Taking the plunge

29 June, 2010

Mazagan Beach Hotel, Morocco

Design: Wilson Associates
Completion: October 2009

Mazagan Beach Resort is a 250ha coastal resort 90km south of Casablanca, close to the traditional Portuguese port towns of El Jadida (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and Azemmour. The 500-room hotel set around a courtyard was designed to capture the essence of traditional Moroccan architecture, but also incorporates modern elements. It includes an 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player, a casino, nightclub, fitness centre and a spa managed by ESPA, with 12 treatment rooms overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, including two couples rooms, a luxury VIP two- person suite and an authentic Moroccan bath house.

Wilson & Associates designed the interior. James Carry, principal and design director of the practice, says that typical Moroccan architecture and decoration were critical to the inspiration for the project: “Traditional and unique aspects of Morocco were incorporated, but interpreted in a contemporary and streamlined manner. For example, Moorish architecture is based on inner courtyards, so we created an atrium off which the waiting and treatment rooms are placed, behind Moorish fretwork panelled doors, with lemon wood marquetry benches made in Morocco. The light fixtures are based on traditional Moroccan ones but were custom designed by Wilson Associates.”

All the architectural work was done by local companies as the quality of craftsmanship in Morocco is very high. This included the application of tadilak, a polished plaster made from marble dust that creates a very hard, dense surface able to withstand the steam in the hammam. Marble and glass tiles were also used in the bath house to prevent damage to the walls.
www.wilsonassoc.com

Six senses, Rue de Castiglione, Paris

Design: Architect Pierre David for Agence David & Lampros
Completion: January 2010

France’s first Six Senses urban well- being sanctuary – and the eighth in Europe – integrates with its surroundings by drawing on such elements as the Parisian skyline and the nearby Jardin de Tuileries. Two natural materials predominate: a caramel-coloured Brazilian hardwood and a white Greek marble mixed with concrete. Oak is used for a row of chunky stools and minimalist built-in cabinets.

The entrance features simple glass panels suspended between classic columns, giving passers-by a clear view into the ground floor vestibule which leads into a retail boutique.

Parisian landscape designer Patrick Blanc created the focal point of the reception area, a two-storey vertical evergreen interior garden, which adds an air of restfulness and counteracts the city’s pollution.

The six treatment rooms in hand-shaped cocoons of light oak wood are lined with back-lit paper that glows like a Japanese lantern. From inside clients can see a real-time image of Paris and its skyline, filmed by a camera on the hotel’s roof and projected the full length of the spa. David says the pods were inspired by some hollow gourds he found in Thailand, while the striated granite from Mozambique that they stand on evoke sea rocks or black sand.

The ‘Slow Life’ philosophy of Bangkok-based Six Senses extends into the spa’s design, with the use of building materials from sustainable and local sources and attention to a lowered carbon footprint. There is no wasteful thermal water or water treatment areas, and efficient under- floor heating and cooling is used rather than air conditioning. The hot towels and slippers are made from a 100 per cent biodegradable and disposable vegetal fibre, avoiding the need for laundering. Even the Voya organic seaweed products used in the spa are recycled on to the rose beds of the Jardin de Tuileries.
www.pierredavid.com

Kempinskithespa, Grand Hotel Kempinskihigh Tatras, Slovakia

Architect: Zuzana Cambelova of Cadé Interiér
Opened: November 2009

Situated in Slovakia’s High Tatras mountains, 1,351m above sea level, Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras is the location of the first Kempinski The Spa, a bespoke concept for Kempinski Hotels by Resense Spa. The 1,300 sq m of facilities include a lap pool, ‘experience’ showers, whirlpool, caldarium, saunas, a VIP spa suite, herb-infused steam rooms, Kniepp circuit, cold plunge pools and a Technogym fitness centre.

The decor is glitzy, with crystal chandeliers by Bisazza hanging above the blue mosaic-bottomed lap pool and in the vitamin area. Bespoke upholstered day beds in cream and deck chairs facing the pool and in the relaxation area are by German company Lambert.

Chandeliers by another Italian company, A V Mazzega, light the entrance area, where the three sofas and six grand mirrors are by Fendi. There are also six Fendi mirrors in the changing rooms of the wet areas, where the shower systems were supplied by German company Klafs.

The 3.5m x 2.6m spa reception area, laid with Alabastro Egiziano stone, has a waterfall wall made from Crema Gold Italian granite and designed by Zuzana Cambelova with the help of the supplier. In the sauna, a feature wall was created using SICIS glass mosaics from Italy. Behind the whirlpool is a 6m x 4.5m wall of alabaster.

