Designing the Modern Spa: The Challenge of Contemporary Business
Spas are no longer an optional hotel amenity or simply an addition to the hotel—they are experiences at a destination. As designers and hotel operators reimagined wellness for the post-quarantine COVID-19 world, priorities have shifted: daylight, fresh air, personal space, and an authentic sense of place now shape every decision. At Nola 7, we see spa design evolving from standard templates into multi-layered sanctuaries of the senses, combining practical functions with storytelling filled with soul. Here’s how we approach this transformation—and what every owner, entrepreneur, and designer should know.
Start with the place and its story, its location. Authenticity begins with the concept. The most memorable spas draw from the history, landscape, or culture of the place to create a narrative that guests can feel as soon as they arrive. Natural beauty, local artisans, custom furniture, and site-specific art help transcend generic, brand-led interiors into experiences that resonate with the human soul. When the material palette and spatial decisions of the spa are rooted in local character, association with the specific place becomes easy, and marketing becomes organic.
Location, light, and site surroundings. Location is not just a matter of views—it’s about connection with the individual. Moving spas from basements to light-filled, landscape-facing rooms completely changes the guest experience. Panoramic saunas, open-air pools, and terraces opening to gardens bring nature into the treatment sequence and create unforgettable moments for the client. Where possible, orient main relaxation and warmth spaces towards views and daylight to make the outdoors an integral part of the clients' relaxation.
Space planning is crucial. Beautiful design must be supported by rigorous thinking about procedure layout. Spa planning is like a multi-layered puzzle: where guest flows, back-of-house supply areas, machinery, HVAC, and staff movement must be precisely coordinated to avoid costly compromises later. Intuitive wayfinding, minimized corridors, and glassed spaces with views reduce the need for signage and sharpen client interest. Every spa needs a 'marketing shot'—an iconic space or zone meant for publication in press, social media, and retained in guests' memories.
Materiality and the new luxury. Luxury is shifting from 'glamour' to care. An aesthetic of 'bare luxury' is emerging—preferences for natural, textured materials—polished marbles, recycled rough-patterned wood, green slates, and terracotta in creative formats. Handcrafted, custom details, and artisan craftsmanship reinforce the sense of care for the individual. Sensory saturation comes not from ornaments but sensitivity—warm wooden decors, aromatic juniper panels, soft lighting, and the presence of water and plants.
Customizable individual wellness programs and varied relaxation landscapes. The universal relaxation room is outdated. Modern spas offer multiple, diverse relaxation areas—private lounges, fireplaces, herbal gardens, hot tubs for stargazing and nature-watching—so guests can choose their own way of unwinding. Wellness and spa rooms become boutique, light-filled sequences, not a row of closed rooms; panoramic saunas and organic curvy forms liberate the experience from tightly controlled treatment sequences and engage the architecture in dialogue with the landscape.
Water, rethinking its significance. Water remains the emotional center of every spa, but its development and changes give it new meaning. Custom hydrotherapy pools, open swimming pools, and individual Japanese-style or other-style jacuzzis allow guests to choose relaxation, tranquility, and intimacy. Natural swimming pools and biologically filtered pools meet the growing demand for wild swimming, societal ecological sensitivity, and a sense of escape from the city's concrete jungle. Thoughtful placement of water attractions—visually and physically connected with the landscape—enhances tranquility and frames unforgettable moments guests share on social networks.
Technology: invisible, enabling further experiences. Technology should be discreet and service-oriented. Contactless access via bracelets, app-based reservations, personalized treatment profiles, and environmental controls adapting lighting and scent to guests’ preferences will become standard. The best technology is that which you don't notice: it removes tension, preserves personality, and enhances the human elements of service rather than replacing them.
Wellness beyond the treatment room. Expect further blurring between spa, fitness, wellness, and medical services. Integrating diagnostics, restorative therapies, personalized wellness programs, and boutique fitness studios creates a more comprehensive experience and encourages returns. Designing flexible spaces that can host classes, consultations, and treatments—while maintaining tranquility and privacy—is a strategic advantage for every spa.
Client engagement with wellness centers. Spas can evolve from places of casual visits to regular destinations for clients. Membership models, specialized packages, and club programs make wellness a part of daily or weekly routines, increasing occupancy and deepening client relationships.
Green solutions and handcrafted elements. Green solutions are now an integral part of luxury. Local materials, energy-efficient, greenery, regenerated wood, and chemical-free water systems demonstrate ecological responsibility and often enhance the guest experience. Similarly, commissioning local crafts for part of the interior elements and combining them with art pieces embed the spa center into its targeted community and support the authenticity that modern travelers value.
In Conclusion. Designing a contemporary spa center is an attempt to achieve balance: operational rigor and technological integration should support rather than limit a soulful, sensory experience connected to a specific place. At Nola 7, we believe that the most successful spas are those that combine an unforgettable experience of location, natural materials, and intelligent programming of the environment to create spaces where guests return again and again—not just for treatment, but to feel rejuvenated, to meet old acquaintances, and to feel at home.
