Cottonmill is a new three-storey, private members spa, which offers two tiers of memberships to both hotel guests and non-residents, and was launched in October 19 to great accolades.
Sparcstudio Design developed the Interiors and Architectural design for this £14 million project with a brief to create a ‘World Class Spa ‘
The project occupies an area of 1,500 sq m plus 400sqm spa garden and included a total refurbishment of the existing spa areas and the addition of a large sleek glazed three storey extension linking on to a new private spa garden (beautifully designed by Ann-Marie Powell). Sparcstudio worked with Debi Green to develop the operational details and ISA architects were appointed to assist with the delivery of the building itself.
Clever space planning with bespoke designed elements and experiences create moments of surprise throughout the guest journey which begin in the spaces carved out of original rooms within the Georgian Hotel building, but ends in an amazing contemporary new build (over three levels) with full height glazing and direct links to the uber glamorous spa garden by Ann-Marie.
The project features bespoke furniture design and fittings, from the small oval glass, brass and stone tables in the ‘sitting room’, the luxurious bespoke double loungers for the Garden Relaxation and Whisper rooms to bronze privacy screens, as well as the glazed crittal screens between reception and the ‘sitting room’ with ‘cotton-reel’ installation.
The overall feel of the interiors is über luxurious and is driven by the guest experience and the desire to create a beautiful spa journey that is stimulating as well as ‘Relaxed and Informal’, combining glamour and a sense of ‘Barefoot luxury’ that you might enjoy in a luxury resort outside of the UK.
Beverley Bayes explains: “The swinging woven suspended seats around the bespoke fireplaces (clad with blocks of end grain willow) provide a playful touch and the social centre piece of each of the main relaxation spaces. We are particularly proud of the variety of bespoke designed heat cabins that we created which range from the organic sauna which is formed from Aspen, a white timber, and with the natural light flooding in, feels like you are sitting in the garden, to the glamorously lit Quartz lined salt stream room, and the first floor angular Panoramic that provides dramatic views on two sides of the grounds.
‘The jewel in the crown’ is the green slate lined in- out Hydro-pool which is designed to provide an experience akin to ‘wild swimming’ and provides a direct connection to the ultimate Spa Garden.
’We felt that Sparcstudio were the right people to work with on this project as they are one of the leading spa design teams in the UK. We have always had a positive working relationship and the initial feedback from guests has been great, we are really happy with how our vision for the project has been realised by Sparcstudio.
The Spa looks fantastic & the level of detail & care is phenomenal
Rafi Bejerano, Director Sopwell House
As the ubiquity of private members’ clubs grow, Sopwell House, the grand Hertfordshire-based hotel, has taken the quest for exclusivity quite seriously with the relaunch of its wellness facilities into a sprawling private members’ spa comprising Cottonmill and the even more exclusive The Club at Cottonmill
With new interiors overseen by London’s Sparcstudio Design, both the reimagined pre-existing structure and a new extension are now bound by a ‘refined nature’ aesthetic
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This is What a £14 Million Spa looks like
The country’s first private member’s spa, Cottonmill at Sopwell House, has serenity sewn up.
Members of The Club – and those upgrading to day club access – can add all kinds of luxe to that list. The new three-storey extension, linking on to a private spa garden with an indoor-out hydro-pool, combines state-of-the-art facilities with a stunning aesthetic and atmosphere of laidback indulgence.
Is it worth a premium? Absolutely
Bazaar
RISING SPAS: THE EVOLUTION OF WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE
What’s more of-the-moment than a subscription to wellness? As the membership model permeates every area of modern life, spa operators are following suit and they’re driven by the allure of an exclusive experience – and elevated by seriously stylish interiors
While the home counties aren’t short on spas, the Sopwell Spa shake-up is state of the art, with three storeys of saunas, relaxation rooms and hydrotherapy pools by London’s Sparcstudio, as well as a garden (above) by award-winning designer Ann-Marie Powell.
Elle Decoration
