Alba Thermal Springs & Spa
For Alba Thermal Springs Pty Ltd, Mornington Peninsula
About This Project
Alba Thermal Springs & Spa establishes a new paradigm for wellness destinations on the Mornington Peninsula. Featuring 32 geothermal pools and 21 exclusive treatment rooms, brutalist architecture meets naturalistic landscape in this $90 million sanctuary. This world-class facility demanded wayfinding that would honour both its architectural ambition and commitment to tranquil guest experience.
Working with Alba, Hayball and MALA, we developed a ‘light touch’ signage system that operates through strategic restraint rather than proliferation. Our approach prioritised progressive disclosure — revealing destinations only as needed to maintain the sense of discovery essential to the wellness journey. This philosophical stance shaped every decision, from minimal sign placement to reductive material expression.
- MASS Team: Andrew Ireland, Dean Jacobson
- Strategic Advisory: Tim Rob Don Dow
- Architecture + Interiors: Hayball
- Landscape Architecture: MALA
- Photography: Albert Comper, Andrew Kuypers
What We Did
- Visitor Experience
- Wayfinding Strategy
- Wayfinding Signage
- Building Signage
- Operational Signage
- Statutory Signage
- Braille Tactile Signage
The signage system demonstrates sophisticated adaptability across varied contexts. Externally, ‘Procyon’ black panels with engraved content filled in matt white paint harmonise with MALA’s design approach. Inside, additional ‘Macchiato’ bronze colour use reflects the warming interior palette. Against corrugated concrete, content engraves into clear acrylic with subtle trim detailing; on French wash walls, typography applies directly to surfaces. This material intelligence — responding to substrate while maintaining visual coherence — ensures signage feels integral to the architectural approach, rather than applied to it.
Our wayfinding strategy optimised for exploration rather than efficiency — a crucial distinction for wellness environments. Through progressive disclosure, we balanced guest comfort with sensory experience, providing just enough information at decision points without over-signing destinations. This approach was especially critical in the outdoor springs, where discreet pool identification and gentle directional cues preserved MALA’s carefully curated landscape experience. By treating Alba as a sanctuary of discovery rather than a destination to navigate, we ensured wayfinding enhanced rather than interrupted the journey.