The Kniepp circuit was created using stone basins with white stones to walk on to improve circulation. Cream and brown are the dominant colours of the palette throughout the spa.
www.cade.sk

Halcyon hills, Samos

Interior design: Mark Plumtree Design Associates
Spa consultant: Blue Spa
Architect: Yiannis + Alexis Vikelas
Opening: Late 2010/early 2011

The luxury resort of Halcyon Hills on the Greek island of Samos will include a five-star 4,440 sq m spa with seven treatment rooms overlooking the Aegean. A 155 sq m indoor pool designed for year-round use will open on to a large outdoor infinity pool of 256 sq m, complete with ergonomically designed built-in seating areas so guests can enjoy the panoramic view over to the Turkish mainland, especially as the sun sets over the bay.

Inspiration is drawn from the temple of Hera, which used to grace the island, in the marbled tepidarium (warm room). Other features are a ‘couples’ treatment room with Jacuzzi, salt room, sauna, steam room and rasul (private mud chamber).

Due to open in 2011, the spa is a collaboration between Athens architecture practice Vikelas, interior designer Mark Plumtree and spa consultancy Blue Spa which, headed by Jeremy Smith, is involved in all aspects of the build, launch, marketing and recruitment, plus post-opening management.

The architects’ strong linear concept of a series of rectangles linked by corridors stepping down the hillside was interpreted by Plumtree as a journey, providing views not just outwards but also within the spa, from one tier down to the next, from reception to the manicure/pedicure room.

The infinity pool wraps around an elliptical-shaped deck, giving the sensation of being on an island, while water features add sound that separates clients from the treatment rooms. Organic forms are also evident in the flower-shaped relaxation area.

Natural materials have been used in keeping with the Greek island vernacular but with a contemporary feel – white stucco, volcanic rock and stone indigenous to the island – while glass mosaic is set into stucco plaster and stacked glass built to a height of 2.5m for internal feature walls gives a turquoise effect reminiscent of water. Domes which replicate those of Greek Orthodox churches are each pierced with some 60 penny-sized holes to allow little shots of light into interior spaces.

“Rather than using, say, fabrics to embellish with decoration, we painted it on with light,” says Mark Plumtree.
www.markplumtree.co.uk
www.vikelas.gr
www.bsandl.com

Cotswold house, Chipping Campden, Glos

Architects and designers: A and J D’Alton
Completion: December 2009

Located in the converted coach house of a Regency-period boutique hotel in 17th-century Chipping Campden, the spa at Cotswold House is the first in the UK for brand and operator Temple Spa. It is open to day guests as well as hotel residents.

The brief was to create a sanctuary of calm and relaxation, introducing a contemporary feel to the traditional red-brick coach house set amid buildings of mellow Cotswold stone.

This was achieved using a lot of glass for transparency within the building, providing views from the reception to the rest areas and hydrotherapy pool to create a sense of space and journey. Natural materials were used throughout in light, neutral colours.

The reception desk is of grey- stained solid oak with a Carrara marble top, over which hangs an internally lit bespoke installation by Scabetti of a shoal of fish.

The whole back wall of the reception area comprises storage for gowns, towels and paperwork behind sliding panels of the same grey-stained natural oak, with an open display area for the brand products. Temple wanted all the therapy equipment concealed, so the ground and first-floor treatment rooms all have bespoke, built-in, full-height cupboards with sliding door panels.

The hydrotherapy pool, designed and engineered by Cheshire Wellness, is bigger than most spa pools and has an infinity edge on one side, with lounge seating right up to the edge. The pool area has a feature wall of Quarzita stone 3D strip cladding and cast -iron leaf wall lights by Richard Taylor Designs. The relaxation area furniture is by Bonacina, supplied by Momentum Furniture, and elsewhere furniture came from the German company Dedon.

The flooring in the main spa pool area, reception and relaxation areas is natural limestone from the Keystone Co UK. In the treatment rooms vinyl flooring by Amtico in bleached elm strip-wood effect was used, as natural stone or wood floors can become stained if oils or essences are spilled on them. In the changing area, Monocibec Ultra Bianco Muretto interlocking tile ceramic floors were laid.

Low-energy LED lighting was installed throughout except in key areas of the treatment rooms. where mini halogen downlighters were used for a kinder, warmer light.
info@ajdalton.co.uk
www.dedon.de

Spa by MTM, Shanghai, China

Design: Pal Design Consultants Limited, Hong Kong
Completion: April 2008

Having established itself first in Hong Kong, the brand Spa By MTM has moved into mainland China as the spa industry has boomed there. The Hong Kong interior design practice Pal Design Consultants, headed by Patrick Leung, has designed the contemporary and minimalist new branch in Shanghai.

Guests are greeted at a large reception desk made of woodgrain marble with a black mirrored surface, above which hangs a bespoke wood sculpture made of an entwined bough and twigs.

This use of natural materials is continued in the wood flooring to create a sense of comfort and quiet, and in the long curved walls which extend from the main lobby to each treatment room, the sweep of the corridors echoed in the arched ceiling.

