WELLNESS+SPA
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MATERIALITY JESSICA ALVAREZ
8. What materials are appropriate for use at spas and wellness
MARIA BENDANA
WOOD
BAMBOO
M A R B L E
TABLE OF CONTENTS G L A S S
TILE
N A T U R E
PSYCHOLOGY The findings suggest that people’s response to wood is, for the most part, extremely positive, with subjects generally showing a strong preference for rooms containing many wood details. There also appears to be a strong belief that the use of wood can help to create healthful environments, and commonly evoked descriptors for wood rooms include “warm,” “comfortable,” “relaxing,” “natural” and “inviting.” Using wood from sustainably managed forests actually reduces carbon dioxide emissions, as the carbon dioxide stored by the forest and in the timber product outweighs any carbon dioxide created during the production of the product. Each tonne of timber used instead of other building materials (like steel, or brick and concrete block) saves around a tonne of carbon dioxide. Wood acts as a natural humidity regulator, absorbing humidity in damp conditions and releasing moisture in dry conditions.
Working with a neutral colour palette, white marble can make small rooms appear more open. It can even be used to freshen up your home over spring and summer as it will add light to dark, confined spaces.
Marble is formed by the recrystallization of limestone. Carrara is one of the densest marbles and has much less porosity than limestone. That’s why the Romans used Carrara in their bath houses and not the more porous marble, Travertine. Carrara marble has a .10 percent water-absorption rate and will also absorb other liquids, especially the oily kind you might use when bathing. In the past, most quarries in Italy only shipped Carrara in one finish - polished. The polishing process gives the stone a natural
TUBS
The massage itself promotes circulation, sensory nerve perception, and lymphatic drainage and provides a deep sense of relaxation and well-being. An added benefit for the practitioner is that using the bamboo sticks helps to reduce stress and strain on hands and fingers while still allowing for deeply penetrating maneuvers.
Strength and Durability Bamboo is heartier than oak and stronger than steel. It is flexible and lightweight, and is water-resistant, minimizing the risk for warping. Affordability It is easily grown and harvested, making it one of the most cost effective construction materials available.
Glass is a materials used to let light in or to represent transparency. A spa is a very calming and peacful place, and using glass as the material you can represent an openess within the spa. Glass can also be manipulated in other ways to make it look opaque, for uses such as a bathroom or possibly a private area. Areas considered to be hazardous safety glazing areas requiring tempered glass are: -Glass in any kind of shower, bathtub area, hot tub, steam room, sauna or whirlpool area -Glass in walls used as a barrier for indoor or outdoor swimming pools or spas.
BATHROOM SHOWER TILE Shower tile doesn’t have to be boring to handle multiple uses every day. In fact, the Kimona Silk series inspires the senses with its spa-like feel and functions well all over the bathroom. It’s also a ColorBody porcelain tile, which means that the color of the body of the tile is similar to the surface of the tile so chips or scratches are not as apparent.
BATHROOM FLOOR TILE
Your bathroom floor has to stand up to wet conditions, frequent cleaning, and look good while doing it. Porcelain and ceramic tiles allow you to get water resistant stylish tiles.
B W A A T L H L R O T O I M L E
Not only does a fully tiled wall make your bathroom more water-resistant, it is a stunning design statement as well.
BATHROOM BACKSPLASH TILE
Natural stone can often go on the floor and/or the wall for a continuous design. Granite or marble make distinguished The backsplash is a great place to add a splash of color or an interesting finish additions to your bathroom. without overwhelming the room.
GLASS TILE SWIMMING POOL Glass tile adds immense beauty and allure to swimming pools, and when installed properly, most types of glass tile represent the most durable of all swimming pool and spa surfaces. Glass tiles come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and finishes, and can be used to accent any style of pool, be it traditional, modern, or natural.
Glass is traditionally used as an accent tile at the swimming pool’s waterline because of the way it captures the light from the sun and mirrors the movement of the water.
REFERENCES
http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/home-and-gardening/the-tile-oracle-usingmarble-tile-in-a-bathroom-1.351783 http://americanolean.com/bathroom-tile-ideas-for-creating-a-spa-environment.cfm http://www.bwf.org.uk/choose-wood http://www.solutionsforwood.com/_docs/inthenews/K&B_SPRING07_p28.pdf http://freshome.com/2014/07/31/how-to-incorporate-marble-into-your-interior-design/ http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/1561/Bamboo-Massage http://www.greenbuild.org/new-construction/uses-for-bamboo-in-sustainable-building/ http://www.daltile.com/inspiration-and-diy/bathrooms/the-4-best-tiles-for-a-water-resistant-bathroom http://www.luxurypools.com/blog/glass-tile-swimming-pool-designs http://discountdw.com/p-6176-when-to-use-tempered-safety-glass.html