Biotecture
Two Approaches used by Biological Architects:
Biotecture is defined as architecture using organic
materials (e.g. plants, minerals, organisms) for
architecture purpose.
A growing awareness of the importance of the natural
environment had led to the recognition that even a
man-made environment could never be a wholly man-
controlled environment, because it could not
disconnect itself totally from the natural world around
it.
Concern over pollution and depletion of natural
resources led to a greater appreciation of nature
expressed in “Natural Wood Walls, Bamboo Furniture,
Greenhouses, and Indoor Gardens.”
A Biostructure grown by Architect R. De March on his
“House Farm” near Stuttgart, Germany, consists of
living Hazel trees bent into arched shapes as
frameworks over which dense foliage plants have been
trained to form protective walls.
Biotecture begins from the standpoint that nature itself
is the ideal architectural construct.
Man-made structures and garden are not to be taken as
new creations starting from nothing but rather as
rearrangement of elements present, which are a small
part of total structure.
Biotecture seeks to take advantage of the workings of
nature to produce the desired conditions without
unwarranted side effects, instead of expending great
quantities of energy and material resource to create
and maintain an artificial environment.
The goal of biological architecture is to produce a
human habitat compatible with the habitats of the
other life forms on this planet, and wholly integrated
into the natural cycles of water and air circulation, using
clean energy and reusable materials, and capable of
changing in response to changing conditions.
Biomorphic – uses nature as a model and design
buildings that apply the structural principles and
decorative motifs found in nature.
Biostructural – nature does the actual construction
work and make direct use of natural system for
architectural purposes.
In essence the first concept makes use of nature as
designer while the second takes nature as builder.
Principle of Biostructure
Natural processes should be employed to create
structure according to human specifications.
Genetically altered plants that would grow into
buildings and building components.
Crystalline materials that would be chemically treated
to grow into pre-programmed shapes.
Building with materials available on site and on the
immediate locality as many species of animals do.
Animals such as:
*Shellfish, corals build elaborate houses for themselves
by extracting minerals naturally present in water.
*Spiders construct elaborate webs of great strength and
flexibility byextruding a quick-hardening organic fluid
from their bodies and can recycle an old web by
absorbing the threads back into their bodies again.
*Certain termite colonies fashion natural systems for
maintaining constant humidity, temperature, control,
and deep-well water supplies sufficient to maintain
indefinitely a population of over 2.000.000 insects; the
source of power is the sun, building materials are those
found in the area.
Hilbertz looks at ways to take architecture responsive to
changes in its environment, as well as changing needs of
its inhabitants.
His goal is to achieve a complete symbiosis between
man-made and natural environments. In building
environments that grow he envisions building with light,
like in the use of laser beams to generate 3-dimensional
holographic images, through the guidance of computers
or in making autotrophic structures which are self-
generating or self-building life the chambered nautilus.
“Biological Architecture” advocates the incorporation of
living plants and animals into architecture, designing
buildings that will realty like living things to changing
environmental conditions.
The Green Machine is a comprehensive urban
megastructure proposed be Glen Small from Los
Angeles it is capable of restoring the environment of the
entire Los Angeles Basin. It can support a population
density high as 250,000 people per square mile on a
biotecture concept.
The Green Machine combines high technology and
ecologically sensitive design in a multi-story urban
housing structure.
It also incorporates both active and passive solar
heating, with parabolic disc solar collectors for power
generation and hot water.
It conserves water by collecting rain-water and recycling
waste water for sub-surface irrigation.
It has built in greenhouses which will permit recycling of
garbage and produce food for residents.
It accommodates modular homes, travel trailers, artist’s
studios. It has a housing project for low-income families
and individuals.
Design Guidelines: Public Buildings
Design Guidelines: Public & Government Buildings
School, Research Laboratories, Library, Museums, City
Halls, Civic Centers, Hospitals, Fire Stations, Police
Stations, Parks, Embassies, Penitentiaries, Sports
Center, Churches, Seminary, Memorial Parks,
Cemeteries, Public Markets
School
- Identify primary users classification – pre-school,
elementary, secondary and tertiary.
