Renowned architect André Fu was invited by The Maybourne Riviera to design a floor of the hotel to be dedicated to wellness and wellbeing. Set high on the clifftops, the hotel overlooks the stunning coastline of the French Riviera, while the luxurious rooms reflect the constantly shifting colours and movement of the sea and the sky. Fu’s commission was to design the signature spa for the hotel to include 7 treatment rooms, a beauty and hair salon, specialist consultation rooms, a steam room and sauna. The spa adjoins a floor of guest rooms and suites, also designed by Fu, resulting in a world dedicated to wellness.
Inspired by the meandering coastline and fluidity of the ocean, Fu has sought to bring a calm tranquillity into his distinctive design for this cliff top hotel. Juxtaposing the shapes and textures of the rocks outside the hotel, Fu has created a contrasting language of curving and sculptured walls.
The colour palette of the Spa is predominantly pristine white conveying a sense of purity and cleanliness. Accents of mineral blue and dusty olive green are introduced to reflect the glistening colour of the sea, counterpointed with solid oak and sleek polished rosegold and lush peach terrazzo to capture the colours of the mesmerizing sunset.
Fu has designed the Spa on two levels. Guests arrive through a full height hand-carved textured timber door that opens onto the reception area; an organically-shaped marble wall that features built-in lighting frames the vista, while a tear-shaped stone block forms the reception counter. To the right is a retail boutique, whilst to its left is the entrance that preludes the journey into a world of wellness.
Via the hair salon, guests will discover walls that are organically shaped, swooping past bespoke oak shelving and cylindrical display towers, guiding them into a vast relaxation area that extends into an outdoor terrace that is set against a soaring face of the cliff. Throughout, there is a sense of fluidity as the journey continues into the steam chamber, hammam and sauna, for guests to enjoy both prior and after their treatment.
The sense of place is also accentuated with the use of fresh olive trees that adorn the spa. Within the oak-lined treatment rooms, Fu has ensured that all equipment is concealed behind panels, adding to the sense of clean, minimalist lines. Each of the treatment rooms enjoys a stunning panoramic view of the Riviera coastline and the ocean. The extensive use of solid French limestone that meanders poetically within the bathrooms adds a layer of visual luxury to the wellness journey. A curving, winding staircase leads upstairs to the private consultation room.
