Industry Intelligence Spa garden design
SPA GARDEN TIPS: BEVERLEY BAYES FIND THE BEST ASPECT: Ensure the spa is situated so a link to the outside can be easily formed and that it has the best vista of the natural landscape. A BIG REVEAL: Create a meandering spa journey into ‘rooms’ – don’t reveal everything at first – and be sure to create a good balance of social spaces and niches for more private relaxation. BALANCE THE LANDSCAPE: Pay attention to soft landscaping and built features to ensure the space doesn’t feel over developed. KEEP IT COMFORTABLE: Make sure access to the garden minimises draughts and does not adversely afftect the balance of the AC or pool environment. CREATE A SANCTUARY: In case of a sudden downpour or very cold weather, build a space where people can take shelter if needed. GET THE LIGHT RIGHT: Pin-spotting natural features in a beautifully illuminated garden adds another dimension to the outlook from inside when viewed at night.
16
Above: A natural sunset moment adds another dimension to the garden at Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House
A sense of place To create a sense of place in new-build spas we position the spa to ensure that guests can take full advantage of a special vista and the sun’s trajectory to experience that sunset moment. Natural swimming pools surrounded by reeds and wildlife, as found at The Scarlet and South Lodge Spa, enhance this. To ensure a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor sections of a spa, we provide a visual connection, such as a panoramic sauna with floor-to-ceiling glass, and ensure the décor palette runs through from inside to outside. Embracing trends such as forest bathing allows spa gardens to creep out of the manicured confines of a walled garden and into forests, meadows, cliffs and urban roof terraces. We also love how exterior spaces can provide an ever-changing spa setting, with seasonal changes in the planting and landscape – as well as the sky of course, which provides a dramatic backdrop and focal point in its own right.
www.europeanspamagazine.com