- Consider the three major components of the academe
– instruction, reasearch and extention.
- Lecture room size as per DECS/CHED requirements
shall be 8.00 mts. x 9.00 mts. for 40 students.
Laboratories/studios vary according to nature of activity
and equipments involved.
- All doors must swing out towards the corridor side.
- Provide ample movement facilities like hallways,
emergency exits, etc.
- Safety and security measures.
- Provide ancilliary facilities.
Research Laboratories
- Holding area for specimens.
- Provisions of work stations and technical library.
- Records vault must be provided.
- Safety and security, surveillance system.
- Databank facilities.
Library
- Determine book holdings.
- Use of ICT features.
- Provide book repairs and work area.
- Ample storage facilities.
- Dumbwaiter must be provided for multi floor libraries
- Ample light and ventilation.
Museums
- Careful study of circulation system / flow of viewers.
- Provide vault for priceless collections
- Provide vault for priceless collections
- Adequate curatorial spaces.
- Flexible service entrance for large exhibit materials.
- Safety and security.
City Halls / Civic Centers
- Application of all laws and provisions on design and
construction.
- Heavy, public-oriented / transactional areas must be at
the ground floor.
- Presence of government line agencies.
- Flagpole and assembly areas.
- Provide social and recreational facilities.
Hospital
- Strict zoning of areas as to sterile/non-sterile;
private/public; quite/noisy etc.
- Relationships of major divisions – OPD, Emergency,
Clinical, Surgical, Wards, Administrative, Ancilliary,
facilities.
- Create a healing environment.
Fire Stations
- Sanctity of the apparatus floor
- Provide hose tower for hose drying and training.
- Study equipment/apparatus flow.
- Quarters and living areas.
- Administration and nightwatch must be public
oriented.
- Equipment storage and facilities like oxygen refill, etc.
- Ancilliary facilities.
Police Stations
- Provide an authoritative booking counter.
- Armory must be near office of station commander.
- Safety and security features.
- Cell separation.
- Quarters and lounge.
- Other ancilliary facilities.
Parks
- Consider specific use like children’s botanical etc.
- Landscaping features are important considerations.
- Harmonious zoning of spaces and facilities
- User friendly, safety and security features.
- Color, texture and forms are salient design factors that
must be carefully considered
- Openness quality, free-flowing movement
- Segregation of areas of different activities and
features.
- Create harmonizing features/elements
- Provide ancilliary facilities.
Embassies
- Delineation of consular affairs, attaches portfolio
office; and ambassadorial office.
- Security safety and evacuation features.
- Quarters for staff and residential units
- Public / social spaces considerations.
- Country image.
Penitentiaries
- Classification of areas by concentric arrangement like
maximum security-inner space; medium security-middle
space; and light security-outer precincts.
- Security/surveillance features
- Recreational/occupational areas.
- Humane environment.
- Ancilliary facilities.
Sports Center
- Provision of facilities accordingly to sport to be
accommodated
- Areas for multi-purpose activities.
- Provide ample toilet, shower, locker dressing facilities.
- Main floor shall be convertible for other functions.
- Public spaces like bleachers and stadium galleries must
be adequately provided with ambulatory features and
amenities.
- Underfloors shall be promoted for other uses like
rentable spaces or storage facilities.
- Use of resilient materials
- Ancilliary facilities
Churches (Catholic)
- Follow Design standards for Catholic churches set
forth by the episcopal commission as implemented by
the office of the Arzobispado de Manila and the CBCP
- Know the placement of the nave side altars,
sanctuary/altar, perpetual adoration chapel of the
sacrament, baptistry, sacristy, choir, rectory, bell tower,
etc. and their features.
- Must be conscious of heritage, practices, rituals, and
traditions.
- Must be user friendly.
- Must exude piety and serenity.
Seminary
- Strict zoning of areas according to basic funtions like
private, semi-private and public.
- Provide spaces that are conducive for vocation
formation.
- Optional provision of Chastity alley if required.
- Provide adequate spaces for spiritual, academic,
recreational, social, and cultural.
