Located in the heart of Melbourne’s Southbank, Sento, designed by architecture firm FK, blends Japanese-inspired wellness rituals with minimalist, luxurious design.

Melbourne-based developer Holder East has secured more than $80 million in presales for its latest project, Sento – meaning ‘bathhouse’ in Japanese.

The design for the 48-storey residential and hotel tower at 56 Clarendon Street was unveiled at a launch event in July and will break ground in February 2026.

Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the residential spaces with natural light

Sento will feature 140 apartments, ranging from one, two and three bedrooms, as well as penthouses not yet launched to market. Inspired by traditional Japanese bathing culture, the first nine levels of the project will also feature a luxury onsen hotel, housing 126 rooms and wellness amenities.

“From the private teahouse to the secluded onsen garden, every detail reflects the city-zen spirit, one that prioritises rest, ritual and architectural calm,” Holder East’s chief operations officer CJ Wu says.

Gold design accents mark a striking architectural presence in the Melbourne skyline

Design rooted in a commemoration of history

With its roots dating back to the 6^th-century practices of Buddhist monks using Japan’s naturally occurring geothermal hot springs as a means of purification and cleansing of the body and soul, the history of the Japanese onsen is steeped in respect for the sacred and the importance of respite.

Extending upon this meaningful practice, Sento takes intentional steps to balance the hustle and bustle of residents’ everyday lives with an opportunity to reflect and reconnect with themselves.

Open-plan bathing areas generate a deep sense of calm and ease

The site’s centrality to Melbourne’s prominent cultural and dining precincts required consideration in bridging the intense activity of its urban context with a sense of calm and contemplation.

When designing the concept for the project, FK partner and lead designer James Pearce says a key consideration involved the notion that home is a place to find personal sanctuary from the activities of the everyday world.

Pearce says balancing the urban environment with a sense of calm and sanctuary in the home gives people the “best of both worlds, the ability to easily connect if they want, and to retreat”. 

Warm lighting elements infuse the interior spaces with a cool, welcoming atmosphere

Passage through space encourages quiet immersion

Upon entering the lobby, residents and guests will journey through an unfolding sequence of spaces that inspire moments of reflection and reprieve.

FK associate and lead designer Sarah Kirby says drawing upon the sacred principles of the onsen infused the interior spaces with a sense of meditation on both physical and mental well-being.

“The design really honours stillness, a sensory experience and the natural world. From the minute we enter the building, there’s this beautiful atmosphere that invites you to pause, to let go and enter an environment where care and intention have shaped every single detail,” Kirby says. “It feels really considered. And we’ve continued that philosophy throughout all the spaces.”

Sand and beech hues calmly reflect the ample natural light within each interior

Honest, durable materials

Celebrating key Wabi Sabi principles like finding value in imperfection, impermanence and simplicity, Sento will feature tactile, natural finishes that have a handcrafted or natural quality that can patina over time.

Coupled with natural timbers, stone, textured wall finishes and soft lighting, Sento’s use of materials and fixtures seeks to encapsulate a timeless materiality that encourages mental clarity and introspection.

“We wanted to calm all the senses,” Kirby says. “We feel that pairing back the amount of materials and the types of materials helps you do that, but then to get the right balance, it’s about having the warmth and the right tactile qualities, so that the space doesn’t become bland and plain.

“Everything has a place. It’s really functional, but it still has this beautiful poetry throughout the building,” she adds.

Elegant interior elements inspired by Japanese design make for a unique guest experience

Balancing connection and privacy

While the hotel will be serviced by its own lobby and lifts to ensure privacy between hotel guests and residents, other deliberate decisions around privacy were considered in Sento’s design.

Pearce says the use of timber privacy screens in communal spaces such as the lobby will instil the space with a “sense of mystery and a hint of something beyond”.

“From a very functional point of view, it’s a place to wait for your friends that might still be coming down from the apartment, or you’ve come to join them,” he says. “You can feel like you’re in there and visible to people, but not on show. So there’s that mix of privacy, yet the ability to socialise as well.”

The proposed tower design will make for a bold addition to the iconic Melbourne skyline

Through its carefully considered details and thoughtful use of materials, Sento will serve as an honouring of life’s quiet moments and a return to ourselves.

“It really does unfold through a ceremony of every phase, like the preparation, the immersion and then the reflection,” Kirby says. “…We’ve celebrated every aspect.”

Rendered images provided. 

Related: FK and Technē teamed up on a precinct that went ‘beyond the traditional airport hotel experience’.