TechnoAlpin’s snow technology is not only an effective
way to introduce gentle cold therapy into the spa
environment, it’s also a powerful biophilic design
element that can bring the wonder of nature indoors
The ‘cold with joy’ spa concept combines different forms of water, including falling snow / photo: Giuliana Salmaso
The mental and physical benefits of spending time in awe-inspiring nature – from forest bathing to hot spring dipping to watching the Aurora Borealis – are well documented. But while growing numbers of people are out enjoying the latest ‘nature trends’, the fact remains that a significant majority, especially city dwellers, could be spending up to 90 per cent of their time indoors.
With great advances in biophilic design – where designers and architects bring natural elements into the built environment – there has never been a better time for wellness facilities to become the places where customers can get a whole range of realistic and beneficial ‘nature fixes’ however and whenever they want.
Giuliana Salmaso, architect and founder of Studio Giuliana Salmaso and an expert in biophilic design, says: “Today it’s possible to create indoor environments that rejuvenate almost as much as a walk in the woods. Our goal is to create spaces where stress-inducing elements are neutralised and regenerative components are maximised.”
These design concepts go way beyond just the introduction of plants and greenery, of course. The Tuscany-based studio recently collaborated with leading snow creators TechnoAlpin Indoor – also based in Italy – to create a multi-sensory biophilic wellness space focused on the cold therapy journey.
The ‘cold with joy’ concept is based around centuries-old contrast therapy, inspired by ancient Roman and Kneipp practices. Salmaso’s design guides visitors through warm and cold elements, different forms of water and snow, making the cold experience enjoyable and accessible without the sudden shock of intense temperature change.
Salmaso says: ”I wanted to capture that feeling of wellbeing, intimacy, happiness and calmness that one experiences when watching snow fall. This was made possible with TechnoAlpin’s technology that generates soft indoor snow, filling different areas of the spa with the enchanting sight of crisp and freshly-fallen snow.”
Fresh powder snow TechnoAlpin’s Snowsky is the technology that produces this real snowfall in the middle of a room. For even greater immersion, TechnoAlpin’s Snowroom offers a holistic way for guests to cool down, especially after a sauna or steamroom session, enveloping them in an engaging cave-like atmosphere of cold air and soft snow.
The Snowroom is cooled to -10° C (14°F) and filled with real snow,made from only water and air.
Fresh snow is made every night, so clean powder snow is ready every morning to delight guests. The entire body cools down efficiently and gently: the respiratory tract and lungs, organs and brain cells cool down at a slow pace and the skin is cooled over the entire surface without any damage to the tissues.
Sara Brenninger of TechnoAlpin says: “Snow is the gentlest version of cooling and can be enjoyed by both men and women of any age. The benefits of cold therapy are made accessible to all, without the shock or dizziness that many would like to avoid.”
Snow also ticks many of the right boxes for an effective biophilic design environment. As Salmaso says: “A well-designed restorative space should incorporate as many biophilic patterns as possible. An innovative approach is integrating snow, which provides thermal variability when combined with warm elements such as a sauna.
“The integration of snow in an indoor spa environment covers at least four of the 15 biophilic design patterns. Snow is a biophilic element that designers can use, just like water, plants and animals. It’s fascinating – a form of water – and engages all the senses.”
With advances in technology, indoor snow can become a special highlight for luxury wellness and spa areas – a new way of cooling down that guests will remember.