- Provide ancilliary facilities
Memorial Parks / Cemeteries
- Consider Zoning of areas according to classification
like, ground plots, garden types, mausoleums, Crypt,
Cineraria, Angelorio etc.
- Provide amenities for users
- Provide ample parking spaces and convertible spaces
especially during all Saint’s Days.
- Create visual focus, terminal, anchorage.
- Critical consideration for landscaping elements.
- Serene and spiritually motivating ambiance.
- Provide ancilliaries.
Public Markets
- Consider the three basic areas – wet, semi-wet and dry
markets
- Ventilation and exhaust system must be adequate.
- Fire protection/Suppression system and features.
- Stall size must be in the module 3.00 x 3.00 mts for
flexibility of lessee requirements.
- Waste disposal system.
- Provide market master office, storage facilities, and
other ancilliary spaces.
- Regional form and image must be incorporated.
- Parking facilities for delivery and the public must be
amply provided.
- MRF facilities needed
SLAUGHTERHOUSE
- Sanitation features
- Loading and unloading docks must be carefully
planned.
- Poultry and cattle holding stations must be provided
- Waste disposal system.
- Carcass hanger system must be provided.
- Quarters for staff.
- Ancilliary facilities
Design Guidelines: Terminals
DESIGN GUIDELINES: OTHER BUILDINGS
Seaports, Airports, Bus Terminals, Marina
SEAPORTS
- Passenger and cargo traffic must be segregated
- Terminal building must be provided with appropriate
facilities for the passengers/users
- If coast guard offices is required it must be provided
with communication facilities.
- Land transportation access must be included.
- Passengers concourse / lounges / waiting area must be
enough especially during peak season.
- Safety and Security features.
- Porterage facilities.
- Storage facilities must be adequate.
- Be aware of the ships portside in relation to the quay
- Provide breakwater and sandbars if necessary.
- Slipways are optional.
- Other support facilities
AIRPORTS
- Consider the two major areas – airside and landside.
- Terminal buildings must have good circulation in terms
of passengers and cargo movements.
- Safety and security features.
- Basic amenities
- Provision of airline and courtesy counters
- Portage facilities
- Apron for services at the tarmac area
- Control towers must the most visible feature
- Ample greeters space and parking facilities.
BUS TERMINALS
- Bus circulation in relation to ingress/egress points not
the passengers boarding line.
- Passengers concourse must be large enough to
accommodate seasonal peaks
- Quarters for driver and conductors.
- Bus service areas for repair/chek-up with for
mechanics and other staff.
- Dispatchers booth.
- Ancilliaries
MARINA
- Provision of clubhouse and boardwalk
- Boat/yacht mooring area
- Breakwater features for containment and water
stability.
- Boatshed/repairs area.
- Ancilliaries.
Design Guidelines: Commercial
DESIGN GUIDELINES: COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS
Banks, Hotels, Resorts, Cinemas, Theaters, Sound
Studio, Recording Studio
Banks
- The vault shall be located at the most secured,
independent spot within the bank itself, minimum wall
thickness shall be 0.30 mtrs. with steel lining.
- The manager’s cubicle/office needs to be near the
public area contrary to conventional layout of having it
secured inside the clerical pool.
- Clear definition of the banking floor and the clerical
area must be established
- Straightforward circulation
- Security is primordial so that spatial arrangements
must promote this quality/need.
Hotels
- Guest’s needs must be a primary consideration.
- Guest’s rooms must be provided with adequate
facilities according to accommodations, say, single,
double, triple, twin, family, suite types, etc.
- Internal toilets and baths are acceptable since active
ventilation is expected. Bed areas must be more
exposed to window areas and views.
- Guest room wing must have housekeeping room per
floor.
- Kitchen areas must so accessible to function areas like
the banquet hall, ballroom. Function rooms, poolside
and coffee shops.
- Laundry areas / storage facilities / service areas must
be adequate and accessible but away from public view.
- Concierge / administration / business center must be
accessible from all points.
- Hospitable atmosphere must pervade in the whole
hotel setting.
