A stone's throw from buzzy London, the Coworth Park spa and hotel offer a welcome antidote - a serene rural experience, set in the leafy depths of the Ascot countryside in Berkshire. The hotel, a modern country house venue that is part of the Dorchester Collection, occupies some 240 acres of land, complete with a blissful wildflower meadow, tennis court, polo fields, ponds and country walks surrounded by local wildlife and gentle greenery. In this picturesque setting, The Spa at Coworth Park has recently been refreshed, elevating its offering through quiet luxury and contemporary wellness offerings.

Checking in at the Coworth Park spa

Making the most of its green context, the Coworth Park spa building is set a mere few minutes' walk from the hotel's main, historic building. Here, nestled into a landscape of rolling hills and a naturalistic landscape, the small, green-roofed wellness hub is placed in a way that its round form 'hugs' its centrepiece - a generous swimming pool with a glazed façade that looks out to a decked terrace and fields.

Inside, the top level is dedicated to spa offerings and relaxation, wrapped in natural light, neutral colours and soft textures. Partnerships with ishga, Wildsmith and Made for Life Organics offer a range of indulgent treatments - we tried the Ishga Renewing Facial and its seawater and seaweed-based products with impressive results (instant smooth, bright skin with no blemishes and a subtle glow).

The experience was enhanced by an initial 360-degree consultation process and a personalised soundscape, while the premises' dedicated post-treatment area with its meditative vibro-acoustic beds ensures instant tranquillity that lasts.

Downstairs, the swimming pool is flanked by the sun deck on one side and additional wellness spaces on the other - including a timber Finnish sauna, a citrine-lined steam room and a snow shower. A gym equipped with the UK’s first Technogym Luxury Artis line sits next to these spaces, to work up a sweat before heading out for a hot-and-cold sequence relaxation ritual.

Additionally, for a limited time only, Natura Bissé treatments are currently on offer throughout the summer. A new partnership at Coworth Park brought a pop-up treatment pod on site, the Natura Bissé Oxygen Bubble. Here, guests can breathe 99.99% pure air before completing their spa experience at the in-house café, where healthy salads, bowls, juices or teas are created by Coworth Park’s executive chef Adam Smith.

Meanwhile, if you're after something more traditional, the main Coworth Park building's drawing room next door offers the classic afternoon tea experience (with bubbles or without). Here, the customary sandwiches, mini cakes, scones and other treats can be enjoyed while looking out towards the campus's flowering meadow.

Book at stay.

The beauty of a spa, beyond your leaving feeling reborn, lies in its ability to offer an escape from the noise of the world – and Hôtel Costes’ new spa does exactly that. Located in Paris’ 1st arrondissement, just steps from the vibrant Rue Saint-Honoré, the Parisian hotel’s subterranean spa has unveiled a new look defined by ambient lighting, gentle geometry, and a soothing colour palette.

Hôtel Costes unveils its new spa

The project was spearheaded by interior architecture and design studio Liaigre, which worked in close partnership with the hotel’s founder, Jean-Louis Costes. Upon entering the reinvigorated space, visitors will find a 1,000 sq m spa, featuring a 20m swimming pool, eight treatment rooms, and a fitness area.

Much like the spa’s holistic ethos – developed alongside the team from skincare specialist Augustinus Bader – the interior materiality is honest and noble, comprising a mix of travertine, smoked oak, lacquer, and liquidambar. While these materials were selected to reflect the hotel as a whole, they also unite soothing elegance and functionality in a refined balance.

The architectural framework centres on light and touch. From its entrance, set at the base of a bifurcated staircase, a marble reception desk greets visitors, while a Dolby Atmos sound system channels a calming, immersive audio landscape.

The heated swimming pool acts as an inviting lagoon – whether for laps or simply to drift in its oxygen-enriched waters. Wood daybeds and cocooned relaxation areas deepen the sense of retreat. The eight treatment rooms are designed to accommodate therapies tailored by Augustinus Bader’s specialists, set along hushed corridors to ensure privacy.

The spa is the latest chapter in a wider project initiated in 2015, when Jean-Louis Costes commissioned Christian Liaigre to redesign Hôtel Lotti and unify it with Hôtel Costes and a third property, Le Costes. Drawing on the spirit of Parisian private mansions, the design firm has sought to create an airy, loft-like environment for Hôtel Costes.

Says Christophe Caillaud, president of Liaigre: ‘We approached the redesign of the spa with the same discipline that defines Liaigre – careful attention to proportion, light, and material – ensuring the space feels calm, coherent, and true to our enduring design language.’

Hôtel Costes is located at 7 Rue de Castiglione, 75001 Paris, France

I'm sweating on the top bench of 70-person sauna looking out to the Williamsburg Bridge and a semi-frozen East River dotted with ice floes. Next to me is an economist from Ohio in a Korean head turban who has built a sauna from a former bread van. It's so popular he’s thinking of giving up the day job.

This gloriously eccentric scenario (one that is somehow so New York) has come about thanks to Culture of Bathe-ing, the city’s first sauna festival. The festival, which took place in February in Brookyln’s Domino Park, featured 15 mobile saunas, from Airstreams to shipping containers, to tent saunas and barrels, and a programme of wellness events hosted by leading New York bathhouses and wellness practitioners from all over the US.

The festival is the brainchild of global spa group Therme which is planning bathing complexes in Washington, Manchester, Dubai and beyond. Its aim, says Therme US president Robert Hammond, is ‘to reframe bathing as a collective cultural experience rather than as a personalized wellness retreat.’

Hammond has form when it comes to cultural interventions in New York; he made the High Line happen, and with Culture of Bathe-ing hopes to bring the cultures of midwestern sauna communities, New York bathhouses and Californian counter-culture together under one roof.

READ: New York’s iconic Russian & Turkish Baths is where the city goes to ‘schvitz’

In New York especially bathing has always been communal and cultural – from Jewish schvitzes to Russian banyas to the Korean spas. But a new generation of bathhouses, incorporating elevated design, thoughtful sound and lighting, guided rituals and hospitality that feels more aligned to boutique hotels is reworking traditions of old for new audiences. The festival, in all its bathrobed glory, establishes New York as the bathing capital of the US.

What's driving the bathing boom?

‘New York creates the perfect conditions for this renaissance,’ says Alex Feldman, founder of Saint which opens in Manhattan this spring. ‘It’s dense, fast, and stimulating, but offers few places for true privacy or quiet. Most people can’t fit a sauna into their apartment, so these experiences move into the city.’

In an age of ubiquitous tech, alcohol-fueled socialising and denser-than-ever living conditions, bath houses are ‘elsewhere’ spaces where people can unwind, go analogue and enjoy something that is good for their health. ‘There’s an immediate feedback loop with sauna,’ says Shayna Olsan co-founder of Akari which opens its third Japanese-inspired bathhouse in Manhattan this year. ‘It’s a struggle to feel your best in a city as grinding as New York, and other fitness, wellness and dietary practices might require longer stretches of adherence to notice an impact. Saunas provide an easy entry point for everyone.’

‘New York is intense social and physical and people want experiences that feel real and communal,’ says Mauri Waneka, founder of the 600 sq m bathing bacchanalia Schwet. ‘Bathing culture fits this psychology perfectly.’ Taking many of its cues from Russian banya culture, this spring, Schwet opens its doors with experiential and private members events.

What do the new bathhouses offer that the old school venues don’t?

Unlike banyas and shvitzes which are bound by centuries of tradition and can feel intimidating to the uninitiated, the new generation of bathhouses come with accessible programming (think: breath work, meditation and contrast therapy) and updated menus (matcha and electrolytes rather than vodka and borscht). Both bring communities together in their own ways, but sober sauna raves with DJs and live music at venues such as the Bathhouse and Othership are catnip in a city that is always chasing the new, unexpected and exciting. What’s more, says Olsan, ‘there’s an appetite for shared experiences that aren’t centred on consumption.’

And there are plenty of environments to choose from. New York’s rich tapestry of bathing cultures and traditions inspires unexpected mash-ups of ancient and modern, luxurious and simple, solitary and communal. Styrmir Eli, co-founder of Sund, which opens next year, explains. 'Some are like spas - great for dates and anniversaries; others are more ritualistic, or lean into health and biohacking. The old school venues are simpler and more raw in the best sense.’

What are the most stylish names in the space?

In 2027, Sund will bring Icelandic and Nordic-inspired bathing traditions to a rooftop in Brooklyn and Othership, which pioneered the new wave bathing opens a 14,000 square foot space with dining and additional bathing options the Upper East Side. This spring, Saint, a hushed sanctuary with four private saunas and ice bath studios designed by Bond architects opens in Manhattan and hot on its heels is Furoya, a Japanese-inspired bathhouse.

New York is racing ahead because it always does, but with sauna operators from Miami, San Diego and Austin, Texas, also present at the festival, the bathing boom is not restricted to cities with cold winters. Emily Bent, co-founder of Othership explains. ‘Even in warm climates, people are seeking structured rituals to help them relax. The movement is a return to something very old, expressed in a modern way.’

Twenty years in the making, Basin Glacial Waters has finally arrived at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, on the shores of the storied Canadian lake. The wait has been worth it. What Italian architect Matteo Thun has created here is a thermal bathing destination that feels less like a building and more like a natural phenomenon sculpted into the Canadian Rockies.

‘The building appears as a carved incision in the landscape, embraced by nature on three sides and from above,’ Thun explains. ‘This deliberate cut opens up a complete, uninterrupted view of the magnificent Lake Louise and its glacier. The concept is to extract a portion of the terrain to form a protected space.’

Basin Glacial Waters

The entrance sequence establishes an immediate shift in consciousness. The reception sits elevated above the main bathing floor, creating what Thun describes as ‘a journey of descent.’ As guests move down the gently curving pathway, a narrow channel runs alongside, water flowing over smooth lake pebbles. The effect is both sensory and psychological, compressing space before releasing visitors into the facility’s soaring main volume. Here, dramatic windows command attention while serving a deeper purpose.

