Where do design-conscientious spa lovers go to experience spas with the hottest new design elements in Miami? The list is long, as a hip selection of luxury spas has moved into town within the last few years. Here’s the short list:
Since UK-based ESPA dove into the waterfront spa scene by opening their first US outpost in Acqualina in 2006, a steady march of healthful havens have followed. Two additions to the scene are the Lapis Spa at the Fontainebleau Resort and Canyon Ranch’s Wellness Spa, designed by David Rockwell.
Design highlights from ESPA include the warm hues of the Crystal Steam Room with its delicately iridescent mosaics. Within the space, authentic crystals help aid in the cleansing and balancing of the body’s chakras. A concave glass wall spilling ice flakes into a resin bowl illuminated by a gentle wash of light welcomes spa-goers to the entrance to the steam room. The Experience Shower is encircled by a spiral wall, which is finished with mother-of-pearl glass tiles that emulate the inside of a shell.
Rockwell’s designs for the treatment rooms at the Canyon Ranch serenely reflect the massage, body, and skin treatments performed within. They are beautifully appointed with design features that aim to create experiential environments that inspire people to feel more joyful and alive. Rockwell felt that the deeper message would be helping post-visit spa-sters to make healthier choices.
Given it's at the Fontainebleau, Lapis was designed with the movie-set aesthetics of Morris Lapidus and old Hollywood glamour in mind, whereas Philippe Starck’s designs for the Spa at Icon Brickell, which has his-and-hers relaxation lounges and a eucalyptus-infused steam room, stretch the boundaries of the theatrical even further. The voluminous yellow glass chandelier that cascades from the center of the 28,000-square-foot spa seems to be swooping in for its own day of relaxation.
As designers become more attuned to the atmospheres in which spa-worshipers thrive, I predict more of them will be reciting the age-new phrase “deep breath in, deep breath out” as they plan their next spa interiors!
For a truly great laugh, visit the DesignCommotion fan page on Facebook and see Philippe Starck acting out (again!).
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