Resorts
- Design according to classification like beach resort,
mountain resort, island resort, specialty resort, etc.
- Consider their peculiarities.
- Guests amenities must be a primary consideration
- Provide bed and dine facilities
- Safety and security features
- Think of new design idea, making it different from the
rest
- If swimming pools are provided, consider organically
designed ones like free flowing forms, vanishing edges
etc.
- Provide ancilliary facilities.
Cinemas / Moviehouses:
- Sightlines in relation to the screen and seating location
arrangement must be carefully studied according to the
60 degrees cone of correct vision.
- Fire protection system and exits must be equitably
distributed.
- Acoustical treatment / lighting allocation especially on
aisles.
- Active ventilation system and utilities.
Sound Studio
- Control booth at high location with inclined viewing
glass for full command of the production floor.
- Catwalks must be provided for light control
- Provide cyclorama at main backdrop for visual illusion
of space.
- Provide adequate work space for scenographics
construction.
- Dressing rooms with T&B for talents
Recording Studios
- Provide sound lock and acoustical treatments.
- Apply the “principle of a box within a box”.
- Control booth with sound consoles.
- Double glazing of glazed portions of walls, doors, and
windows/ portholes.
- Floor must be floating or suspended with isolators
- No walls shall be perpendicular with each other
- For re-recording studies (dubbing), provide projector
and perforated screen with sound effects pit
Design Guidelines: Industrial
DESIGN GUIDELINES: INDUSTRIAL / AGRO-INDUSTRIAL
Industrial Estate, Large Scale Industry, Factories,
Shipyards, Mixed Industrial
Industrial Estate
- Zoning and clustering of related and/or
complementing industries.
- Pollution control facilities.
- Careful organization of road networks for facility in
movement.
- Safety and security.
- Establish spatial interrelationship between
administrative and productive areas.
Large-Scale Industry (Manufacturing)
- Eco-environmental considerations in terms of
pollution they create buffer zone must be created.
- Roadway system must accommodate movement of
large vehicles and equipments.
- Site zoning according to activities must be clearly
established like administrative zone, danger / offensive
/ prohibited zones, etc...
- Site utilities like powerhouse, transformer vault, water
storage, effluent containment, waste management, fire
protection, STP, and the like must be integrated
showing their appropriate location and possible
capacities they serve
- Safety features must be included
Factories
- Internal zoning of spaces are required. Color coding of
areas (floor finish) are preferred to monitor movement
of personnel.
- Catwalks can be provided for easy monitoring. System
supervisors must be provided with work stations/areas
- Clinic must be near the production areas as accidents
occur mostly here.
- Loading/unloading zones for finished products and
raw materials must be properly located in relation to
storage facilities.
- Pollutants must be checked by providing features to
treat them.
Shipyards
- Stockyard must be large enough to accommodate
volume of materials.
- Tidal basin must be deep enough to accommodate
large vessels.
- Dry and wet docks must be so located to be oriented
towards the waterfront.
- Slipway must be provided
- Boatshed for boat repair must be provided.
Mixed Industrial
- Vegetative zone between the two major areas must be
provided.
- Confinement of each areas to a prospective spot
defining certain treatments about their atmosphere.
- Eco-environmental features
- Promotion of facilities for industrial peace and
harmony.
- Provide recreational areas and mandatory communal
facilities.