‘The arched windows are a homage to the original Chateau building,’ Thun says, pointing to the historic Fairmont’s Painter’s Wing. ‘Our building is designed to feel as though it truly belongs; we chose an architectural language that respects both the natural and built context. Loud, attention-seeking architecture belongs to the past; we believe in an architecture that harmonises and blends in.’

These carefully proportioned openings flood the interior with natural light while creating powerful visual connections to the glacier-fed lake and surrounding peaks.

This philosophy of restraint and longevity is reflected in the material choices. Cedar and fir provides warmth against the stark alpine landscape, complemented by stones, pebbles and lime plaster that echo the surrounding terrain. Thun’s palette also features the use of porcelain tiles, which he says is ‘the most sustainable and thoughtful alternative to natural stone’ and a pragmatic choice for environments exposed to constant water and temperature extremes.

The spatial organisation follows what Thun calls a 'box within a box' strategy: ‘Inside the larger container, we’ve placed smaller boxes that house the primary functions, such as saunas, steam rooms and changing rooms. The spaces surrounding these inner boxes define the circulation routes, the more open zones, the water areas, and the places for connection. It’s an urban design approach translated to an interior scale.’

This strategy creates a natural flow between moments of solitude and social connection, allowing guests to move between the intimate Silent Salt Relax room and the communal energy of the pools.

Rather than treating interior and exterior as separate realms, Thun created fluid transitions that shift with Lake Louise’s dramatic seasonal changes. The Infinity Pool extends seamlessly onto an expansive terrace, while the outdoor Aufguss sauna maintains visual connections to interior spaces, forming what feels like one continuous, breathing environment. Positioned to capture uninterrupted glacier views, the reflexology pool transforms functional bathing into a contemplative ritual, while varying water temperatures create microclimates within the larger architectural envelope.

When asked about bringing Nordic wellness traditions to the Canadian Rockies, Thun emphasises their universal appeal. ‘We found an incredibly receptive context to propose something indeed very European. When you move away from trends and distill directly the essence of wellness experiences, I feel the whole world can easily speak the same language.’

As part of Fairmont’s broader wellness portfolio, Basin establishes new precedents for how contemporary architecture can honour both cultural wellness traditions and specific geographical contexts, creating spaces that feel transformative rather than merely accommodating.

Basin Glacial Waters is located at 111 Lake Louise Dr, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0, Canada.

Amid the emerald and turquoise sweep of the Riviera Maya in Mexico, Rosewood Mayakoba offers a different kind of night out; one led not by cocktails or candlelit tables, but by its spa. Sense, A Rosewood Spa, occupies its own island, reached via the Puente del Balneario, and is already known as a retreat-within-a-retreat. Now, it extends its hours into the quiet hours, introducing the Akbal Series – ‘night’ in Mayan – a moonlit programme running from 8 pm until midnight. While most spas are winding down, Sense is just beginning.

Rosewood Mayakoba introduces Akbal Series

The Akbal Series unfolds as a set of after-dark rituals, immersive treatments, and one-off pop-ups designed to promote rest, regulate the nervous system, and reconnect with natural rhythms. Jungle sounds and the low pulse of nearby cenotes mingle with the starlit sky, expanding the spa experience into something cosmic.

Guests can book à la carte or work with a wellness concierge to create a bespoke itinerary. Options range from moonlit breathwork by the spa pool – easing cortisol levels and activating the parasympathetic nervous system – to wind-down yoga and quartz sound bowl therapy, or an ice bath on the cenote deck followed by a warm soak and sound massage. There’s also a Mexican hot chocolate workshop, harnessing the serotonin- and melatonin-rich properties of cacao.

Once a month, Sense will host its Full Moon Celebration Bar (upcoming dates: Sept. 7, Oct. 6, Nov. 5, Dec. 4), serving cocktails built from ingredients said to flourish under full moons: tomato, chile, cucumber, melon, watermelon, and pumpkin. Evening spa access for Akbal participants includes hydrotherapy circuits, relaxation lounges, a yoga pavilion, strength and cardio studios, and the sensory Kuxtal Garden. For a deeper immersion, eight overnight Wellness Suites come with unlimited class access and the guidance of a dedicated wellbeing butler.

The Sense Spa at Rosewood Mayakoba is located at Carretera Federal Cancún Supermanzana Km. 298, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico.

New York City buzzes with classic restaurants, hip bars, endless entertainment, and consistent crowds. Just a couple of hours north of the urban jungle sits a decidedly different type of destination – one where time slows down (a boon for your nervous system), the scenery drives creativity, and the lifestyle leans holistic.

Nature exists in its most gloriously undisturbed forms. Dense forests, rolling hillsides, and trickling streams provide beautiful backdrops for trekking. Creatives from Brooklyn have set up shop in the quaint towns of Beacon, Hudson, and Tannersville. Architects and interior designers enjoy the freedom to play with raw materials, rich colour, and space not available in shoebox Manhattan apartments. Galleries celebrate the works of local artists. Chefs with vision and talent are pushing the farm-to-table dining scene forward. And Upstate New York's hotels offer time to slow down.

This leafy corner of New York State has long been a haven for those seeking access to the health-boosting benefits and inspiration of the great outdoors. These days, it’s a full-blown wellness mecca where travellers can just as easily find hiking trails as sound baths and diamond facials. Surrounded by verdant land and lakes, spa days mean a mix of transformative treatments, meditation, and gentle (or exhaustive – take your pick) movement.

To help cull down the bounty of places to get pampered and, perhaps more importantly, nurtured from the inside out, Wallpaper* tapped in-the-know tastemakers to pick the coolest and most calming self-care spots in the area. From sprawling sanctuaries that mix up house-made tinctures to sleek, small-scale sanctums with a focus on hydrotherapy, these are the best spas in Upstate New York for rejuvenation (and, of course, resplendent design).

Hemlock Neversink, Neversink, NY

'I consider Hemlock Neversink the platonic ideal of a wellness escape,' says Jackie Caradonio, author of the forthcoming book The Inn Crowd. It’s set on 230 acres, encircled with private trails, and has a goat barn – the 'most therapeutic experience one can ever hope to have' – plus movement classes. The wood-clad spa menu runs the spectrum from holistic rituals such as energy healing to cutting-edge LED light therapy facials. 'After the Grounding Slumber Massage, I had the best sleep of my life.'

Hemlock Spa at Kenoza Hall, Kenoza Lake, NY

Kenoza Hall might not have invented the concept of 'earthy luxury,' but the charming lakeside hotel certainly mastered it. It’s a place to breathe deep and rest easy. Taking a holistic approach to wellness rooted in naturopathy, Hemlock Spa stays on theme with wood walls, a pebble floor, and lush plants. There are treatment rooms for massages and seasonal lavender body scrubs. The airy movement studio hosts aerial yoga, sound baths, and guided meditation. The wellness offerings spill outside, where an outdoor barrel sauna, a Kneipp path, a fire pit, a hot tub, a heated pool, and walking trails await.

Inness, Accord, NY

Quiet and understated, with a very obvious lean toward leisure, Inness is prime for a reset. Crafted with stained pine and corrugated steel, the sleek freestanding spa is effortlessly elegant, pared back with a nod to the barns that pepper with part of Upstate. 'The wooden dry sauna and plastered Bathhouse hammam with cold plunge feel almost elemental,' says Nick Cope, co-founder of Calico Wallpaper. The 7,000-square-foot space also supplies a heated indoor pool, a steam room, five treatment rooms with skylights, and a fitness studio.

Oak Wellness Club, Tivoli, NY

When lifestyle guru Jenni Kayne (the brains behind her eponymous clothing line of elevated essentials that’s since expanded to home and beauty) puts her stamp on something, you know it’s going to be impeccably curated and exude her signature classic, minimal style. Her newest project, the Oak Wellness Club at the Jenni Kayne Farmhouse in Tivoli, is no exception. The exclusive, invite-only wellness destination offers a clutch of self-care experiences, including Oak Essentials facials and massages in a light-drenched treatment room, sauna, cold plunge, Pilates, yoga, healing meditation, and an outdoor pool.

Opal Spa at The Sagamore Resort, Bolton Landing, NY

An enduring legacy landmark on Lake George, The Sagamore Resort is a historic vacation destination with plenty of modern amenities to pamper present-day travelers. Surrounded by the natural beauty of glimmering water and forested mountain peaks, the standout spa has 13 treatment rooms for Adirondack stone massages and glow-boosting facials, a hydrotherapy area, and recently debuted halotherapy. Wellness seekers can also book 30-minute sessions to breathe in the respiratory benefits of detoxifying salt-inhalation in the new, climate-controlled Salt & Sound Lounge.

Piaule Catskill, Catskill, NY

Piaule Catskill is an intimate, landscaped country hotel. Mirroring the rest of the minimalist respite, the tranquil, design-forward spa mixes wood and concrete into a Japanese-meets-Scandinavian aesthetic that feels right at home in the undulating hills of the Catskills. The heated saltwater and cold mineral pools and forest views are hard to beat. Massages, yoga, and sound baths also promise to melt away stress. 'It’s simple, pure, and grounding – just what you want Upstate,' adds Rachel Cope, co-founder of Calico Wallpaper and Upper Hudson Valley resident.

Spa at Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY

Guests have flocked to Mohonk Mountain House for a reboot since 1869. Continuing Albert K. Smiley’s original mission: 'To provide opportunities for recreation and renewal of body, mind, and spirit in a beautiful natural setting,' the beloved castle resort continues its foundational wellness philosophy. The 30,000 square-foot mountaintop spa features expanded self-care experiences – including mindfulness sessions, crystal facials, hydrotherapy massages, and lakeside immersion therapy (think of it as a natural cold plunge) – and a seasonal outdoor treatment sanctuary overlooking Lake Mohonk.

