Inner Studio
Inner Studio in Collingwood, Melbourne, is a wellness destination set within a converted factory, designed and founded by brothers Ben Sinclair and Will Slade.
Within its expansive footprint are curated gardens, a dedicated yoga and movement studio, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and what’s believed to be the Southern Hemisphere’s largest sauna. While the all-in-one offering brings together practices like heat and cold exposure and breathwork, its true ambition lies in transforming the way we perceive and respond to stress.
The concept grew from personal experience. As former AFL players, Sinclair and Slade were accustomed to high-performance environments and the physical and psychological demands associated. Their interest in recovery, resilience and performance beyond the field led to the idea for Inner Studio.
“Inner was born from a personal need to slow down, to counter the relentless demands and stimulation of modern life,” says director of Inner Studio, Will Slade. “Our ethos is simple. Create spaces that give people time to reconnect with themselves. To feel safe, steady and spacious, even in the middle of the city.”
Within the building’s existing framework, raw elements like concrete floors and high ceilings remain but are softened by layers of natural materials, lush greenery, subtle acoustics and modulated light. “We approached the design with the nervous system in mind,” says Slade. “The goal wasn’t aesthetic alone; it was to create an environment that supports connection.”
Collaborating with a botanical stylist and horticulturalist, they curated a living system of plants to enhance air quality, acoustic softness and mood. The material palette is also elemental and grounded, featuring timber, concrete, granite and corrugated metal. “Concrete and corrugated metal reflect the building’s industrial past,” says Slade. “Timber softens the space with warmth and tactility. The granite boulders act as sculptural anchors, simple, functional and quietly meditative.”
Lighting evolves gently across the day, from natural light filtering through sheer curtains and greenery to a warm, low-lit ambience in the evening. “It’s not just atmospheric; it’s functional. A lighting scheme that supports parasympathetic activation helps bodies shift from alert to at ease,” Slade explains.
Designed to be inherently calming, Inner Studio invites visitors to slow down and reconnect. “Our hope is that people feel their nervous system start to regulate the moment they arrive. An exhale, a sense of dropping in,” Slade says. “It’s less about escaping the outside world and more about building tools to meet it with greater clarity and calm.”