Spa Design Part 3 FACILITY PLANNING AND DESIGN

A. ENTRY / RECEPTION
· Entry and Reception should provide a residential not
institutional feeling

B. LOCKER ROOM / CHANGING / VANITY AREA

· Provide for appropriate number of half size lockers
(two per full size locker banks) on each side
· Utilize movable benches or Ottomans on casters for
seating by lockers
· Provide make-up lights around vanity mirrors on
women’s side
· Provide wall mounted magnified shaving mirrors at
vanity on men’s side
· Provide wall mounted hair dryer units at vanities on
both sides
· Provide for electrical outlets above vanities
· Flooring in locker and changing area should be
COMPONENTS OF A SPA FACILITY
carpeted, all other areas tiled
· Provide for clean and soiled linen storage
a. THE BASICS
Reception Desk and Welcome area
C. WET FLOOR
Reservations and Scheduling
· Provide wall mounted soap, shampoo & conditioner
Retail/Spa Boutique
dispensers in showers
Men’s and Women’s Locker Rooms
· Accommodate Sauna, Steam, Whirlpool and Cold Pool
Dry Treatment Rooms
(if applicable)
Wet Treatment Rooms
· Provide lounge with water proof seating near each wet
European Hydro-Massage
area
Treatment Showers and Baths
· Provide clothing hooks throughout area
Treatment Waiting Area
· Flooring should be non-slip easily cleanable tileProvide
Treatment Lab
for non-corrosive ventilation ducts in this area
· Outflow of HVAC should be provided for 25 air changes
b. OPTIONAL
per hour
Private Relaxation/Meditation Areas
· Provide for ozone water purification system for
Men’s and Women’s Wet Areas
whirlpools. (No smell!)
Common Wet Areas
· Provide a self service water station
Movement Studio
· Provide for clean and soiled linen storage
Fitness Equipment Studio
· Ceiling shall be waterproofed material or no ceiling,
Swimming Pools and Aquatics
sloped ceiling. Note moisture from hot water.
Administrative Offices
Staff Lounge
D. TREATMENT ROOMS
Storage Areas
Laundry Room
1. WET TREATMENT
Spa Café and Juice Bar
· A wet area treatment room should be near the wet
Beauty Salon
area; Access to these treatment areas should be from
both the men’s and women’s locker rooms through a
hallway
· The area should include:
- treatment tables
- floor drain
- where required the following: sink, counter space,
clean and soiled linen storage
- overhead showers or treatment shower or soak tubs
- infra-red heat lamps recessed into ceiling over each
table
· easy to clean moisture resistant materials
2. DRY TREATMENT
· Rooms need to be sound insulated.
· Keep treatment areas as flexible as possible. Rooms to
change when program changes
· located in “dry” therapy area. Tip: should have access
to laundry storage and drop off
· Flooring can be vinyl tile, wood, or cushioned
recreational surface. Tip: avoid tile, marble, or granite
(too hard for the therapist to stand on
· Massage table: 1.8m x 0.75m (72”x30”) with an
adjustable face cradle attached to the end of the table –
adding another 12”. Table can be longer 2m x 0.75 if
face hole is provided. Table upholstery should be made
from Naugahyde with a smooth surface with medium
firm padding. Table can have built-in shelves.
· Allow 0.8m-1m workspace around the massage table
for therapist.
· Individual room, couples room, or common rooms.
Room size: 3m x 4m
· washable wall paper or paint.
· Allow doors to open comfortably. use lever-type
hardware for door knobs (therapists have oil on their
hands). Doors for individual rooms must have visual
access from hallway
· Indirect lighting with dimmer control on walls or
overhead (not directly above massage table)
· windows lighting preferred with vertical, horizontal, or
roman blinds.
· provide wall outlets at foot and sides of table, and a
counter-height outlet for and essential oil diffuser. Tip:
In-house phone with intercom in rooms is advised in
larger facilities.
· One centrally located sound system, with speakers in
each room that have an individual volume control knob.
· smaller rooms can have tables with built-in storage
space for linens, towels, oils, bolsters etc.
· If room is too small to provide storage inside, storage
directly outside room is necessary
· massage rooms scan have a small sink and linen
cabinet. Tip: provide storage above and below sink; sink
and cabinet should be in corner at an angle; sinks
should have hot and cold water
· provide robe hooks
3. FEET & FACIALS
· located in “dry” therapy area with massage rooms, or
in the Beauty Salon area.
· lounge and wait area should be within close proximity
to the treatment rooms ( this minimizes traffic in
between treatments).
· sink should be located behind lounge or to the side.
