation of Therme Group to check out their flagship facility up close.
