14 principles to follow in your spa design concept
There are a hundred and one different kinds of spa design concepts, and new ones spring up each day. There’s no limit to what spa concept ideas you can bring to life. But before experimenting to try and create something new, you need to ace the basics as well as include a few fundamental principles in your spa concept to make sure it rests on a solid groundwork.
In this article we’ll first cover what types of different spas there are, then move on to summarize what fundamental principles should always be taken into account during the spa design concept, regardless of what type of spa it is.
What types of spas are there?
ISPA, the International Spa Association, defines a spa as a place that is “devoted to overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit”1.
They recognize six different types of spas:
- Club spa
The primary purpose of a club spa is a combination of health and fitness, offering a variety of spa services on a daily-use basis. They are often located within a larger gym or a health club. - Day spa
Day spas provide no overnight accommodation and are suitable for daily spa-use. These types of spas are usually found in easily accessible places such as city centres. - Destination spa
Destination spas are facilities where its main purpose is to guide individual spa-goers in developing healthy habits to improve their well-being. This includes activities such as: spa services, physical fitness, wellness education and healthy diets. - Medical spa
Operates under the supervision of full-time licensed health care professionals on-site, providing integrated medical care and wellness facilities. - Mineral springs spa
These are spas that offer natural mineral, thermal or seawater sources used in hydrotherapy. - Resort/hotel spa
Spa facilities located within resorts or hotels that provide professional spa services and fitness of a healthy lifestyle.
The 14 fundamental principles of a spa design concept
Regardless of the spa design concept you’re planning to make reality, there are a few principles one needs to set forth during the design phase to increase the quality of the areas within the spa. They can be summarized as follows
- The spa need to have a sufficient storage area (areas where laundry, products and supplies will be stored need to have sufficient space)
- Cross-circulation areas need to be avoided as far as possible, in other words, there should be no direct crossover from a wet to a dry area. Semi wet areas should always be considered. The ideal design is as follows: dry – semi wet – wet.
- Capacity calculations need to be performed with precision, for example to make sure gym equipment has sufficient space between each other.
- Suitable flooring such as non-slip rubber or similar should be preferred for wet feet walked areas.
- Sales areas should be pre-designed where stands should be implemented afterwards.
- Privacy areas, such as showers, should be designed as to avoid eye contact.
- Factors causing noise pollution should be eliminated as far as possible.
- The design and location of relaxation areas need to be convenient, easily reachable places.
- Details and finishes of the shower area need to be clean.
- The design of lighting needs to be considered where the heat is neither high or low, and the colour of the light is pleasant on the eyes.
- Relaxing colours should be preferred, but more striking colours can be used within the framework of the main themes in relation to the spa design concept.
- Ventilation should not make enough noise to disturb customers, especially in relaxation areas.
- The spa should be designed to allow the elderly and disabled to visit the premise with ease.
- Close attention should be paid to the hygiene of wet areas.
Make your spa concept ideas a reality with Raison d’Etre
There you have it, the 14 fundamental principles to start your spa concept ideas. If you’re planning to develop your own spa concept or are stuck in the process, contact Raison d’Etre today and we’ll guide and support you all the way towards your goal.
Read about our own spa brand: Nordic spas.
Reference:
1. https://experienceispa.com/images/pdfs/Global-Best-Practices_2017Updates.pdf