The Barns at Troutbeck, Amenia, NY

'The Barns at Troutbeck is one of our favourite places to unwind – it’s serene, beautifully designed, and deeply connected to the land,' says Nick Cope. Constructed from timber reclaimed from the old Tappan Zee Bridge and flooded with light courtesy of the large windows, the setting adds a quiet magic to every experience. The thoughtful, ever-evolving wellness programming includes infrared sauna sessions, yoga, forest bathing, astrology, and a new slate of nature-driven facials, massages, and scrubs in collaboration with Wildsmith. 'The sound bath sessions are especially memorable –calming, immersive, and unlike anything else in the area.'

The Spa at Inns of Aurora, Aurora, NY

In the Upstate schema, the Finger Lakes still flies under the radar (at least, for most Manhattanites), which makes it all the more compelling for a proper escape – especially if you’re staying at The Inns of Aurora, a collection of curated guesthouses, which Caradonio likens to the albergo diffuso hotels of Italy. 'The newest addition to the campus is its 15,000-square-foot spa, a rare new-build that combines chic farmhouse architecture, contemporary art, indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, meditation spaces, and Ayurveda-inspired treatments, all in a picturesque field of cattail grass overlooking Cayuga Lake.'

Thistle, An Auberge Spa at Wildflower Farms, Gardiner, NY

'Thistle, An Auberge Spa at Wildflower Farms is the best spa around in my book,' says Rachel Cope. Like the rest of the luxury wellness-oriented resort, the wood-clad wellness haven lovingly cajoles guests into connecting with nature. Both the interiors and the bespoke treatments are inspired by seasonal shifts. Hand-blended botanical products power the revolving menu of signature treatments. Healers perform ancient modalities of Reiki and acupuncture. 'I love the stress-melting massage and the light-filled relaxation room overlooking the meadow.'

The new spa at the luxury country retreat, Inness, brings Manhattan-calibre wellness to the gentrifying rural hamlet of Accord, New York. Taavo Somer, one of the proprietors, became a cult figure of New York City hospitality decades ago, as kids prowling the dark and lonely streets east of SoHo found his breakout restaurant and bar glowing cosily like a mirage at the dead-end of tiny Freeman Alley. They called the place Freemans, naturally, and city people downtown loved its rustic interiors, with acres of old-fashioned painted panelling and an endless supply of vintage taxidermy specimens on display. Diners could wait hours for a table, though all were ultimately welcome – except, perhaps, the night Taylor Swift celebrated her birthday upstairs.

Inside the healing world of Inness, New York

Inness, which Somer opened in a new partnership three years ago, feels no less exclusive – though it’s actually just as inclusive by design. No gatekeeper guards the driveway, where the 220-acre property welcomes golfers to its reconfigured course just two hours upstate from Manhattan. Minimalist guest cabins and a new white-painted mock farmhouse – all furnished sparsely with Somer’s signature country antiques – today sit on and around the fairways. The remaining nine holes are converted for trendy Scottish links-style golf.

Along one ridge, on the former site of the golf pro shop, is a sparkling glasshouse for hotel reception and a boutique. Next door is the excellent clubhouse restaurant and outdoor dining balcony with postcard Catskill Mountain views. The barnlike new spa, a freestanding black building 60m long, is a short walk across the driveway, past a micro-orchard of mature heritage apple trees that Somer transplanted into the garden masterplan by Brooklyn-based landscape designer and editor Miranda Brooks. 'It forces guests into nature,' Somer notes.

A trained designer who once worked for a year in the experimental New York practice of Steven Holl Architects, Somer created the spa building’s modern exterior with stained pine and corrugated steel. Post Company (also behind Raf’s restaurant in New York City) collaborated with Somer on the project, building interiors such as the Bathhouse hammam with a plunge pool and tadelakt waterproof plaster. There’s a gym and fitness studio, massage treatment rooms with simulated skylights, and a reception area with fir shelving inspired by the sculptures of Donald Judd.

The outdoor pool will be closed all winter, but the indoor pool is ecologically warmed year-round with heat pulled from six geothermal wells drilled down 150m into the ridge, Somer says. 'People should come and hang out.'

Inness is located at 10 Banks St, Accord, NY 12404, United States, inness.co

Following a four-year hiatus brought about by a combination of Covid-19 and an operations reset, the Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train was back on the tracks in February 2024, gently wending its way once again between Singapore and the dappled green interiors of Malaysia and Thailand.

Dior Spa on the Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train

Featuring 16 art deco-inspired carriages, eight of which are sleeper cars, the train’s offerings have been gently tweaked on at least two fronts. The first is the tapping of chef Andre Chiang, who’s taken to his new role as a culinary curator with gusto, serving up laksa bouillabaisse and spiced cacao ganache. The second is the transformation of the saloon car into the Dior Spa, which follows the French marque’s temporary residency on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and its first permanent residence on another sister train, Royal Scotsman, in 2023.

The partnership is something of a no-brainer, with both Belmond and Dior betting that the union of two premier luxury brands will provide a very natural counterpoint to the train’s unapologetically romantic trail through the rarely travelled hinterland of the Malaysian Peninsula. Located between the Piano Bar and the restaurants at the front of the train, the spa is a delight; Belmond’s design team dressed the relaxation salon and twin treatment rooms with dark-stained tropical timber, and green and beige carpets embedded with rose emblems, alongside Dior’s signature cane work and swathes of Toile de Jouy print.

For indecisive passengers, the spa menu consists of five treatments, each blending traditional Asian techniques with Dior’s Prestige skincare line and Professional products. If the Kobi-Dior Facial Treatment, which incorporates Japanese Kobido massage techniques, doesn’t please, then perhaps the D-Jungle, a deeply relaxing head-to-toe stretch and facial, just might do the trick.

belmond.com

Onda Spa at Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection is the newest offering at the Mexican hotel, which, since opening its doors last year, has certainly stepped up the hospitality offerings along the country's Pacific Coast. Ensconced amid the jungled cliffs of Punta de Mita, on an idyllic white-sand beach overlooking the turquoise waters of Bahía de Banderas, the resort – the latest in the Auberge Resorts collection – unfolds to include 59 rooms and suites and 30 villas and, at the heart of the property, a clutch of vibrant restaurants and a glorious three-tiered pool that cascades down to the beach.

Step inside Susurros del Corazón’s new Onda Spa

Onda Spa is a pleasure playground, a sprawling 34,900 square foot wellness space that takes its cues from the Mexican phrase ‘¿Qué onda?’ – which translates to ‘What’s up?’ – with a playful concept reflecting Mexican culture’s colour, joy and authenticity. Like the rest of the property, the clean-lined contemporary architecture of the spa is by California-based Glazier Le Architects, while the interiors are the work of Paul Duesing.

Here, the designer captured the raw simplicity of Punta de Mita’s wild landscape to reveal a journey of indoor and outdoor spaces – that includes 11 treatment rooms, a vitality pool, citrus saunas, aloe steam rooms, clay showers and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. 

The al fresco sections are filled with natural light, native flora, reflective water corridors, organic materials, and antique Mexican pieces, such as large Oaxacan ceramics, in calm, neutral shades.

This sets the scene for a series of immersive treatments like the signature El Cuerpo Ritual – which begins with a yerba maté foot soak that leads into a deep, full-body exfoliation using natural bamboo fibres and mango seed. Offerings such as this sit alongside a daily calendar of movement classes and meditative rituals, like the weekly sound baths, led by visiting practitioners and healers.

Make sure to peruse the Wellness Library, where a collection of devices – from Therabody massage guns to facial toning tools – can be booked for the duration of your stay. For the full experience, set aside at least half a day to include a bite to eat at Onda Café or Abunda Table, where nourishing fruit smoothies are paired with healthy dishes like the delicious farro bowl salad made with cherry tomatoes, asparagus, pistachios, edamame, and parmesan.

Back in the rooms, the serenity continues with open-plan layouts and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto private gardens or expansive terraces (some with pools). This openness helps shed an abundance of light onto interiors that continue to shine a light on Mexico with simple natural wood furnishings embellished with artisanal textiles and artwork.

After an evening spent drinking margaritas against fiery sunset views at the pool’s swim-up bar, head to Casamilpa or La Boquita. The latter is a fun open-air spot with a menu of favourites, such as tacos or simply grilled fish. Meanwhile Casamilpa offers a rustic Mexican farmhouse menu with plates like the organic pork shank topped with sweet corn puree and pine nuts – all served against breathtaking beach panoramas.

aubergeresorts.com

Forget the traditional spa experiences you've come across until now, experiential wellness is paving the way – post-sauna cold showers are being replaced with innovative treatments like cold cryotherapy, while Japanese onsens with breathtaking views are preferred over small wooden saunas. Not to forget that the light, sound, temperature, humidity, textures, materials and smells of a retreat are equally as important as a breathtaking location. From mood therapy using state-of-the-art bio-hacking technology to treatments inspired by the world's longest-lived locations, along with architectural masterpieces built in impossible locations, keep reading to discover the best spa experiences right now to revitalise mind and body.

Best spa experiences, from Ise-Shima to Chicago

Onsen Spa at The Amanemu Resort, Ise-Shima, Japan

The Amanemu Resort stands proudly amidst the serene hills of Ise-Shima, near Ago Bay, and rethinks the traditional Japanese ryokan inn experience. At this secluded sanctuary, guests can indulge in rejuvenating sessions at the resort's 2,000 sq m spa, which spotlights the therapeutic power of water. The wellness centre is rooted in Japan's ancient onsen bathing tradition and blends Japanese healing practices with nature-inspired therapies from across the globe.

The centrepiece is an ample hot-spring bath that utilises mineral-rich waters from Ise-Shima. The resort also offers bespoke immersions that integrate private movement and specialist therapy sessions, spa treatments, nutritional support, and other experiences that aid guests in reconnecting body and mind. It's worth noting that the resort also has its very own signature facial, which is performed using Aman's skincare line. This includes ultrasonic scrubbing, electric muscle stimulation, cryo bulbs and a hydrating marine mineral mask, plus face and eye masks from Aman's collaboration with 111Skin.

aman.com

The Longevity Spa at Portrait Milano, Milan, Italy

Portrait Milano has become the world’s first hotel to host The Longevity Suite’s spa, a leading biohacking and anti-age brand in Europe. The spot becomes a hub of urban wellness rooted in the longevity method – cold exposure, detoxification, and aesthetic awareness are at the core of the offered treatments, complemented by the wet area featuring a pool, steam room, sauna, gym, and treatment rooms.

