Toh Ee Ming

You've probably come across photos of the contented capybara – unceremoniously unbothered, sinking into a steaming onsen filled with bobbing yuzu fruit.The world's most relaxed and social animal is the unlikely muse behind Capybara Bathing, Singapore's newest bathhouse. It marks Australia’s cult wellness bathing brand’s first international outpost, arriving as the city's appetite for slow, communal bathing shows no signs of cooling. Photograph: Capybara Bathing Singapore Located at 77 Tras Street in Tanjong Pagar, the 3,000 sq ft studio was conceived by a six-part team comprising of designers, makers and spa enthusiasts: Natalie Cheung, ceramic studio Project Snail (Rebecca Qin and Daegeon Song) and architectural practice Studio Blek (Justin Lo, Nicholas Souksamrane and Sebastian Tsang), with Natalie and Rebecca leading the management and operation in Australia.This latest sensory sanctuary moves through a series of curated zones – from magnesium mineral baths (38–40°C) and cold plunges (6–8°C), heated lounges and steam rooms to Singapore’s first Nordic-inspired hot lounge, complete with shaved ice and body salt scrubs.  Photograph: Capybara Bathing Singapore ”We see bathing as a modern ceremony – one that connects people through water, warmth, and stillness,” says Nicole Chew, partner and director of Capybara Bathing Singapore. “In Singapore, we wanted to bring that same spirit of communal calm.”Expect a rotating roster of local practitioners to lead yoga, stretch, and s