Located between Positano and Amalfi overlooking the most beautiful coastline in the world, the Spa designed by Jane Goff (Goff Associates Ltd) is managed by Howard Spa Consulting. Jane believed that the building should be the guide as to the best design and so the labyrinth of original 17th Century monastic spaces and rustic walls still form part of the new structure. The result is a thoroughly modern spa befitting a world-class luxury hotel, which has retained its historic character.
Neil Howard of Howard Spa Consulting specialises in serving high-end properties of distinction that require their spas to enhance their brand. The renowned specialist was recently approached to produce a spa design within a historic convent at Monastero Santa Rosa.
From the outset the owner required the spa to draw upon the unique integrity of the convent’s character and not to follow a predetermined formulae that a brand would impose. Howard Spa Consulting’s independent approach and adeptness in creating spa concepts suited the owner’s philosophy and the design commenced. The essence of Howard Spa Consulting’s approach was to allow the building to tell the company what best suited it and to join spaces together to form a flowing experience.
The existing space showcased a series of raw, monastic, empty, medium-sized, rustic, stone barrel-vaulted cells across four levels. The total floor area was approximately 1087m², with the outdoor area offering a 180° panoramic view of the Amalfi Coast. Every effort was made to maintain the rustic shell as if it was a protected museum piece.
Creating the suites
The super suite provides a complete spa experience within the privacy of a large indoor/outdoor suite. The super suite is a double height space with a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The guest enters via the higher-level and looks down upon their private space. There are five distinctive zones within the double dry treatment area; a double wet treatment area with a rasul, a grooming/showering/changing area, a lounge sofa area and a private outdoor sun deck overlooking the Amalfi Coast.
Thermal suites are designed for sequential bathing where a guest uses heat, cold water and relaxation cabins. Alternating hot/cold treatments are proven to be good for the immune system and for creating a sense of wellbeing. Howard Spa Consulting used an existing double height space for the Tepidarium – a warm room for relaxation before, between or after hot or water bathing, a nod towards the Roman use of Tepidarium which is an example that exists in Pompeii.
Foot baths are designed to maintain body temperature to the extremities before and after hot thermal bathing. In the Far East bathing the feet is a ritual. Whereas in Europe, foot baths are an element of Kneipp therapy. In Monastero Santa Rosa, Howard Spa Consulting used foot baths to provide three benefits; to maintain body temperature to the feet, to adhere to the welcome ritual using Santa Maria Novella grapefruit crystals that provide the signature essence in the Tepidarium and for water massage jets, that were also added to the foot baths to provide an extra luxurious benefit.
As the hotel is the most exclusive on the Amalfi Coast, it was important to facilitate the type of guest that would stay within the hotel. They would be, and previously have been, ‘VVIPs’ that require private and luxuriously-sized spaces, where all their spa services can be performed in one private suite.
Incorporating luxury
Of course, a monastery and luxury aren’t normally comfortable partners, however Howard Spa Consulting was able to ‘up’ the feeling of luxury and maintain sympathy with monastic and local materials.
The main issues that Howard Spa Consulting was faced with was planning permission. From a layout point of view, connecting the many separate cells that existed on each of the four floors then creating a journey that flowed and made sense making the best use of the spaces was also a challenge that Howard Spa Consulting overcame.
There were also restrictions on dividing double height spaces into two levels, to respect the original volumes. Consequently, the biggest and most private double height space became the private treatment suite. Of course, Howard Spa Consulting had to pay specific attention to particular areas within the spa such as slip resistance in wet areas and humidity causing dampness in wet areas that required ventilation and coating.
Lighting and materials
The lighting always plays a highly important role within a spa to create the right atmosphere, but in Monastero Santa Rosa it was important that light could wash across the face of the rough walls to enhance the unusual quality of the space. The lighting enhances the peacefulness within the space and gently shows off the original structure, stone work, texture and warm glows.
Warmth to the Jerusalem stone has been successfully introduced, with accents of blue lighting added subtly to represent the external coast.
Aspects of the external culture have been incorporated within this design with the use of locally sourced, made-to-order ironwork. Even the product brand names found within the spa were initially created by monks using local indigenous herbs, flora and plants. The existing herb garden used by the 17th century nuns still sits comfortably within the grounds.
Glass was used throughout this project to provide as much vision and connectivity as possible. Glass attributed when dealing with a great deal of otherwise unconnected spaces with thick walls. Within the Tepidarium, glass was used around the outside of the room to provide a sense of a ‘museum’.
Rather like the hotel, the spa is about intimacy and discovery. The entrance to the spa is not too loud – alternatively a small, understated doorway. Once inside the space, it opens up vertically to a double height space, above a small waterfall connecting the space to the ground floor.
The hotel can be described as a small boutique hotel, in size and style, but it’s enormous on personality, character and location. The spa adds a significant selling point to the total identity and offer.