Inspired by the ‘Blue Zones’, the five longest-lived locations on Earth, the Longevity Spa offers guests rapid recovery from daily stress. Here, cutting-edge biohacking practices and insights from longevity-focused lifestyles converge to redefine ageing. To alleviate any residual grogginess from your journey, begin with the suite's 'Jet Lag Blessing Ritual' on arrival. Here, cold therapy, sensory deprivation, LED therapy, binaural sounds, and inhalation aromatherapy combine with acupressure to stimulate melatonin production and restore circadian rhythms.

lungarnocollection.com

Euphoria Retreat, Mystras, Greece

The Euphoria Retreat, situated near the Unesco World Heritage Site of Mystras, calls itself the first destination spa in Greece. Spanning a total area of 3,000 sq m, the four-level spa was carved into the ground and built alongside a cypress forest. The spa seeks to be an orderly and free-flowing space, achieved through light, sound, temperature, humidity, textures, materials and smells adjusted to create immersive sensory experiences. At the bottom, carved spaces with elliptical geometries of varying scales intertwine. Meanwhile, higher up, space is structured like the gears of a mechanical clock, with the largest of the four levels containing all the wet and warm treatment areas.

As the spiral staircase approaches the top, it leads to small private treatment rooms modelled after monastic chambers, offering well-framed views of the Sparta Valley. From nutritional guidance and consultations to massage, acupuncture and more, there’s a comprehensive menu of spa experiences. This includes Biologique Recherche facials using the brand's Remodelling Face Machine, an algae detox treatment for the entire body, and Watsu therapy in a specialist warm water pool.

euphoriaretreat.com

Mood Spa at La Zambra Hotel, Mijas, Spain

Nestled amid the scenic hills of Andalusia, the once-renowned Byblos hotel has adopted the new identity of ‘La Zambra’ following a redesign by the architectural studio Esteva i Esteva. Under the management of Marugal, the chic retreat invites travellers to relax and discover the hidden treasures between Málaga and Marbella. Central to La Zambra is the Mood Spa, a wellness sanctuary that crafts experiences tailored to the guest’s physical, psychological, and emotional equilibrium. With offerings like ‘Relax’, ‘Healing’, ‘Reconnect’, ‘Vitalize’, and ‘Glow’, the spa embraces a highly individualized approach.

Notably, the Osteo Skin Swaywaver table, a first in Andalusia, adds another layer of exclusivity to this revitalising haven. The spa works with products from luxury skincare brands such as Natura Bissé, EviDenS de Beauté, and Anne Semonin. (Try out the last's 'Heavenly Energising Body & Face Ritual', which brings together a potent mix of cryotherapy, massage, and aromatherapy.)

lazambrahotel.com

Spa of the Five Graces at The Inn of the Five Graces, Santa Fe, USA

The Inn of The Five Graces, the well-known Relais and Chateaux luxury boutique hotel and spa, has recently introduced The Spa of The Five Graces. The space opens after a five-year effort to renovate and redesign historic structures in Santa Fe, and it guarantees an opulent sanctuary in which to relax. The philosophies and rituals of ancient trade route the Silk Road have inspired the spa, which goes beyond conventional boundaries to offer personalised and transformative experiences that nourish the five senses.

Expert therapists craft custom spa experiences for guests. Massage therapies incorporate CBD oils and Himalayan salt stones, and rejuvenating skincare includes the 'High Mountain Hydration' facial (which uses a double peel, a lifting mask and massage inspired by Kobido techniques), and The Method, Augustinus Bader's signature sensorial treatment.

fivegraces.com

SpaceTime Floatation Center, Chicago, USA

Eric Rothfeder Architecture’s redesign of Chicago’s Spacetime Floatation Center, the oldest in the United States, choreographs the perfect transition for visitors who want to move away from the buzz of everyday life and enter a state of relaxation. The facility offers unique ambiences to cater to different needs, while consistently using materials and geometric shapes that create an easy flow between treatments.

The reception area, characterised by curved and textured plaster with lime-washed walls, sets the tone for the overall experience, throughout which natural light is gradually mixed with architectural lighting elements. Separated by layers of sheer curtains, the space features a pool of Epsom salt water, infrared saunas, and a halotherapy room. Treatments include the use of The Migun Bed, a device founded in 1988 by the South Korean company Migun Medical Instruments. It aids injury recovery and pain relief for the whole body, through infrared-heated jade therapy heads that move down each side of the spine and down the back of each leg.

erarch.com

Cellularium Spa, Prague, Czech Republic

Cellularium, situated inside Prague’s Institute of Natural Medicine, is a next-generation spa with a unique design that sets it apart from others globally. Designed by Czech studio Formafatal, the entrance’s reception and circular cell, which doubles as a doctor’s office and waiting room, feature soft walls with creative claddings reminiscent of the building designed by DAM architects.

The spa area, spanning 155 sq m, features dark tones and smooth screed surfaces enhanced by an interplay of light and shadow. The purpose of each room is guided by the colour of the walls; red represents the sauna’s fire, blue is for the cryosauna’s ice, and grey for the airflow’s wind. The heat sauna at Cellularium is Finnish, so moisture and steam are kept at low levels, with a temperature of around 80-100ºC. This helps with detoxification, cellular renewal, and relaxation of body and mind.

The HVN, London, UK

New London spa The HVN, nestled in the heart of Knightsbridge, arrives as a bolthole for guests seeking the support of skilled therapists, specialists, and medical practitioners. ‘Conscious wellbeing’ lies at the core of all offered treatments, along with personalised healing, comfort, and care. Through natural light, organic shapes, and soothing elements of nature, The HVN encourages relaxation – such as via its urban adaptation of Forest Bathing, which includes circadian lighting, woodland aromatics, and natural sounds.

Under one roof, the retreat provides a range of services, including state-of-the-art Fotona 4D laser technology, a medical-grade hyperbaric chamber, time-honoured Ayurvedic healing, and modern insights into gut health. Following an initial consultation with a medical professional, each client receives a custom programme tailored by nutritionists, aestheticians, osteopaths, and acupuncturists. Scalp and hair treatments include laser hair restoration and scalp PRP therapy, and IV infusions (such as NAD+) are also offered.

the-hvn.com

The Spa at The Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, Morocco

The Mandarin Oriental Marrakech is a true Moroccan oasis with an award-winning spa designed by the French duo Gilles and Boissier. The sun-drenched entrance opens onto a pool and fountain, creating a calming and refreshing atmosphere. Inside, guests can enjoy a heated indoor pool covering an area of 70 sq m, which offers a breathtaking view of the gardens.

The Spa houses six treatment rooms, including a couple's and a single spa suite, each equipped with a vitality bath, as well as a Thai treatment room that has its own private garden. Two luxurious Moroccan hammams specialise in the traditional black soap scrub, while a hairdresser, a beauty salon, a yoga studio, and a fitness centre complete the offer. Signature treatments range from collaborations with Dr Barbara Sturm (she of the vampire facial) to a Digital Wellness Escape, a restorative spa experience designed to relieve bodily stresses from the daily use of digital devices.

mandarinoriental.com

There’s a growing school of thought that our creature comforts might not be as comforting as they are made out to be; that actually, what we need to lead happy lives is a certain level of discomfort. Not the underground-at-rush-hour kind of discomfort, but something outdoorsy and elemental, such as exposure to extreme temperatures or cold water swimming.

Panorama Landscape Hotel and Forest Spa is for those seeking to relax, pause and find joy in genuineness

Finnish architect Sami Rintala knows this. His Norway-based studio Rintala Eggertsson has created buildings that are immersed in nature without destroying it, such as the Arctic Hideaway in Fleinvær and Safe House in Kalsholmen. And when he’s not working, Rintala likes nothing more than skiing for miles to his sauna in the forest outside Bodø, building up a sweat and rolling in the snow.

One of his latest projects is the Panorama Landscape Hotel, which comprises ten cabins in the woods near the ski resort of Tahko in eastern Finland. Its Lähde Forest Spa encourages guests to take a tour of the wild side; its three saunas and five hot and cold pools offer views over Lake Syväri. The spa takes its cues from traditional bathing cultures such as Japanese onsen and Russian banya, where elements of hot and cold have always been enjoyed together, while the pools are fed with water from a natural spring.

Each of the hotel’s cabins sleeps two and has traditional shingle walls, a grass roof and spectacular views. An attentive guest can spot that their design is inspired by the bears, lynxes and wolves that roam in the woods, and owner Harri Jokela has made sure the offering is completed by a great restaurant, helmed by top Finnish chef Kim Mustonen.

Lähde Forest Spa is small, discreet and in harmony with the landscape. It has none of the gizmos, gadgets and crowds associated with large spas, which, says Rintala, is just the way it should be. ‘We need alternatives to big spas,’ he says. ‘Those which are smaller and more fragmented and invite people to get closer to nature.’ This spa breaks the formula. ‘We are all suffering from a loss of contact with nature; modernity means being always acclimatised and protected. A roll in the snow is very good for us.’

panoramahotel.fi

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In a lavish addition to its Belgravia outpost, The Peninsula London unveils its highly anticipated Spa and Wellness Centre, offering a haven of tranquillity and wellbeing next to Hyde Park Corner. The newly opened facility spans two floors and introduces bespoke services and amenities aimed at nurturing guests’ bodies, minds, and souls with spa experiences.

The Peninsula London Spa and Wellness Centre opens its doors

Upon entering, guests are invited to savour a relaxation tea, setting the tone for an immersive experience. The highlight is the impressive 25m heated swimming pool, housed in a double-height subterranean chamber adorned with mosaic landscapes and light panels simulating natural daylight. Underwater speakers enhance the relaxation experience, as guests transition between the pool to the lounge area, where healthy snacks and teas are provided.