(both hot and cold running water is necessary)
· floor must be non-porous, surface, smooth and
washable
· laundry drop directly outside of rooms, preferably
dropping into chute or carts
· millwork for cabinets must washable
· provide extra sound proofing in between rooms and
hallways
· indirect lighting with dimmer control on wall or
overhead at edge of ceiling, not directly over facial
lounge; task lighting at counter surface. Tip: Provide
separate overhead lighting for waxing, on separate
switch. Mount items like mag and infra red lamps on
walls to lessen wear and tear on equipment. Room does
not require daylight.
· Wall outlet at foot and sides of table or facial seat;
counter-height outlet for sterilizer, waxing unit,
essential oil diffuser; in-house intercom in each room.
· Same sound system as for massage rooms-centrally
located sound system with speakers in each room. Tip:
each room needs individual volume control knob.
· Space requirement: 2.5m x 3m or 3m x 3m for each
cubicle / room
· provide stool on rollers, with adjustable height and
back support
· provide storage cabinet for professional products with
locks and drawers for small tools; countertop for small
sterilizer
E. CAFÉ/JUICE BAR
F. SALON
· related services such as nails, hair, and make-up can be
integrated into the spa environment, and some are best
offered in a separate salon area.
· Floors should be of a material that is easy to clean (ie.
Vinyl tile)
· Lighting should be flattering to hair and Skin
· Include a separate small reception counter which also
acts as the retail point of sale
· Clients must be able to directly access the salon from
the women’s locker room
G. BACK OF THE HOUSE
STAFF LOUNGE
· Incorporated centrally near the treatment area
· Staff lounge facilities a mix of men and women
· Provide a lavatory and shower if space permits and
quarter-size lockers along one wall (# depends on
number of providers/therapists)
ATTENDANT STATIONS
· Add attendant stations (2.5m x 4m) at entrance to
each locker room
· Provide provisions for safe deposit boxes (optional)
· Provide desk with locked drawers, key board, bulletin
board, telephone, music control and linen storage
STORAGE
· Strategically place one or two inventory storage rooms
· Number and location depends on space limitations and
facility usage
· Storage space should be accessible from men’s and
women’s locker rooms, laundry and refuse areas
LAUNDRY
· Provide direct access for laundry dispersal and
retrieval
· Provide a ramp into the laundry room through back of
house passage
· Provide for in house storage of a minimum of two (1m
x 1.5m) laundry carts
· Provide for in house storage of clean linens and towels
in a centrally located area
DESIGN TIPS:
Materials: Non-corrosive materials should be used in all
high moisture areas (Vents, ducts, drains, ceiling & wall
cover); Easy to clean moisture resistant materials
should be used in all high moisture areas; Consider
using local materials and integrating cultural and artistic
traditions
Create Texture: Use wall hangings, pillows, rugs and
unique bed coverings to create texture and contrast in
your spa. Locally made textiles embody a return to
folkloric ideals and handmade crafts. Balance a
combination of elements, such as reclaimed woods and
other recyclables, textured glass, and metals such as
copper and bronze.
Bring the Outdoors In: Create a sense of the outdoors
indoors by using with waterfalls, bamboo, and stone.
Natural elements such as calming waters and
meditative gardens intrigue spa visitors as they
experience the environment along with their
treatments.
Don’t Forget Dramatic Doors: Pay attention to doors
and entryways: they signify a “crossing-over” to a place
where people can leave their everyday lives behind.
“People are focusing on the client transition from the
street to the spa interior,” says Clodagh. Water
features, plants, and specialized lighting can liven up a
plain looking door.
Choose Colors that Stimulate the Senses: Flat color is
out, and color with depth and character is in. The design
philosophy is to create environments that engage the
senses. Splashes of color enliven our spirits; luxurious
textures engage our touch; aromas tantalize our sense
of smell. All aspects of design contribute to the overall
experience and ultimately the success of a spa.”
Spa Design Part 2
DEFINITION OF SPA
There are various stories about the origin of the name.
The term is derived from the name of the town of Spa,
Belgium, where since medieval times illnesses caused
by iron deficiency were treated by
drinking chalybeate (iron bearing) spring water.
A Belgian spring of iron bearing water was called Espa
for "fountain", and was used in 1326 as a cure by an
iron master with such success that he founded a health
resort which developed into the town.It is also
suggested that the term Espa may be derived from the
name of the resort, and that its source could be
the Latin word "spagere" meaning to scatter, sprinkle or
moisten.
