Successful spa design means appointing the right specialists from the start and letting them do what they do best, says Neville Brownhill, director of Atlam Design Worldwide. The synergy between the client/operator and the design team is paramount at the outset of any spa project. Putting together a full team of specialists can result in enormous project savings. However, this is precisely where many projects go wrong. Companies and individuals with little knowledge of operations or design are often brought on board, which can harm the project. For example, I have known spa managers play a substantial role on layouts, content and even the size and shape of swimming and vitality pools. In other cases, suppliers of sauna, steam and whirlpool spas have been involved in the size and overall design of thermal areas, which may be far beyond their skills and experience. As a result, spa design companies like us often become involved with projects that are already under construction inheriting a design with major flaws. These include spas with poorly segregated wet and dry areas, noise pollution due to incorrect zoning, poor design with incorrect sizing of areas and facilities and operational problems such as poor storage and staff integration. All of which can severely impact the future success of the spa. For example, we were recently involved with a 3,000sq m spa project at a resort hotel, which wanted to provide a four star spa wellness and leisure offering over two floors. We had been proposed as partners at the beginning of the project, but the client/investor chose to use a local company. Unfortunately, things started to go wrong, both in design production and operationally, and we were brought in at a very late stage of the project. A previous design house had already provided layouts, but had these been implemented, there would have been absolutely no possibility of the facility being a success.
Saving money by not employing specialists is a false economy The proposal needed to be re-worked to encompass all the elements expected of a high end spa development. Resolving the situation obviously had cost implications for the client, which had a knock on effect to any other design house and its involvement going forward. Once agreement on additional fees was reached, albeit reduced to compensate for the wasted costs to date from the initial design house, the design development got underway. However due to the progress, or rather the lack of it, the design period was now slashed by half, affecting the final outcome of the project. The pace had to be increased just when time is paramount to produce a dynamic and innovative design concept. Unfortunately this scenario is not uncommon and in most cases, it’s the client/investor who is forced to pick up the tab.
The only way of ensuring that a project works and becomes one of the jewels in the spa industry’s crown is to bring in the right specialists from the outset and let them do what they do best. For the record, spa design companies design spas. Spa consultants provide essential information to ensure the design meets its operational requirements and delivers a quality product service. Architects provide the building in accordance with the other parties completing the team. But it’s when individual companies claim to provide two or all three of these elements that problems can arise. Yes, there are some companies that can provide the total service, but dig beneath the surface and you will often discover that it’s actually two or three different companies operating under the one umbrella. And this is not always best option for the client, especially when supplying specialist items and fit outs because rather than look at other possibilities for the client, such companies will always specify each other. Some companies are linked with specific suppliers or product houses, which is fine. Although, I personally believe this also doesn’t represent the best option for the client because the market place can become restricted and blinkered. So many times I hear people ask: “We have an architect, why do we need a spa designer?” Or, “We have a spa manager, why do we need a spa consultant?” Trying to save money by not employing either of these specialists on a spa project is a false economy. In fact, the costs will far exceed their fees should things go wrong. You may well say that as a spa designer, I am bound to say this. But just consider engineering a structure without using an engineer. Some of our best spas have been where we have worked closely with a consultant from the start and have provided the full detailed design and interiors package in line with the requirements of the customer. If the consultant knows exactly what he or she wants, the architects can take the brief and expand on it, putting together the layout drawings based on the information they’ve received. If the consultant understands scales and the total content of the layout, there isn’t usually be a problem. It’s when consultants have no conception of scale that difficulties occur, which can develop into major issues for all concerned. It’s about time clients, investors and operators were given the true facts at the outset. Each company or individual may claim to offer a specific service or services, but this can be embellished to obtain a contract. Only recently I spoke with a supplier who claimed to offer spa design and layout on their website. This, admitted the supplier, was done to attract more people to the site. The company did not actually offer this service at all. It’s our duty as professionals to be honest with the client about our abilities. In this way designers do not become consultants, consultants don’t become designers and the client gets the best spa project delivered at the best price. www.atlamdesignworldwide.com