On the corridor side of the walls are slats of rich, warm timber; these are backed with Japanese shoji paper which, being translucent, lets in light while giving complete privacy to the client in the treatment room.

The predominant colour throughout is white, signifying purity and freshness, but warmed and given a cheerful tone by a touch of green. In the wet areas, the mosaic and tiles are by Ziza, sanitaryware and showers by Kohler, TOTO and Grohe, and the Jacuzzi by DC Design.

In the relaxation rooms, the silk and linen fabrics used for the upholstery were supplied by Sankon, with wallpapers from Goodrich and Altfield. The bright lighting in the lobby is dimmed in the corridors to provide transition to the softer lighting of the treatment rooms.

The lighting scheme, including quartz-halogen bulbs, mood lighting, downlighting and spotlights, is by PLC.
www.paldesign.cn

Radisson blu, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Design: Aukett Fitzroy Robinson
Completion: October 2009

Aukett Fitzroy Robinson’s design of the spa at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Yas Island set out to imbue guests with a feeling of calmness even before any treatment begins. Key to this was a seamless space with smooth transitions, and the use of natural materials in neutral tones with small accents of auburn and Arabian Sea turquoise blue.

Clients are greeted in the reception area by an intriguing feature wall, clad in an abstract motif of the date-palm leaf, and a reception desk in stone. Male and female waiting areas, furnished with banquette seating, are linked by a contrasting inset rug, again reflecting the design of the iconic date palm.

Both the men’s and women’s spas consist of treatment rooms, spacious showering, changing and grooming facilities, a relaxation area, saunas and a Jacuzzi, with views from the women’s Jacuzzi area over the island and the Arabian Sea. Feature walls in both sexes’ grooming areas provide a contrast to the neutral tiled floors. Circular pebbled stone tiling is used in the women’s grooming area while a variegated linear stone tile provides the focal point to a calming, neutral colour palette in the men’s.

In the treatment rooms, focus is on the guest’s physical and spiritual nourishment. A subdued interior and dark stone floor are complemented by a decorative pattern of light, slowly changing colour designed as an illusion of the sun’s rays. Specialist lighting gives the illusion that the ceilings are fading away. The relaxation area has state-of-the-art treatment beds, while walls and floor are enveloped in one neutral palette.
www.aukettfitzroyrobinson.com

To B Wellbeing and Spa, Grand resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland

Interior design: Carbone Design
Completion: April 2009

Set amid mountains near Zurich, Grand Resort Bad Ragaz comprises two five-star hotels, a medical health centre, the 7,300 sq m Tamina Therme thermal spa and the 5,500 sq m To B Wellbeing and Spa. Open to the public, this includes whirlpools, indoor and an outdoor pools, a waterfall and outdoor zone.

There has been a spa at Bad Ragaz since the discovery of thermal springs in 1242 and it’s been a fashionable retreat since the Fifties. A year ago the resort underwent a 100 million euro refurbishment and modernisation using state-of-the-art design and technology.

For interior designer Claudio Carbone, the key theme was to connect guests with nature. In the private spa and in the Sauna World, every sauna cabin has a window for outdoor views, while the use of larch for the wall covering and fixtures brings the feel of the forest in.

In the Kniepp Circuit, a grotto- like room filled with thermal water, which recreates the Tamina Gorge nearby, the walls and floor are of granite from the nearby town of Andeer; walking over the stones stimulates the reflex zones of the feet. The same granite is used for the floor and walls in the wet areas and the private spa.

Sauna World includes a sanarium, Finnish sauna, steam bath, sole bath and the world’s first Swarovski crystal-embellished herbal steam bath grotto. Finished in Andeer granite, its back panel and ceiling feature thousands of Swarovski crystals fixed to mirror surfaces and protected behind a glass panel. LED lights give a sparkling effect, shooting changing colours of light on to the crystals.

The 100 sq m Andeer Private Spa has whirlpool, steam bath, sauna with a champagne cooler, massage tables, a ‘cuddle lounge’, home cinema and garden. Its rattan furniture is from Dedon and most of the fabrics are by Christian Fischbacher.

The new Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is based on the Grand Hotel Quellenhof – opened in 1869 and rebuilt in 1995 – and Grand Hotel Hof Ragaz. Last summer, a modern nine-storey Spa Tower was added to the hotel complex in a 500,000 sq m park. Its 7m-high lobby has a glazed facade and white leather furniture on white marble floors. In the 56 contemporary Spa Suites, every bathroom has its own Ragaz thermal water supply, the showers can be turned into a steam bath, and nearly all rooms have sauna facilities.

Swarovski crystals mounted above the whirlpool turn each free- standing bath into a light show: LED downlights installed above the crystals make the ceiling above the bubble bath sparkle in shades of red, green, yellow or blue.
www.carbone-design.ch
www.dedon.de
www.fischbacher.ch