It is often suggested, with little evidence, that the word
is an acronym of various Latin phrases such as "Salus
Per Aquam” or "Sanitas Per Aquam" meaning "health
through water", all of which seem to have modern
sources.
According to the International Spa Association:
Spa - an entity devoted to enhancing overall well-being
through a variety of professional services that
encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit.
TYPES OF SPAS:
Different kinds of spas serve different purposes.
A. according to treatment and services:
1) Day Spa – facilities have no overnight
accommodations, offering beauty, wellness and
relaxation programs that may last an hour. Many also
offer salon services.
2) Destination Spa - Its sole purpose is to help you lead
a healthier lifestyle through spa treatments, exercise,
and educational programming like exercise classes,
body treatments, mind-enrichment & stress-reduction
activities, spa cuisine. You stay at least two nights. Some
have minimum stays of three or seven nights. Spa
cuisine is served exclusively
3) Medical Spa - A facility offering treatments that
require a doctor’s supervision whose primary purpose is
to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in
an environment that integrates spa services, as well as
traditional, complimentary and/or alternative therapies
and treatments. The facility operates within the scope
of practice of its staff, which can include both
Aesthetic/Cosmetic and Prevention/Wellness
procedures and services
4)Holistic Spa - Spas focusing on alternative healing
methods and nutrition, mainly vegetarian or
macrobiotic holistic healing seeks "high level of
wellness" integrating body and mind in a higher
consciousness
5)Structured Spa - Spas with a strict set of rules whose
entire facility is geared towards the achievement of a
particular goal such as weight loss, or fitness.
6) Sports/Adventure Spa - Hotel or resort providing
therapeutic baths and body treatment and that offer
special sports and outdoor adventure programs that
include anything from golf to skiing, fly-fishing to
marathon conditioning.
B. according to location:
1) Club Spa - A day spa located in a fitness facility or
health club whose primary purpose is fitness and which
offers a variety of professionally administered spa
services on a day-use basis.
2) Cruise ship spa – A spa aboard a cruise ship providing
professionally administered spa services, fitness and
wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices.
3) Mineral springs spa - A spa offering an on-site source
of natural mineral, thermal or seawater used in
hydrotherapy treatments.
4) Resort/hotel spa - Usually located in beautiful
environments providing professionally administered spa
services, fitness and wellness components and spa
cuisine menu choices. In addition to the leisure guest,
this is a great place for business travelers who wish to
take advantage of the spa experience while away from
home.
5) Airport Spa - It is located in an airport and specializes
in short treatments aimed at the traveler, like 15-
minute chair massage and oxygen therapy. Some also
offer longer treatments.
To understand and organize this overwhelming variety
of spa offerings, the International Spa Association (ISPA)
has defined the "ten domains of SPA" or segments of
the industry as:
1. "The Waters"
2. Food, Nourishment, Diet and Nutrition
3. Movement, Exercise and Fitness
4. Touch, Massage, and Bodywork
5. Mind/Body/Spirit
6. Aesthetics, Skin Care, Natural Beauty Agents
7. Physical Space, Climatology, Global Ecology
8. Social/Cultural Arts and Values, Spa Culture
9. Management, Marketing, and Operations10. Time,
Rhythm, and Cycles
Not every spa includes every domain.
Spa- goers are drawn to indigenous treatments and
products, especially when traveling. New textures,
aromas and sounds with meaningful story-telling help
forge connections to people, places and traditions.
Spa Design Part 1
INTRODUCTION
A business traveler wants to minimize jet lag. A mother
of three wants some time to herself. A group of friends
plans a birthday celebration. A man with back pain
seeks relief. A teenager is troubled by acne. A weekend
warrior is sore from overexertion. A man decides to
stop smoking. A busy executive wants to rediscover
spirituality. A woman wants help establishing a safe and
effective exercise regimen. An obese man needs help
controlling his weight. A pregnant woman wants to feel
more comfortable. A couple wants to reconnect. Where
can all these people go for help?
