Designing Wellness Spaces With Nature

One of the blessings from my career was the opportunity to live and work in Java and Bali with my wife, Kim.  It was in Indonesia where we were immersed in the culture and beauty of the people and the land, and nature became the main act for planning spas wherever and however possible.

With the news spreading about ‘wellness’, thankfully, one of the clear messages is how much we need nature in our lives and how to make it so.

According to the Global Wellness Institute Trends report:

The nature economy is booming. Hotels and spas are taking advantage of

their often intrinsically beautiful locations to offer more outdoor

programming, and marketing it to their guests more creatively. There is a

real desire to connect guests to natural surroundings, and this presents an

incredible opportunity for destinations around the world.

For planning wellness spas of all sizes and shapes around the world, we always strive for a village concept where nature is orchestrated as a ‘connector’ between and within interior and exterior spaces – i.e. site-lines, color, scent; places to sit or lounge with a view, swim or soak, enjoy a treatment and/or a workout indoors or outdoors; organic gardens and wildlife; choices of materials and finishes, natural light and paying attention to the ‘spaces within the spaces’ within the village.

The ‘prescribed nature’ trend is just fantastic, makes my face smile big and I almost grow cranium hair.  I have fond memories of many projects where nature was integrated into everything.

Several of my favorites from the past:

We started work on the spa project in 2008.  Village vibe with views, mingling and lounging amongst gardens for everything – walkways, pools, outdoor showers, steam and sauna.

– Oz Architects and Vallone Design (outstanding team)

2. Spa at Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali

The spa planning began in 1995 in Bali. One of my first indoor / outdoor spa suite concepts. Except for the vichy shower system (wrapped in bamboo), everything was made in Indonesia.