The Peninsula London Wellness Centre boasts seven softly lit wood-panelled treatment rooms, four thermal cabins, and a sleek fitness studio equipped with cutting-edge Technogym equipment. In addition, the Spa offers a roster of experienced therapists-in-residence, providing personalised one- to two-hour sessions in modalities ranging from acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine to osteopathy and personal fitness.

Exclusive partnerships with Margy’s Monte Carlo and Subtle Energies elevate the spa menu. Signature treatments include Margy’s 24 Karat Gold Mask and e-Finger Facial, known for youthfully plumped skin, and Subtle Energies’ Blissful Marma Massage, promoting holistic harmony through Ayurveda principles. This expansion aligns with The Peninsula Hotels’ global well-being initiative, ‘Life Lived Best,’ offering guests at its 12 properties unmatched opportunities for fitness, mindfulness, and nutrition, such as guided strength training and meditation, all in the comfort of guests’ rooms.

‘We are enormously pleased to offer such an array of ground-breaking wellness options to our guests, as well as the Belgravia community,’ shares The Peninsula London’s managing director, Sonja Vodusek. ‘Service is at the heart of everything we do at The Peninsula – and a key part of that commitment is allowing the members of our “Peninsula family” to experience optimal well-being.’

peninsula.com

As they say, good things come to those who wait; and The Bothy by Wildsmith spa, set in Heckfield Place, in the UK’s Hampshire, has been nearly five years in the making. Occupying the estate’s former bothy – a shelter usually for gardeners or workers of the land – the original brick building has been extended and transformed into a sprawling 17,000 sq ft wellness space. 

The Bothy and Heckfield Place

Heckfield Place opened its doors in 2018 to much applause. A labour of love for Boston-based businessman Gerald Chan, the Georgian Grade II-listed manor was transformed into one of the most notable country-house hotels to open in England in the past few years. Set amid 400-acres of verdant woodland, gardens and meadows, the property has its own Home Farm, kitchen gardens and orchards, which provide the ingredients for the restaurants and bars, including for the zero-waste cocktails at Moon Bar and Hearth, an open-fire restaurant led by chef Skye Gyngell.

Beginning with a journey through a glorious lavender-filled walled garden, the Bothy, as with the rest of the hotel, is lowkey and refined. The design, the work of Chan alongside a number of collaborators, offers a grounding sense of place, using natural materials from the surrounding land, like the antique Hampshire bricks and fossilised limestone, which was salvaged from the buildings’ exterior and used for the steps of the sculptural spiral staircase that takes centre stage.

This leads down to the main facilities, where mobile phones are deposited in lockers in a soothing, low-lit oak-clad reception area with a fireplace. From here, the space unfolds to include six treatment rooms, two fitness rooms, a movement studio and an outdoor hydrotherapy area, steam room and sauna with views over the rolling hills towards the farm’s Guernsey cows. 

Here too is The Sun Room, a small restaurant with a pared-back plant-based menu also put together by Gyngell, alongside a light-filled 19m chlorine-free indoor pool lined with nearly 30,000 handmade terracotta tiles that were each laid by hand to catch the light and create jewel-like pockets in the muted frame. 

Open only to guests at the hotel, The Bothy is a serene and quiet retreat, designed as a space where you can reconnect, realign and take root in the present time. The treatments – which range from reiki and reflexology to massages – all incorporate Wildsmith Skin products. The brand – whose products are crafted in England using ethically sourced, sustainable ingredients – started life with a walk through the woods at Heckfield Place and is named after the 19th-century horticulturalist who planted the grounds of the estate. 

Post treatment, head to the Candle Room – a space of complete silence and stillness – to re-centre yourself before making your way back upstairs, where The Bothy Shop is stocked with thoughtfully curated goodies from the Made-by-Many Makers alongside the complete Wildsmith Skin range. 

bothy.heckfieldplace.com 

The Palm Heights hotel, a Caribbean destination that seems blessed by year-round sun, opened in Grand Cayman in 2019. It’s the flourishing hospitality project founded by creative director Gabriella Khalil, who has created a sanctuary of beachy, glamorous 1970s Italian design blended with North African influences. 

This month, the hotel officially opens its spa, The Garden Club, a years-in-the-making operation that blows out of the water any pre-existing notions of what a simple vacation massage may run to. 

Palm Heights hotel spa: what to expect

Plants form the crux of the architecture: tropical hedges making up a labyrinth of verdant ‘living walls’ guide guests around the expansive 60,000 sq ft of sound rooms, saunas, pools, ice rooms, as well as movement-focused spaces (part of the also new Palm Heights Athletic Club) such as Pilates studios, training tracks, spin studios, gym areas and more. 

Khalil’s vision ‘at its most basic level was to offer generous, connected wellness spaces that provided sanctuary, an environment for gathering and harnessed the lush island setting in an informed manner; drawing as much as possible from circumstance and the natural environment‘.

To do this, she turned the well trodden spa model on its head, rejecting often solitary experiences and instead leaning into ‘historical global wellness culture from Turkey, Korea, Italy to South Africa, which largely demonstrate two commonalities: wellness as a social practice and an emphasis on bathing and cleansing rituals in a social environment’, says Khalil. 

Six plunge pools, four outdoor ritual baths and a staggering yellow marble outdoor hammam place the emphasis on bathing, which was ‘naturally very fitting due to the significance of water visually and culturally on the islands’, says Khahlil.

Realising the dream

Khalil enlisted architect Dong Ping Wong of architecture practice Food New York to collaborate on the project and realise her aspirations, after being drawn to his approach to social and community spaces, such as his radical Plus Pool project: a public swimming pool that cleans East River water for bathing, and a research project for a health centre for a post-Covid city. ‘A number of synergies started to emerge with conversations with Dong – across community, utilising the natural environment as part of the design process, sustainability, how space can be socially inviting – and informed references naturally developed from these conversations,’ says Khalil. 

‘A lot of bathhouses are designed to be very exclusive to only a very select few –hidden away in basements, with multiple layers of check-ins to pass through – and we wanted this to feel the opposite,’ Wong explains of the open-air ethos. ‘At the same time, we wanted to create a diverse set of intimate areas. Spaces for everyone. Places you can discover and make your own and feel safe in.’

Leaning into the temperate climate, Wong envisioned an airy and free-flowing environment, its architecture defined largely by local vegetation – a maze of palms and tropical plants that would lead you from one area of the spa to the next. One of the many challenges this posed was planning for a building that ‘you'd have to constantly garden and prune and water’, he says. But they persevered, sourcing all the plants through local expert Whit Connors: ‘He works with all the nurseries on the island and helped with everything from sourcing to craning trees into place, waterproofing, drainage details and caretaking,’ says Wong. The travertine stone and distinctive yellow marble and black marble were sourced in Italy by Palm Heights’ own architect, Giorgio Paolini, who hails from a small town on the east coast where the materials are abundant.

Costa Brazil: an enduring partnership

Since its opening, the hotel has partnered with Francisco Costa of beauty and lifestyle brand Costa Brazil to outfit the luxurious zellige-tiled bathrooms with toiletries. Now Costa has developed a menu of exclusive treatments for The Garden Club – the first location outside of Brazil to offer treatments and rituals by the brand – such as the Sol and Lua body treatments, which feature shimmering elixirs and involve breathwork, plus sound therapy as part of the latter. ‘Breathwork is the best and most efficient way to feel balanced and to wake up, quite literally, the body, mind and soul,’ says Costa. Nutrient-dense ingredients kaya and cacay, along with soothing breu resin (which Costa encountered in the Amazonian rainforest), are also used in the custom recipes.  

Other beauty and wellness collaborators include Biologique Recherche, iS Clinical, beauty specialist Nikki DeRoest, and lymphatic massage expert Anna Zahn of Ricari Studios. 

palmheights.com

In the midst of the applause for the arrival of the slick Hotel Chadstone Melbourne and the rush upstairs to the rooftop blue-tiled pool and its views of the Chadstone neighbourhood, the skyscrapers of Melbourne’s city centre, and the fabled Mount Dandenong Ranges, passing almost unnoticed was the unveiling of its mezzanine level spa.

The work of local interior architectural practice Studio Tate, the Holism Retreat is anchored by a suite of nine treatment rooms flanked by an LED light therapy treatment lounge, yoga studio and showers. The ensemble is a textbook example of a perfectly proportioned spa that is spacious but still possesses a sense of intimacy.

It certainly helps the cause that there are no hard notes here, the designers deploying a tranquil palette of desert and wheat shades, and diffused lighting throughout its 400sqm space. Geometric shapes of circles, squares and rectangles dominate. The bijou foyer features two circular plinths of pink granite with brass trim. Curved walls are reflected in arched doorways, globe lamps and circular mirrors.

The treatments are equally considered. The yoga studio is heated to 27 degrees with infra-red panels, whilst facials and massages feature fruit acids or enzyme peels, coconut oil, and alginate minerals.

INFORMATION 

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ADDRESS

1341 Dandenong Road

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It’s a little difficult to define what Żyjnia is, though its approximate English translation – ‘lifery’ – provides a hint.

Though self-styled as an urban health resort, it is, in fact, one part nonprofit art gallery and two parts social hangout with a hint of a spa. It’s an odd hybrid, but one that works, thanks mostly to Wrocław-based Buck.Studio’s light hand in dressing the ground floor of the Dizajn BWA Wrocław Gallery with tall green translucent drapes, suspended potted ferns and geraniums, and a judicious scattering of bespoke lentil-shaped seats whose low-slung forms fairly float above the floor.

The scent of aromatic herbs wafts out from behind a floor-to-ceiling glass wall to set the mood for an unexpectedly tranquil urban salon that the public can drift into, rest, and regroup whilst sipping herbal infusions before inspecting the gallery’s offerings, including curator Katarzyna Roj’s ever evolving programme of exhibitions and activities that are centred on design, publishing and media.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Świdnicka 2/4
Wrocław

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As the ubiquity of private members’ clubs grow, Sopwell House, the grand Hertfordshire-based hotel, has taken the quest for exclusivity quite seriously with the relaunch of its wellness facilities into a sprawling private members' spa comprising Cottonmill and the even more exclusive The Club at Cottonmill

With new interiors overseen by London’s Sparcstudio Design, both the reimagined pre-existing structure and a new extension are now bound by a ‘refined nature’ aesthetic. This translates to indoor-outdoor areas, lush gardens, designed by gold medal-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show designer Ann-Marie Powell, soothing water features, aqua hues, washed cotton and terracotta textures, and swathes of natural light.

