Over the last twelve months, some stunning spas and wellness facilities have been unveiled around the world. Here are some of the projects – including both independent spas and those integrated into larger resorts – that have particularly caught
Spa Opportunities' eye in 2016.
No such list can ever be truly comprehensive of course, especially when the design standard is increasingly so high, so please let us know your own favourite contenders on our social media pages.
The Well, Norway by Thermarium and Halvorsen & Reine
The Well – a three-storey, 10,500sq m (113,000sq ft) spa complex just outside Oslo – opened to the public at the beginning of the year. Located in Kolbotn, 11 miles (17km) south of the capital, the privately-owned spa, billed as the largest in Norway, has been designed to transport guests to different spa cultures from around the world. Envisioned as a spa landmark in Europe, high-quality materials, Nordic design flourishes and a special location were merged to create a unique project. Facilities with distinctive international themes include a Japanese Onsen, a Nordic Laconium, a two-storey spruce-clad Blockhouse Sauna, an Art Deco steamroom, a jungle-inspired Egyptian Rasul and an Ambilight Cinema Sauna.
Keemala, Phuket by Architect Space, with Pisit Aongskultong
This five-star resort, located in the lush woodlands of Kamala, has drawn attention for its 38 private pool cottages, which each have a different theme and are inspired by fictional indigenous clans. The design concept is drawn from stories, cultures, traditions and lifestyles of four clans. The result is a spectacular mix of forest tree houses, tents and clay pavilions.
Mar Adentro in Los Cabos, Mexico by Miguel Ángel Aragonés and Satteva Spa & Wellness Concepts
The design of Mar Adentro offers a stark contrast between the hotel component – with its minimalist all-white aesthetic – and the spa: a dark, cave-like area inspired by local cenote swimming holes that aims to focus on the concept of water and reflect a sense of the internal. Rooms and residences at the hotel are designed to resemble chambers suspended over mirrors of seawater.
Amanemu, Japan by Kerry Hill Architects
Aman’s first Japanese hot springs resort, Amanemu, located in Ise Shima National Park on the shores of Ago Bay, adopts a classic Japanese aesthetic in the ryokan tradition. Each of its 24 suites and four two-bedroom villas features its own onsen, and the resort aims to embrace ‘omotenashi,’ the Japanese welcoming spirit blending warmth and respect. The architecture is based on a contemporary interpretation of Japanese Minka buildings, which incorporate traditional low-slung tiled roofs and dark-stained Japanese cedar exterior walls.
Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles by Six Senses Architecture and Design and Studio RHE
Located on the private island of Felicite in the Seychelles, the resort’s 7,000sq ft spa is perched atop of the island’s majestic rock formations near the ocean. Designed to accentuate the island’s natural geography, and with the integration of sustainable processes and technologies, the spa is designed to become an essential part of the island’s ecosystem. It will offer guests a symbiotic experience of Felicite’s environmental and built features. The resort also features 28 one-bedroom pool villas and two two-bedroom pool villas; all designed to “embrace the untouched picturesque landscape of the island.”
Chablé Resort, Mexico by Amy McDonald and Jorge Borja of Grupo BV
Amy McDonald, owner and CEO of Under a Tree, Health and Wellness Consulting, created this destination spa built on Mayan tradition. Featuring 38 glass-fronted casitas and two villas, the building merges high-end luxury with local culture and nature. The rooms are completely surrounded by glass, meaning guests feel as if they are staying in the heart of the jungle. The 3,022sq m (32,530sq ft) spa blends ancient mysticism with modern curiosity, and features a naturally formed cenote as well as three temazcal experiences.
Faena, Miami Beach by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin
Miami Beach’s legendary Saxony Hotel, originally designed by Art Deco architect Roy F. France in 1948, has been transformed by Argentine real estate developer Alan Faena, with interiors designed by filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and his wife, Academy Award-winning costume designer Catherine Martin. The Faena Hotel Miami Beach includes a 22,000sq ft (2,044sq m) South American-themed spa, described as "Great Gatsby meets Buenos Aires."