Nola 7 — Creating a wellness experiences.
🌐 nola7.com | 📞 +(359) 882 444 252 | ✉️ info@nola7.com
Start with the place and its story, its location. Authenticity begins with the concept. The most memorable spas draw from the history, landscape, or culture of the place to create a narrative that guests can feel as soon as they arrive. Natural beauty, local artisans, custom furniture, and site-specific art help transcend generic, brand-led interiors into experiences that resonate with the human soul. When the material palette and spatial decisions of the spa are rooted in local character, association with the specific place becomes easy, and marketing becomes organic.
Location, light, and site surroundings. Location is not just a matter of views—it’s about connection with the individual. Moving spas from basements to light-filled, landscape-facing rooms completely changes the guest experience. Panoramic saunas, open-air pools, and terraces opening to gardens bring nature into the treatment sequence and create unforgettable moments for the client. Where possible, orient main relaxation and warmth spaces towards views and daylight to make the outdoors an integral part of the clients' relaxation.
Space planning is crucial. Beautiful design must be supported by rigorous thinking about procedure layout. Spa planning is like a multi-layered puzzle: where guest flows, back-of-house supply areas, machinery, HVAC, and staff movement must be precisely coordinated to avoid costly compromises later. Intuitive wayfinding, minimized corridors, and glassed spaces with views reduce the need for signage and sharpen client interest. Every spa needs a 'marketing shot'—an iconic space or zone meant for publication in press, social media, and retained in guests' memories.
Materiality and the new luxury. Luxury is shifting from 'glamour' to care. An aesthetic of 'bare luxury' is emerging—preferences for natural, textured materials—polished marbles, recycled rough-patterned wood, green slates, and terracotta in creative formats. Handcrafted, custom details, and artisan craftsmanship reinforce the sense of care for the individual. Sensory saturation comes not from ornaments but sensitivity—warm wooden decors, aromatic juniper panels, soft lighting, and the presence of water and plants.
Customizable individual wellness programs and varied relaxation landscapes. The universal relaxation room is outdated. Modern spas offer multiple, diverse relaxation areas—private lounges, fireplaces, herbal gardens, hot tubs for stargazing and nature-watching—so guests can choose their own way of unwinding. Wellness and spa rooms become boutique, light-filled sequences, not a row of closed rooms; panoramic saunas and organic curvy forms liberate the experience from tightly controlled treatment sequences and engage the architecture in dialogue with the landscape.
Water, rethinking its significance. Water remains the emotional center of every spa, but its development and changes give it new meaning. Custom hydrotherapy pools, open swimming pools, and individual Japanese-style or other-style jacuzzis allow guests to choose relaxation, tranquility, and intimacy. Natural swimming pools and biologically filtered pools meet the growing demand for wild swimming, societal ecological sensitivity, and a sense of escape from the city's concrete jungle. Thoughtful placement of water attractions—visually and physically connected with the landscape—enhances tranquility and frames unforgettable moments guests share on social networks.
Technology: invisible, enabling further experiences. Technology should be discreet and service-oriented. Contactless access via bracelets, app-based reservations, personalized treatment profiles, and environmental controls adapting lighting and scent to guests’ preferences will become standard. The best technology is that which you don't notice: it removes tension, preserves personality, and enhances the human elements of service rather than replacing them.
Wellness beyond the treatment room. Expect further blurring between spa, fitness, wellness, and medical services. Integrating diagnostics, restorative therapies, personalized wellness programs, and boutique fitness studios creates a more comprehensive experience and encourages returns. Designing flexible spaces that can host classes, consultations, and treatments—while maintaining tranquility and privacy—is a strategic advantage for every spa.
Client engagement with wellness centers. Spas can evolve from places of casual visits to regular destinations for clients. Membership models, specialized packages, and club programs make wellness a part of daily or weekly routines, increasing occupancy and deepening client relationships.
Green solutions and handcrafted elements. Green solutions are now an integral part of luxury. Local materials, energy-efficient, greenery, regenerated wood, and chemical-free water systems demonstrate ecological responsibility and often enhance the guest experience. Similarly, commissioning local crafts for part of the interior elements and combining them with art pieces embed the spa center into its targeted community and support the authenticity that modern travelers value.
In Conclusion. Designing a contemporary spa center is an attempt to achieve balance: operational rigor and technological integration should support rather than limit a soulful, sensory experience connected to a specific place. At Nola 7, we believe that the most successful spas are those that combine an unforgettable experience of location, natural materials, and intelligent programming of the environment to create spaces where guests return again and again—not just for treatment, but to feel rejuvenated, to meet old acquaintances, and to feel at home.
Nola 7 — Creating a wellness experiences.
🌐 nola7.com | 📞 +(359) 882 444 252 | ✉️ info@nola7.com
18.08.2025