This all sets a soothing tone for a series of facilities including an indoor pool, two vitality pools, a state-of-the-art gym and a lenghty menu of treatments using products from British brands Elemis, Espa and Aromatherapy Associates, along with new innovations such as the UK's first thermal amber and quartz crystal spa bed. Beyond the Cottonmill offerings, an exclusive labyrinth of areas awaits select members and a limited number of hotel guests at The Club at Cottonmill. This includes new saunas and steam rooms including the light-filled organic sauna with panoramic views over the estate; a hushed Whisper Room; and a Deep Relaxation Room laid out with softly vibrating Four Senses loungers. 

Although, pre and post treatments, you're likely to find us in the Garden Room, swinging in one of the hanging Dedon chairs, while sipping on a glass of the spa's very own brand of Prosecco and making the most of what we like to call, productive recreation

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Cottonmill Lane, St Albans

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In a surprising pairing but, really, one that makes complete sense, Mayfair's swanky private members' space, The Arts Club, has just unveiled a tie-up with the Austrian spa-styled medical institution, Lanserhof, marking the company's first foray into London.

Billed as the world's first medical gym, the facility occupies the six-floor plot – opposite the 155-year-old club – that was formerly home to Dover Street Market. Inside Lanserhof’s signature pioneering analytics and state-of-the-art-training systems are paired with stylish interiors by Düsseldorf-based firm Ingenhoven Architects, which took its cues from the spa brand's other locations in Germany and Austria. And so, floor-to-ceiling murals of the bucolic Austrian countryside take centre stage it the members' lounge; the group's signature blue sofa lines the reception of the doctors' consultation rooms; while luxe materials – including Spinneybeck leather, which covers the elevator walls and Vitra chairs, brushed brass surfaces, and the brand's signature Corian hewn into elegant treatment room sinks – add a level of opulence to the otherwise clean lines.

As one would expect from the two establishments, members have access to the most advanced innovations in the field. This includes micro-chip technology, which loads bespoke programmes onto gym equipment; cryotherapy chambers; a Spine Lab influenced by aerospace training technology; and an in-house MRI machine for body composition analysis. Members wanting to start slow may want to begin with the club’s IV infusion menu, a massage, or workout in the expansive gym, where a next day butler laundry service for sportswear makes for great motivation.

INFORMATION

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ADDRESS

17-18 Dover Street

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In a refreshing departure from the usual subterranean offerings, South Lodge, a sprawling country hotel in Sussex, has ratcheted its wellness offering up a few notches with the unveiling of its show-stopping new spa.

Literally throwing a curveball, Hove-based architects Felce & Guy Partnership has taken its cues from the rolling sweep of the surrounding South Downs, UK, setting the timber-clad building into the landscape with a dramatic curvilinear meadow-grass roof.

Natural light bathes the interiors thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows that also frame bucolic countryside vistas. These are best experienced from the slick indoor, infinity, ozone-treated pool or from the light-filled panoramic sauna that has been designed – along with the rest of the spa's interiors – by Richmond-based Sparcstudio.

With 14 treatment rooms including a dedicated mud room; a relaxation room with state-of-the-art 4 Senses Loungers; three swimming pools including the UK's first heated natural swim pond; a 2,000 sq ft fitness space with Technogym equipment; and a grooming offering that including a beauty bar – complete with a sparkling wine Enoflute dispenser – and a barber, we suggest booking a room at the hotel for a weekend to ensure at least a few days of pampering.

But if you only visit for the day, make some time to pop by Botanica, where head chef Jonathan Spiers draws on the surrounding South Downs as a larder and doles out plant-based dishes including the crowd-pleasing Wasted Burger made entirely of the leftover ingredients from the morning's juices.

INFORMATION

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ADDRESS

Long Hill
Lower Beeding
Horsham

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Having one client is already a challenging proposition, but having three on the same project boggles the mind. Hats off then to the UK-based Norwegian architect David Fjågesund of Feste Landscape/Architecture for successfully navigating what must have been challenging, competing demands to create this bijou jewel of a sauna.

Set in Dalen, a wildly picturesque spot in Telemark county, 160km southwest of Oslo, the project marks a remarkable collaboration – specifically between the Telemark Canal Regional Park, which owns the canal on which the sauna is located; the local Tokke municipality; and local landmark hotel, the Dalen hotel, the operator – in which art, architecture and lighting design are harnessed as part of a regional art project to highlight the region’s landscape and traditions.

Named after a well-known Norwegian fairytale about a gold palace in the mountains, the sauna is the very definition of Scandi-functionality and minimalism. Its sharp-edged polygonal silhouette is a striking echo of the surrounding mountains; its warm interior lined with blonde timber and floor-to-ceiling windows takes in the entirety of the tectonic view; whilst the exterior of golden-hued metal and pine shingles and decking acts almost as a natural camouflage against the lake’s mirror flat surface.

The sauna is appropriately egalitarian, with access available to guests of the Dalen, day-trippers, and stray mountain hikers.

ADDRESS

Hotellvegen 33
3880 Dalen
Norway

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There is, perhaps, a touch of breathless hyperbole about The Lanesborough Club & Spa’s claim to being, in its words, ‘London’s finest private members’ club’. There can be, however, no denying the utter plushness and commitment to hedonistic pleasures to be found in the sprawling 18,000 sq ft space designed by local studio 1508.
 
Tapping into this millennium’s holy trinity of fitness, wellness and lifestyle, the club and spa enfold guests in a cocoon of creamy whites, blonde timber, shimmering mirrored details, silk wallpaper, and banks of recessed light to banish any unflattering angles. 

Anchoring the space are the restaurant (which also features a private dining room, alongside marinated Yellowfin tuna, and a tart gazpacho of tomato and pineapple) and spa lounge. Around this is a sequence of spaces that one navigates with the guidance of a solicitous spa butler.

Literally not an inch of the exterior or internal body is not targeted. There are studios manned by an army of fitness coaches, personal trainers, dance tutors and yoga instructors. There are his and hers thermal suites and a hydrotherapy pool. Toes are buffed, and faces enrobed in rich creams, caviar and gold by the likes of organic specialists ila and La Prairie, whilst Anastasia Achilleos offers craniosacral therapy and massages.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Hyde Park Corner

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Cape Town's De Waterkant has steadily pocketed a burgeoning collection of the city's chicest upmarket boutique stores, restaurants and hotels, having locked in its status as one of the most design-savvy enclaves. No surprise then, that when Jenny Kouwenhoven sought out a space to debut her flagship beauty concept, the suburb offered a perfect fit. Cue the opening of Lume, a design-driven luxury beauty atelier in the heart of the Mother City.

Tasked to local interior studio ARRCC, Lume’s design is the brainchild of Mark Rielly and Jon Case, who treated the space to high-fashion touches with luxurious rose gold and brass metallics, offset by a monochromatic palette of white marble, wood accents and black finishes. French-oak panelling and cleverly placed screens separate the spaces within Lume, seamlessly speaking to their unique functions. The result matches an understated indulgence with a tranquil atmosphere, mirroring the wide range of treatments on offer.

Guests can experience Oribe hair products in the Minotti furnished hair salon, move through to an intimate nail bar, or transition to the private treatment rooms for any number of therapies using Biologique Recherche, Terres D’Afrique or Académie Scientifique de Beauté products. Though vibrant in character, it would be hard to leave the space without a renewed sense of calm as you re-enter the neighbourhood’s energetic streets.

ADDRESS

40 Chiappini St

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A defunct car repair shop in San Francisco’s gritty Tenderloin neighbourhood is reborn as a Japanese-inspired bathhouse and restaurant. Husband-and-wife team Sunny Simmons and Caroline Smith have honoured the single-story building’s early 20th century bones by preserving its soaring ceilings and red bricks, while adding sloped skylights and metal beams.

Simmons, a craft builder, created custom shelving from redwood, rescued from construction sites, and Smith, an artist, hand-dyed indigo fabric panels and added sashiko stitching to hang on doorways. The result is zen reinterpreted in contemporary California style, with an eight-person hot pool, a three-tiered wood sauna, and a steam room decked out in white and black subway tiles. The wet area and the treatment rooms for massage and acupuncture are encased in original exposed bricks brimming with green plants.

‘I dreamed of recreating the ryokan experience from our travels in Japan,’ says Simmons. ‘But right here in the middle of the city.’ Even if you’re not planning on poaching and sweating, you should still drop by to admire the dining space while tucking into Onsen’s Japan-meets-California menu featuring seasonal vegetable skewers, grilled fish, and al dente rice porridge. 

INFORMATION
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ADDRESS

466 Eddy Street

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With hotel spas becoming something of a staple fixture, properties are jockeying to outdo each other with new-fangled, and at times gimmicky, attractions. 

Thankfully the newly relaunched spa in Johannesburg’s Saxon hotel, offers the best of spa culture, without the unnecessary bells and whistles. An equal reverence to science and human awareness is evident in the collaboration of modern therapies with ancient techniques for an experience that is a celebration of simplicity. Here, eight treatment rooms guide guests through a holistic journey that also includes access to a series of thermal spaces, including a steam room, heated hydro pool, hammam centre, plunge pool, a Himalayan salt sauna and outdoor treatment zone.

Yet it never feels overwhelming. A thoughtful continuity of design features, such as the use of locally handcrafted Himalayan salt, purported to ionise surrounding spaces, brings cohesion to the two-floor spa. Recycled glass chandeliers too, make a frequent appearance; the minerals used are said to purify the air, stimulate circulation and increase energy levels. And throughout the space, interior designer Stephen Falcke has brought together dark wood, copper, linen and water for an aesthetic that is warm and rustic. The result is a soothing space that feels a world away from the clatter of the city and truly in touch with the holistic disciplines of a traditional spa. 