A spa.
Today’s spa is a center for healing and nourishing mind,
body, and spirit. People go to spas for fitness, stress
management, peace of mind, pampering and pleasure,
and health and wellness. Spas offer a wide variety of
techniques and services - traditional and modern, from
the East and from the West - to meet the diverse needs
of their clients: Swedish, Japanese Shiatsu, and Thai
massage, European facials, acupuncture, Dead Sea salt
scrubs, Moor mud wraps, thalassotherapy,
aromatherapy, reflexology, microdermabrasion,
endermologie, reiki, aura imaging, watsu, rasul,
hypnotherapy, classes in nutrition, meditation,
journaling, yoga and Tai Chi, state-of-the-art fitness
centers with personal trainers, and much more.
Spas come in many shapes, sizes, and focuses - from
day spas where you can get a single treatment to
destination spas where you can stay for a week or more
to medical spas that treat cosmetic and chronic health
problems. Spas are everywhere. The number of spas in
the U.S. grew at an annual rate of 21% from 1995-1999
and continues to show strong growth. Aggregate
industry revenues grew by 114 percent between 1999
and 2001.The size of the United States spa industry in
2001 was estimated at 9,632 locations; in 2000, that
number was 5,689.
Although spas seem to have sprung up overnight, that’s
not the case. “The Waters” can be traced back to early
civilizations. Like water, spa popularity has come in
waves throughout history. Popularity of spas has
accompanied cultures with leisure time. Social bathing
was an important cultural process practiced by
Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Minoans, Greeks, and
Romans whenever they sought health and relief from
their pain and disease. From the small Greek laconica
grew the Roman balneum and finally the extravagant
Roman thermae (Greek word for “heat”).
As the Roman Empire fell, the Roman thermae fell into
disrepair and disuse. The bath gained and lost
popularity in different parts of the world – Asia, Europe,
Africa, and North America – through the present day.
Baths were often built near natural hot or mineral
springs. Towns like Spa, Belgium, Baden-Baden,
Germany, and Bath, England, grew up around natural
thermal waters considered to have healing properties.
The use of saunas and steam baths also emerged. As
these springs and spas were discovered, forgotten, and
rediscovered, the healing power of the water was often
enhanced and formalized.
With the medical discoveries of the early 20th century,
scientific clinics and public hospitals replaced the spa.
Existing spas responded by offering luxury
accommodations, and many eventually turned into
vacation locations or clinics that concentrated on
weight loss, catering to the wealthy, with the spa origins
obscured. In recent years, the value of prevention,
healthy lifestyles, and relaxation has been rediscovered
and the spa is again finding its place in modern society
as a place uniquely qualified to address these needs.
The wealthy no longer have exclusive use of spas. Spas
now appeal to and are accessible to a much broader
population.
Today’s spa is an interesting combination of ancient
traditions and modern mechanical wonders. However,
the heart of the modern spa, just as the ancient spa, is
water and the rituals that evolve around it. The proper
sequence of the typical spa ritual is cleaning, heating,
treatment, and rest. The first step, cleaning, should be a
visit to the shower to purify the body. The second step
is to heat the body. Many spas offer heated whirlpools,
saunas, and steam rooms. A short visit to each or any
combination can heat the body (caution: this step
should be eliminated for people with certain medical
conditions). The third step is the treatment such as a
body scrub and massage. The last and equally important
step is rest. Today’s ritual is very similar to the spa ritual
used at the Roman thermae.
There have been many recent additions to spa water
therapies in recent times. The Jacuzzi whirlpool, a
central fixture in many modern spas, was invented in
the 1950s, followed by Hydrotherapy Tubs, Swiss
Showers, Scotch Hoses, and Vichy Showers. In addition
to these mechanical inventions, new therapeutic ways
to use still water have been discovered: Floatation
Therapy, Watsu, Wassertanzen, Water Dance, Liquid
Sound, and Dreams and Rituals in Healing Waters have
been developed. The spa today embraces and
celebrates its origins in water and is constantly looking
for new ways to express it.