Creating harmony

Duravit has created a series of products that bring the spa experience into the home.
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Effective spa design centres on the creation of harmonious, nourishing spaces – the same principles currently shaping contemporary bathroom design.

Successful spa design hinges on the ability to create spaces with a multi-sensory appeal. For example, intelligent sight lines should promote an inward focus; effective use of lighting should ensure a magical transformation at dusk; and the chosen atmosphere should be entirely consistent across a series of spaces.

“You have to pay attention to transition spaces to maintain the ‘energy intent’ of the guest experience,” suggested Samir Patel, managing director, Six Senses Spas. “It is important to segregate areas and access to various areas of the spa, based on energy appeal and the needs of the specific guest experience – for example, fitness versus therapy zone rooms; spa guest versus gym guest. You have to create lockers and common facilities that do not allow for a clashing of intent and energy levels,” he pointed out.

Spa secrets

From a practical point of view, effective spa design also has to take safety and hygiene standards, operational ease, and unimpeded guest and service flow, into account. Back of house, storage and staff rest areas have to be intelligently handled, and all of these issues have to be addressed without compromising on the overall sensory appeal of the space.

The ability to create balanced environments that nurture all of the senses, from sight, touch and taste to smell and sound, is what sets Six Senses Spas apart, Patel noted. “So does the use of local, natural materials to create clean spaces that are not clinical but, rather, are soothing to touch and feel, physically and spatially.”

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The company is also careful to harness natural light, wherever possible, and takes a non-negotiable approach to sustainability and the conservation of natural resources, Patel detailed. “The experience must be evocative of our philosophy of ‘SLOWLIFE’ – sustainable, local, organic, wholesome, learning, inspiring and fun experiences,” he added.

Some of the most commonly made mistakes in spa design are over-the-top schemes that do not take operational efficiency, costs and financial return into consideration. “Operationally cumbersome and ineffective service and guest flow, improper lighting and auditory sensitivity are other commonly made mistakes,” said Patel.

Too often, guest safety, hygiene and comfort are sacrificed in the name of creativity, or design elements are introduced with little thought for how they can be maintained. Ultimately, spa design must be sensitive and soothing but, also, intelligent and practical.

Personal retreat

Many of the trends that are fundamental to effective spa design are also making their way into the bathroom, where the emphasis is now on creating calming, nourishing spaces that users can retreat to after a difficult day.

“After a hard day people are looking for an oasis where they can escape, if only for a short period, from the demands of their day. The bathroom becomes a refuge where people want to destress, slow down and unwind,” Toni El-Kadi, UAE branch manager of sanitaryware company, Duravit, explained.

The transformation of the common bathroom into a personal haven of relaxation has been well documented, and is one of the most significant design trends of recent years. “Many people look at their bathroom as a place to rejuvenate and relax, and they want to invest in different types of experiences that create that,” said David Kohler, president and COO of Kohler.