Posted: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 4:13 pm

Given its location in the Canary Islands, Lanzarote is arguably the most naturally beautiful of the islands, full of mountainous scenery, natural energy, powerful volcanoes, all of course surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. 

It's precisely the water and fire elements that triggered the design idea for the Spa Beatrix project. The spa itself consists of a huge spa pool, spa lounge areas, including single and double relaxation loungers for couples, jacuzzi, sauna and showers, treatment rooms and dressing locker rooms and washrooms. The similarities with other spas ends there.

From the moment visitors arrive and get changed they instantly begin to filter themselves into the heart of this project, with scensory changes almost immediately. 

I introduced a series of sensory tricks that delight and renew the spa user. The scale and spacial elements of this spa design, coupled with the brilliant light, makes the visitor feel small, as if they are molecules of water or pixels in an image disappearing in the space. 

We could have divided the space and have had sectioned areas according to their functions, but we focused on the unusual by creating an interconnected area for greater fluidity. The flooring design aids the design and fluidity further. We achieved this through curved walls covered with vitreous colors with reflections mirroring the flashes produced by the light amongst others. 

The entire surfaces of the floor, walls and supporting columns are covered with colourful glass tiles and back painted glass which are in part and where nessecary, back lit too. An intense contrast of contemporary coloured tiles fills the space with a healthy positive energy.

A hot pink curved acrylic wall echoes the round jacuzzi which divides the sauna and jacuzzi spaces from the showers. The shower screens themselves dont escape the curvacous shapes and are also curved to compliment the design scheme while also aiding greater privacy.__The Spa itself has a thalassotherapy pool with a 360 degree infinity overflow edge. An extra wide waterfall cascades water gently into the pool, providing a calming sound whether your in the pool itself or relaxing by the poolside. Relaxation beds are located all around the pool.

Once in the pool, water releases our tensions, liberating us psychologically. Transported by the design, a huge waterfall breaks and creates a cascading wide jet of water emulating an entire sea which becomes a metaphor in a set of poolside water jets.

Large flowers are drawn onto the ceiling and walls in this large plane, as in the magical Spanish Midsummer San Juan’s night celebrating the summer solstice, where the beaches of the island get covered in flowers that end up being swept away by the tides. 

This difference of scale, when is compared to humans, reshape us, spiritually and we disappear further into the space, while we get an idea of the sense of smell with spa aromathereapy perfumes airing in the space that aid the sensory experience more. 

Incorporating the relaxation area within the same space makes this spa even more unusual and dramatic giving a metaphorical sense, a linear history in which we circulate.__The large curved plane that envelops the entire spa space, is anticipating a spectacular finale. Both ends of the spa become the main relaxation areas, in tunnel-shaped space, like a wave about to break as it comes to shore. Located at either side of the spa pool, each of the relaxation lounges have a barrel-vaulted ceiling finished with white tiles, creating a snug, relaxed comfortable atmosphere.

Lighting, as always in design, plays a key role emphasizing the elements of sensuality and loading them with dynamism, while warming the space. 

It leaves the option to lay and contemplate the space through which we travelled and return in a different state to the real world. 

Whether you are planning a spa with a relaxation, romance, or fun brief, interior decoration is very important, because it sets the mood for the stay. In a world where people appreciate good design everywhere, I believe this type of spa design exemplifies a very different exciting retreat which suits its brief, purpose, location and use.__It is to make a person feel fantastic in themselves as if they were the only person in the world, that is what we try to achieve at Eduardo Cardenes Design.