ADDRESS

36 Saxon Road

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Located in the bowels of U-Town, a mid-end shopping mall in Beijing’s East Third Ring, the salon is a marked departure from Lily Nail’s other outlets in the city and Shanghai. For this stage set that is so reminiscent of Matt Damon’s botanical lab in The Martian, we have Arch Studio to thank.

Lead designer Han Wen Qiang has transformed a rectangular space into a curvilinear white cocoon that’s lit by a solid curling curtain slash chandelier that drops from the ceiling. A wall of white perforated steel extends from the entrance into the interiors, drawing the eye along a sinuous sightline that curves towards a curved wall lined with irregular arches. Flanked by six monolithic cream-hued treatment chairs, these transition the glossy white space into a more textural raw concrete space that displays the bottles of nail varnish and colour.

Han’s boldest move comes in the form of the opposite wall, which he has turned into a vertical garden festooned with bird’s nest ferns, devil’s ivy, and maidenhair ferns.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

4019B
4F U-Town Shopping Mall
Chaoyang District

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Therme Vals was completed in 1996, the same year this magazine was founded. It was clearly a good year. Two decades on, Peter Zumthor’s genre-defining spa in the Swiss canton of Graubünden remains a place of pilgrimage for architecture enthusiasts the world over. And Zumthor is now one of the world’s most sought-after architects.

Peter Zumthor is not your typical internationally-operating, Pritzker Prize-winning architect, even if there is such a thing. He has no offices in London, New York or Zurich, preferring instead to base himself in the tiny Swiss hamlet of Haldenstein, where he has lived and worked for more than 40 years. At his atelier, staff are not found glued to shiny Apple Macs but gathered around physical models of buildings – working prototypes lifted up on stilts to eye level – while beyond those models, breathtaking wraparound views stretch out across the Grisonian Rhine Valley. The practice is small, deliberately limited to around 30 people, making it a necessity to be very choosy about the projects it takes on. Which is what makes it really different. Looking back over the last 20 years since Therme, the projects Zumthor has designed have been dictated not by commercial opportunity, but by where architecture can make a real difference to the human experience. Where architecture can bring joy, peace, insight or energy: you know you’re in a Zumthor building not because you notice any trademark shapes or materials, but because of how it makes you feel.

He originally came to Haldenstein in the early 1970s, then met his wife here and ended up staying. They bought an old farmhouse with some land, and over the years transformed it into their family home, and eventually the atelier. Now the atelier has the luxury of a new, additional building, which is currently being completed and which affords everyone some extra space – not to mention those incredible views over the valley.

Despite international demand, he says, they were never tempted to move. ‘Because I have to keep things concentrated because of the authorship of architecture. It’s very personal... I work like an artist. So this was a good place. I remember the moment when I thought from now on I would do my own thing. It was about liberating myself.’

Looking back, he says he can see that everything happened by chance: ‘The contingencies of life, you know, but there seems to be some kind of sense to them.’ In 1983, the village of Vals acquired a bankrupt 1960s hotel complex and, largely to rescue existing jobs, set up an architectural competition to design a new thermal baths as a first step towards its regeneration.

Zumthor, despite having a limited track record at the time, won the commission for his design, which resembles the foundations of an archaeological site, half buried in the hillside and constructed using local Valser quartzite slabs. Much has been written about the astonishingly beautiful results that have drawn over 40,000 people to visit every year since completion – and though the hotel itself, now under new ownership and renamed 7132 Hotel, continues to undergo changes and developments, the baths remain blissfully untouched, as ageless and enduring as the mountains around them.

Therme is just one project that has helped to foster Zumthor’s reputation for wellness architecture. Though its success could have seen him become the sparchitect of choice, Zumthor has avoided replica commissions, instead focusing on projects that allow a particularly unique architectural experience. The 1997 Kunsthaus Bregenz overlooking Lake Constance (Bodensee) in Austria, for example. Or his two completed projects for the wild landscapes of Norway’s National Tourist Routes. Or the serene Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in 2011. Or the much anticipated Secular Retreat in Devon, which promises to be the most inspired Living Architecture project yet. Or the teahouse in Korea that he’s currently designing. While the newest generation of architects is preoccupied with notions of wellness, mindfulness and the landscape, Zumthor has been refining the approach for decades.

But does he recognise himself as a pioneer? ‘This changes because there were years when everybody thought, “This guy is still working like this, he’s really old-fashioned, he doesn’t even look at what everyone else is doing”,’ he says. ‘But I’m not changing, I do my thing and it was always appreciated.’

His approach might not have changed, but over the years the nature of the commissions Zumthor has been invited to undertake have grown in scale from small residential projects to entire campuses, such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), due to complete in 2023. With his years of experience, he says, he’s learned not only how to step back from his work and reflect, but also to be ‘more professional’ in his dealings with the world. ‘How do I deal with people in Qatar or Norway? In the beginning I was just working; now I look at the people and try to make sure I’m not forcing them to do something I can see they can’t be bothered with, or which they’ll have a hard time doing.’ Perhaps most importantly, he says mischievously, he’s learned ‘how to get rid of a client in one day’, if he knows it’s not a match. ‘As a young architect I didn’t know how to deal with people, and now I do. It takes a long time to understand where you should engage and where not. I’m getting better.’

So are there any dream projects still on the horizon for Zumthor? ‘An auditorium for music,’ he says. ‘I’d like to do a couple of terraces or a whole neighbourhood, things like that are done very poorly now. Something on water… I’m not interested in skyscrapers, it’s not my cup of tea. A hotel in the Alps maybe… I love hotels, there hasn’t been a really nice beautiful hotel in a long time.’ Perhaps the next 20 years will be the best yet.

Peter Zumthor is one of our 20 Game-Changers. Read about the other 19 here

As originally featured in the October 2016 issue of Wallpaper* (W*211)

If the curious looks of passersby are anything to go by, The Spa Kitchen on a leafy street in Barcelona’s Eixample district, is certainly a departure from the usual run-of-the-mill beauty salons. Not surprising, considering the owners are Ronit Stern and Rafael Campos, the entrepreneurial duo behind the artisanal bakeries Crustō, which they have since sold, and the buzzing Toto Restaurant and Wine Bar, where they tapped local design star Lázaro Rosa-Violán for the interiors.

Clearly aesthetically inclined, for the spa, the duo charged Barbara Aurell of interior studio Espacio En Blanco, who took a quirky, relaxed approach to the design, filling the space with an eclectic mix of vintage furnishings, enhanced by standout elements such as the central coconut fibre lamps and colourful wallpaper from House of Hackney in London.

Indulge in a pedicure with a jar of homemade lemonade while ensconced in wicker chairs softened by faux fur throws before heading to one of the treatment rooms for a deep tissue massage or an anti-ageing facial. 

While we recommend a visit to the actual shop for the full experience, the salon does offer a ‘take away’ service for clients who prefer the comfort of their own home.

ADDRESS

Carrer d'Enric Granados, 93

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Not though we needed another reason to lure us to Paris: we are already admirers of Biologique Recherche’s cult P50 exfoliating lotion but were intrigued to hear of the revamp of their maison by French interior designer Joanne de Lepinay.

Originally housed at number 30 avenue des Champs-Elysées, the iconic beauty brand recently acquired the adjacent identical house sparking a major renovation of both three-storey historic buildings.  Set back from the boulevard within an enclosed cobblestone courtyard, the ‘twins’ are notable as the only remaining buildings on the famed boulevard to retain their original heritage appearance.

With a design brief to create distinctive ‘Parisian-style’ interiors for the new space, Lepinay seized the opportunity to refresh the company’s trademark visual identity introducing a palette of delicate ivory onyx, brushed brass and a brighter shade of navy blue.  

Demolishing the original shared wall created a new enlarged ground floor reception with a dedicated hair treatment salon, skin assessment area, and elegant lounge featuring contemporary custom-design armchairs, Jules Wabbes wall lamps, and a striking blue sofa by Pierre Paulin. The latter is a nod to the seventies when Yvan and Josette Allouche, a biologist and physiotherapist, founded the iconic beauty brand. Upstairs, accessed via the original matching staircases, is a series of understated yet refined treatment rooms decorated in muted shades of cream and gold.

The main draw, however, is the impressive 40sqm VIP ‘Haute Couture’ room with a walk-in shower room, dramatic suspended cluster of Ombre Portee lights hand-made by artisans in Limoges, and its own private 20sqm boudoir.

The interiors are impressive but the brand’s loyal customers - mostly immaculately groomed exacting Parisians (who insisted the original salon remain open despite the 6-month long renovations) – also come for the newly released ‘Seconde Peau’ face mask inspired by medical processes to treat severely burnt patients.  

A specially designed 3D printer machine weaves pharmaceutical-grade hyaluronic acid nanofibres into a mask that is offered as a cosmetic alternative to injections. A course is advised, to see significant results, but happily for those not heading to Paris, the products will soon also be available at Biologique Recherche and its partner hotel spas worldwide.  The first will be at The Peninsula New York spa where therapists are currently being trained in its application.

ADDRESS

32, avenue des Champs-Elysées

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The fact it is located in Knightsbridge, around the corner from some of London’s best hotel spas, has set the bar high for the wellness offering in The Mandarin Oriental. Health and fitness has become a lifestyle for the new generation, and with the type of guests that expect their travels to blend seamlessly into their daily lives, a quick jog on an average treadmill, no longer makes the grade. Luckily though, as part of a hotel group best known for going above and beyond, it is already one step ahead.

In-house lifestyle coach and trainer to the stars Ruben Tabares - who has taken top athletes including professional boxers David Haye and Amir Khan through their paces - is on hand to for anything from nutritional advice to specially devised workouts. And with Hyde Park literally on your doorstep as well as a state-of-the-art gym with a new 17-metre indoor pool, there really is no excuse not to keep up your fitness routine.

