Design firm 4a Architekten has shared details of the recently-completed extension to the wellness facilities at destination spa park Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa in Germany.

The upgrades to the leisure pool facility, which has been in operation since 1984, included the addition of a thermal spa and sauna in a new building that integrated sensitively into the landscape.

Commissioned by the facility’s operator, utility company Stadtwerke Bad Dürkheim, the new thermal spa was added to the site while the spa park continued to operate.

Ernst Ulrich Tillmanns, managing director of 4a Architekten, told Spa Business: "In our project to expand the facilities at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim, we wanted to create an atmospheric place that goes far beyond functional requirements. 

"The new thermal bath, sauna and wellness area reflects the peaceful, scenic quality of the spa gardens and translates it into a contemporary, inviting architectural language," Tillmans added. "Open room sequences, targeted lighting and the use of natural, durable materials create a sensual spatial experience that combines orientation, spaciousness and a sense of security. The result is a place where you can not only relax, but also reinterpret the bathing tradition of Bad Dürkheim and strengthen the spa location as a whole."

The extension covers three floors and a total footprint that measures 7,957sq m.

The new entrance area to the facility features a wide cantilevered roof for a contemporary appearance. New changing areas connect directly to the existing building, and guests walk along a corridor to get to the thermal spa, with glimpses of the leisure pool hall. 

Artist Ricarda Mieth was commissioned to design the corridor to help guests transition from the busy leisure pool to the calmer spa environment.

The existing bathing facilities on the ground floor are spread across the interior and exterior of the facility, while a new variety of sauna experiences are found on each level of the extension.

An additional new sauna garden and roof terrace link the facilities together.

Each of the three levels also has a different dining venue, with a different atmosphere. The ground floor features a restaurant, the first floor has a fireplace lounge and the second floor offers a generous relaxation lounge with views of the park and town.

The design of the thermal spa is described by 4a Architekten as deliberately calmer and more classic than the leisure pool. The new spaces use warm materials, such as wooden slats, porcelain stoneware and ceramic finishes in muted shades to create a more refined atmosphere.

Full list of facilities now open

The facilities at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa now include:

• Outdoor warm leisure pool
• Outdoor warm pool
• Indoor thermal pool
• Hot tub
• Hot/cold plunge pools
• High salinity brine pool
• Two steambaths
• Bio sauna
• A “bubble” sauna (“Babbelsauna”)
• Panoramic sauna
• Outdoor sauna
• Foot-warming pool
• Brine relaxation room with a mini brushwood brine graduation tower for enhanced respiration

Energy and sustainability 

The energy and building concept involved optimising insulation to significantly reduce heat loss and enhance energy efficiency. Ventilation systems with high heat recovery, demand-controlled operation and pool covers have been incorporated to keep energy consumption low. 

Hygiene and long-term operations are key principles that have informed the technical infrastructure design. Pool water circuits, heat recovery systems and a stagnation-free water system are kept separate.

Solar panels are attached to the roof and façade to generate electricity and extensive green roofing is designed to improve rainwater retention, the microclimate and roof durability.