For the first time in its over 200-year existence, the iconic Claridge’s hotel in London has opened an in-house spa. Hong Kong-based interior design practice, André Fu Studio (the sought-after creative genius behind interiors, furniture collections, art galleries and more), designed the Japanese-inspired space, evoking the temples and Zen gardens of Kyoto, which Fu himself visited on his travels. Situated three floors below the lobby, the 7,000-square-foot spa takes its cues from the hotel’s Art Deco history, while embracing the spirituality of the East.
Rather than imitating aesthetic traditions, Fu has imagined a unique contemporary experience promoting a sense of mindfulness and balance, which retains the intimacy and warmth of his other projects. Upon entering the foyer, guests are greeted by a towering cast-glass screen evoking the silhouette of a bamboo grove or reed beds, guiding them into the rotunda – a meditative, dimly-lit cylindrical, multisensory space. The main pool area is the spa’s central hub. Minimalist in spirit, limestone clads the columns, and a magnificent, multi-vaulted ceiling frames the pool. Set back from the water, personal cabanas offer private spaces to unwind. Bonsai trees feature heavily along connecting passageways leading to private changing pods, and a treatment area inspired by bamboo forestry. Highly articulated spaces that play with proportions, light, and shade also create a luxuriously immersive experience.