Post workout pampering can be had in the serenity of the two-floor spa; unwind in the Sanarium - a classic sauna combined with humidity - before yielding to the skilful hands of one of the therapists. We suggest indulging in the detoxification ritual, which includes a caviar salt scrub, lymphatic drainage massage, detoxifying body wrap and an express facial.

Finally, a wholesome breakfast of poached eggs, served with avocado and bee pollen, should have you sufficiently fuelled for a visa-burning spin through Harrods and Harvey Nichols, located just opposite the hotel.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

66 Knightsbridge

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As Europe's temperatures plummet, a new ray of sunshine comes courtesy of W Hotels. The group has just opened a Caribbean outpost on the small island of Vieques, designed by

http://www.patriciaurquiola.com/" target="_blank" >Patricia Urquiola, in collaboration with

http://www.scf-pr.com/" target="_blank" >Sierra Cardona Ferrer Architects. Together, they have given earthy rusticity an elegant, modern rethink, with wood cladding, dark cement floors, geometric screens and - of course - a smattering of

http://www.bebitalia.it/" target="_blank" >B&B Italia furniture designed by Urquiola herself.

Eight miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, Vieques is an island with a colourful past - it was once a stronghold for pirates and also served time as a US naval base. Now free from military shackles, it's a verdant, peaceful island with minimal tourist development - save for the new W Retreat & Spa (the brand's second worldwide), set on a 30-acre stretch, fronting two beaches.

The abundance of wood used throughout the hotel helps it sit comfortably in its surrounds. Inside, Urquiola has adeptly mixed local recycled materials, organic forms and textures with modern brass lighting by the likes of Tom Dixon, her own bespoke furniture for B&B Italia and sofas from Moroso. Bathrooms include a specially designed, oversized Urquiola bathtub, made from painted steel.

There's also a big emphasis on geometry, seen in the fabrics in the living room and the hexagonal screens in the restaurants - of which there are four, under the helm of multi-Michelin-starred French chef, Alain Ducasse. Added to these is a separate spa pavilion, should guests tire themselves out on the beach.

Spa fiends and Aman Junkies alike have been celebrating the opening of the new Aman Spa in London. Admittedly, its location in the basement of the venerable Connaught Hotel is a little unexpected – especially for those more used to Amanresorts’ trademark panoramic settings – but interior designer Jaya Ibrahim’s palette of grey Portland stone, oak, silk, glossy pewter and cotton conspires to create a perfectly soothing cocoon for a little pampering.

Each of the five treatment rooms feature a dressing space, treatment area and bijou steam room clouded with essential oils; while, between treatments, a dark grey granite 60 sq m swimming pool beckons.

The star of the spa, of course, is the predominantly Asian-based treatment menu. Depending on time (and budget), there are Thai hot herbal compresses, Indian chakra balancing massages, Himalayan crystal salt body scrubs, and even red clay body wraps infused with Navajo herbs. All of which should leave you suitably serene to face the world again.

ADDRESS

The Connaught

Carlos Place, Mayfair
London W1K 2AL

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Combining two of our favourite pursuits in one luxury package, the Spa Boat – designed by Norway-based, Finnish architect Sami Rintala – brings an added dimension to the standard spa weekend.

Taking a stripped-down 1950s fishing boat as the skeleton of his project, Rintala adapted the bare woods and curving walls as integral design elements of his vision.

The depths of the hold, where tons of North Sea fish were once stored, now plays host to a wood-clad spa area - featuring a Turkish Hammam, (complete with the obligatory steambath, bath tub and hot tiles) Zen lounge with wood burning fireplace and a sauna surrounded by panoramic windows.

The Scandi-inspired luxury continues on deck, with a hot tub designed for mid-winter Aurora Borealis gazing, whilst a seven meter-high diving board provides release for those with more frenetic agendas.

Boasting three, well-proportioned guest bedrooms, the Spa Boat can play host to as many as twelve guests at a time, whilst the on-board kitchen – which brings to mind many a pared-down Scandinavian eatery – comes complete with a host of professional chefs.

Moored in the Arctic city of Tromsø and unveiled at the end of last year, the Spa Boat offers an authentic – if wintry - take on the spa experience.

A pioneer beauty spa since opening in 2000 in Madrid, The Lab Room launched its own range of beauty products and fragrances last year. The real story behind this beauty brand, however, is owner Monica Ceno Elie-Joseph, an ex-journalist with stints at MOMA and the Guggenheim in New York.

A powerhouse of salon secrets, Elie-Joseph is responsible for a bestselling self-help book and writes a successful blog. Her most recent venture, The Lab Room Beauty Collection, is a niche cosmetic brand with botanical and aromatherapy benefits.

www.thelabroom.com

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Established by Ignacio Fernandez Rodgriquez in 2003, Aspid Cars has brought the Supercar to Spain

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The Cubic rooms of Aragon's Hotel Consolacion perch high above Aragon

A high-design boutique hotel, Consolacion sits atop a rocky ravine in North East Spain

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Recycling centre by Hidalgo Hartmann architects

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Recycling Centre, Barcelona by Hidalgo Hartmann

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Hotel Ferrero, Valencia

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Valdermorillo House, by Padilla Nicas

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One of the 2009 Pamplona Festival's high-colour posters

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Muralla by Ricardo Bofill Architects

Fabrica by Ricardo Bofill Architects

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Simil Jesus by Ricardo Fumnal

Work for GIles Deacon by Ricardo Fumnal

Artwork for Mango by RIcardo Fumnal

Read the Article: The Lab Room Spa, Madrid

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Trestle table by Spanish designer, Tomas Alonso

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Erotic publishing from Spanish creative, Luis Venegas

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Wind farms help keep things running at the Aire de Bardenas Hotel

Once used by Sannio warriors in 290BC, the sweet spring waters of Petra served as inspiration for the refurbishment of an ancient Borgo village into this exclusive 43-room resort and spa.

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It took owner-architect Domenico Tartarone and his wife and interior designer Patrizia Tartarone Cante over ten years to create the vast bath paradise immersed in 26 hectares of oak woodland and organic olive groves. Featuring original stone and rock throughout, the resort’s gym has been built around existing trees trunks. The exterior pool is filled with natural Sannio spring water and the Roman-style bathhouse features a hot and cold pool.

The Turkish bath, or hammam, and sauna are infused with organic mint and rose essences. Couples can treat themselves to a hot stone rose oil massage for two in a twin massage booth complete with private suite and plunge pool. And after all that indulgence the restaurant beckons with its own temptations, offering dishes such as pistachio crusted fillet steak and fresh tomato pizza.

www.aquapetra.com

Not content with outposts in some of the world’s most exclusive hotels, British-born ESPA has opened its first standalone spa, interestingly, in Riga. Hidden behind a restored Jurgendstil façade, the spa is a six-floor haven of intimate spaces, with an arsenal of facilities that will put most good spas to shame.

See more of ESPA's first standalone spa in Riga

In contrast to its traditionally Latvian frontage, the spa interior has been given the full 21st century treatment. The ground floor houses an impressive 18 metre swimming pool accompanied by a granite pool bar and a spacious Sanarium, encased in full height glass windows. Changing rooms, treatment suites and relaxation areas are spread over the third, fourth and fifth floors, while the top floor houses steam and sauna facilities, as well as a heated outdoor jet pool.

Each treatment room is equipped with elliptical glass showers that gently emerge into the undulating walnut corridors, while relaxation areas feature ergonomic recliners for ultimate comfort. To bring the sprawling spa together, a black tile spiral staircase runs through the spa, with a dynamic, 22 metre wire installation of glass crystals by Eva Menz cascading through its core.

Amidst these sumptuous environs, guests can partake in a range of Ayurvedic-inspired face and body treatments. The spa offers a selection of signature therapies, including a chakra balancing body treatment, which incorporates Baltic amber stones to reach an unadulterated state of inner harmony.

ADDRES

ESPA Riga,
Baznicasiela 4A
Riga

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Shopping-worn feet pounding pavements around London’s Marylebone High Street, now have a state of the art sanctuary to retreat to. This month, the capital’s queen of feet, podiatrist Margaret Dabbs has opened a flagship clinic on New Cavendish Street.

Designed to be ultimate environment in which to prime, pamper and perfect extremeties, toes will be pointing in its direction voluntarily.

Already practising in prime grooming locations around the city, including Harrod’s Urban Retreat, Fortnum and Mason’s spa and the Hurlingham Clinic, Margaret Dabbs has made a name as someone who cares supremely for all foot needs - for the clinical health and wellbeing as much as the cosmetic finish.

Extending the care to hands, she launched a comprehensive range of manicure and pedicure products in 2004 based around Aborignal cosmetic cure-all, emu oil, which offers anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory aswell as nourishing properties. Treatments range from verrucae removal (£75) to highly indulgent massage and pedicure (£60) which use fresh new nasties-free varnish range Rococo.

Here in this new space care of the extremities is supplemented with relaxation therapies. The ground floor is dominated by a large egg-shaped oxygen pod fitted with a massage chair, night sky, Vivaldi and an oxygen feed. For 15 minutes, ideally while nails are drying, you can forget the mayhem outside. We’d use it just for the much needed respite from retail at this time of year.

Anyone who has ever experienced the hammam treatment in Morocco, may be surprised to see it on offer at the recently renovated spa at the Gstaad Palace in Switzerland. Pummelling and scrubbing of the skin until it is red raw before being subjected to a form of water torture may seem slightly incongruous with a hotel that has been synonymous with high-end luxury for several decades.

The private spa

This being the Gstaad Palace, the seven-stage hammam treatment programme is an altogether more refined affair. The two-hour ritual begins with a foot bath and takes in a foam body massage, a steam bath, a dip in the truly stunning pool, finally ending in a hydrating oil massage in the private relaxation room.

Alongside the hammam facilities are eight treatment rooms, a private spa suite, saunas, steam baths and a couple of pools, as well as a gym and Jacuzzi; all wrapped up in over 50 tons of stunningly assembled granite from the Bernese Oberland. All in all, a welcome haven from summer and winter mountain pursuits.

ADDRESS

Gstaad Palace
Palacestrasse
3780 Gstaad
Switzerland

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