Meet Benz Tangkunboriboon | Capybara Bathing Singapore

Capybara Bathing Singapore

Benz Tangkunboriboon

For Benz Tangkunboriboon, Capybara Bathing Singapore was never simply about building another wellness destination. It was about creating space for something that often feels missing in modern life: the opportunity to slow down.

Drawing on a background in architecture and construction, Benz approached Capybara as more than a building. Every material, transition and sensory detail was considered to shape how people feel the moment they step inside.

We sat down with Benz to talk about bringing communal bathing to Singapore, the philosophy behind Capybara, and why slowing down has become one of the most important rituals of all.

When Benz Tangkunboriboon first walked through the doors of Capybara Bathing in Sydney, he didn't leave thinking about pools or saunas. He left thinking about how the space made him feel.

"It wasn't just the facilities that stood out," he says. "It was the feeling the moment you walked through the door. You could immediately tell it was something special."

After experiencing the bathhouse and spending time with the Sydney founders, Benz began to understand the thought, care and intention behind every detail. It wasn't simply a place to bathe—it was a place to slow down, reconnect and be present. "That's when I felt Singapore was ready for something like this."

Wellness had always been part of Benz's life. Exercise and movement came naturally, but recovery was something he rarely made time for. "Building Capybara changed that," he reflects. "It gave me the opportunity to create a space that encourages people to find balance, not just through movement, but through the simple rituals of slowing down, resting and recovering."

That philosophy became the foundation for Capybara Bathing Singapore.

In a city that rarely stops moving, Benz believed there was room for a different kind of wellness experience—one that wasn't focused on doing more, but on doing less.

"Our vision was never just about bathing," he explains. "It was about creating a space where people could disconnect from the pace of everyday life, reconnect with themselves and the people around them. Through intentional design and thoughtful curation, we wanted every detail to contribute to that experience."

For Benz, that attention to detail began long before construction started.

With a background in architecture and construction, designing a bathhouse felt strangely familiar. One of his very first university projects had, coincidentally, been a bathhouse.

"This project has been a full-circle moment for me."

Rather than focusing solely on how the building would look, the team concentrated on how every space would feel. "Every transition, material and detail has been considered as part of the overall experience." He is quick to acknowledge the contribution of Justin Lo, one of Capybara Sydney's founders, whose vision for the spatial design, materials and craftsmanship helped shape the Singapore bathhouse. Together, they wanted to create a space where every element feels intentional. That sense of intention begins the moment guests arrive.

"The feeling we wanted most was calm."

From the lighting and materials to the scent, sound and temperature, every sensory element was carefully considered to help guests leave the outside world behind.

Whether arriving alone or with friends, the goal remains the same: to create an environment where people feel present, comfortable and completely at ease.

One of Benz's favourite design decisions is something many guests never consciously notice. "It's the balance of the space."

Although Capybara Bathing Singapore occupies two conservation shophouses, the interiors unfold in a way that feels remarkably open while still offering moments of privacy and stillness.

"I think it's one of the reasons the experience feels so comfortable and effortless."

Since opening, it's the people - not the architecture - that have surprised him most.

Communal bathing has never been deeply rooted in Singapore's culture, so there was always some uncertainty about how it would be received.

"It's been amazing to see people from different backgrounds sharing the same space, respecting one another and connecting through a shared appreciation for wellness."

Watching strangers slow down together has reinforced something Benz suspected from the beginning. "Sometimes simply slowing down together is enough to create a genuine sense of community."

For anyone visiting Capybara Bathing Singapore for the first time, Benz offers one simple piece of advice:

"Come with an open mind."

"There's no right or wrong way to enjoy the bathhouse. Just take your time, be present, and allow yourself to slow down. You might discover it's exactly what you didn't realise you needed."

Ultimately, that's the future he hopes Capybara helps create—not simply another wellness destination, but a cultural shift. "I hope Capybara becomes more than just a bathhouse. If we can encourage more people to slow down, find better balance in their daily lives, and leave feeling better than when they arrived, then I think we've achieved something truly meaningful."