How to create the perfect spa garden

We talk to Beverley Bayes, co-founder, Sparcstudio; Philip Jaffa, founder Scape Design; Alberto Apostoli, founder, Studio Apostoli and Matteo Thun, founder of Matteo Thun and Partners about the key elements when creating the perfect spa garden space.

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.

SPA GARDEN TIPS: MATTEO THUN

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT: Create a change in the experience of the spa from day to night by changing the look and feel of the spaces with garden lighting to highlight the landscaping and plants.

OUTDOOR POOLS: These are moving away from tiles and more traditional moulded surfaces to continuous, free-flowing composite liners that evoke the colours and tones of the immediate environment, creating a more natural-looking water colour.

GOING HOT AND COLD: The key to providing an interesting and balanced wellness experience is to offer a combination of pools with different temperatures, an outdoor sauna nearby and a plunge pool.

AL FRESCO MASSAGE: There is a strong trend towards delivering targeted massage treatments in pools, ranging from neck to foot rituals.

SWIM IN AND OUT: Swim-through pools allow guests to seamlessly swim outside without leaving the comfort of the heated pool. The result is a blurring of the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

SPA GARDEN TIPS: ALBERTO APOSTOLI

SIGNATURE POINTS: Create places that can emphasise the four most significant moments of the day – sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight. Each structure should have at least one place that benefits from these moments.

NATURAL FLOW: It is necessary to design the water as it would exist in nature, thinking thoroughly about the path it takes, how it flows and what surrounds it.

PROTECT THE EARTH: We must respect the importance of the earth to the subsoil. The land must be understood as a material product, each place has its own characteristics and must be absolutely valued.

SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS: It is necessary to find within a place at least one or two spaces where there can be a strong spiritual connotation, to be able to help both the body and the mind/soul.

REDUCE YOUR CONSUMPTION: Build your project with reference to sustainability, which deals with the relationship between materials, energy and water.

PHILIP JAFFA: NATURE BY DESIGN

A SENSE OF PLACE: Connect with the unique locality of each individual site by blending the gardens into the natural environment.

PRIVACY AND SOCIABILITY: Create moments of intimacy and privacy within the garden – places for contemplation and meditation. But also, do not forget places for social connection, like a pool area or juice bar.

BUILD ANTICIPATION: Lead guests on an unfolding journey through the gardens with moments of surprise and delight, such as chancing upon a plunge pool, Jacuzzi, or hidden sauna grotto.

WELLNESS BEYOND THE SPA: The art of wellbeing should not just be limited to the spa gardens. The grounds of the entire resort can be activated with idyllic spaces for yoga stretching, meditation, scent gardens and relaxing connection with nature.