"Today it’s possible to create indoor environments that rejuvenate almost as much as a walk in the woods" – Giuliana Salmaso, biophilic design expert
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2024 issue 3
Editor's letter: At a crossroads
As the UK prepares to host this year's Global Wellness Summit, fresh research shows its wellness industry must address a number of issues if it's to maintain levels of unprecedented growth
Spa People: Charlotte Church
The Welsh singer talks about how growing up in the media spotlight has influenced The Dreaming, her healing retreat business
Spa People: Julia Bradbury
Leading a series of Walk Yourself Happy retreats based on her best-selling book and years of TV presenting
Spa People: Samantha Dunn
Shaking up the industry with her new, affordable DIY consultancy programme for entrepreneurs
News report: Big spenders
Finn Partners’ latest research shows how China’s high-net-worth women are redefining luxury travel
News report: Step back in time
Two new GWI reports analyse the growth of the global spa and hot springs markets over the past 10 to 15 years
Interview: Dillip Rajakarier
Following a 450 per cent increase in core revenues, Minor Hotels is planning 200 more properties. Megan Whitby sits down with its CEO
New opening: Kintsugi Space
Patrizia Bortolin talks to Lisa Starr about creating a transformative women-only sanctuary in Abu Dhabi
Research: To inform and inspire
The UK Spa Association has conducted its first survey of spa businesses in the country for 18 years. GM Bobby Griffiths unveils the numbers
Research: From wellness to wellbeing
A new study uncovers four wellness consumer market segments ripe for innovation. WELLSurvey co-author Kevin Kelly reveals the findings in a Spa Business exclusive
First person: To the source
Jane Kitchen takes to the sulphurous waters of Terme di Saturnia in Italy and shares details about its exciting upcoming sister site in Milan
Promotion: L'OCCITANE en Provence – the art of recovery
With an approach to wellbeing that’s both holistic and grounded in science, the latest massage from L’OCCITANE en Provence promises to have a powerfully-beneficial effect on customers, both in the spa and at home
New opening: Surrenne at The Emory
The £15k memberships at this wellness club in London sold out in just weeks. Creator Inge Theron tells us why
First person: Playful wellness
A Stella McCartney facial and Tracy Anderson studio are just two USPs Megan Whitby finds at Surrenne
Promotion: TechnoAlpin – naturally cool design
TechnoAlpin’s snow technology is not only an effective way to introduce gentle cold therapy into the spa environment, it’s also a powerful biophilic design element that can bring the wonder of nature indoors
Promotion: Biologique Recherche – potent partnership
A new anti-senescence serum from Biologique Recherche offers transformative results and raises the bar in anti-ageing skincare when combined with its iconic collagen formula
Promotion: Comfort Zone – A longer life for skin
Created to combat the visible signs of ageing, Comfort Zone’s latest range revamp is based on the company’s pioneering research into cutaneous cellular longevity
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN – Clinical excellence in skincare
With laboratories based in Montreal, G.M. Collin’s highly researched derma-corrective treatments have been helping skincare professionals deliver exceptional and exclusive results worldwide for many decades. We talk to VP Myriam Sayer
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
TechnoAlpin’s snow technology is not only an effective
way to introduce gentle cold therapy into the spa
environment, it’s also a powerful biophilic design
element that can bring the wonder of nature indoors
The ‘cold with joy’ spa concept combines different forms of water, including falling snow / photo: Giuliana Salmaso
The mental and physical benefits of spending time in awe-inspiring nature – from forest bathing to hot spring dipping to watching the Aurora Borealis – are well documented. But while growing numbers of people are out enjoying the latest ‘nature trends’, the fact remains that a significant majority, especially city dwellers, could be spending up to 90 per cent of their time indoors.
With great advances in biophilic design – where designers and architects bring natural elements into the built environment – there has never been a better time for wellness facilities to become the places where customers can get a whole range of realistic and beneficial ‘nature fixes’ however and whenever they want.
Giuliana Salmaso, architect and founder of Studio Giuliana Salmaso and an expert in biophilic design, says: “Today it’s possible to create indoor environments that rejuvenate almost as much as a walk in the woods. Our goal is to create spaces where stress-inducing elements are neutralised and regenerative components are maximised.”
These design concepts go way beyond just the introduction of plants and greenery, of course. The Tuscany-based studio recently collaborated with leading snow creators TechnoAlpin Indoor – also based in Italy – to create a multi-sensory biophilic wellness space focused on the cold therapy journey.
The ‘cold with joy’ concept is based around centuries-old contrast therapy, inspired by ancient Roman and Kneipp practices. Salmaso’s design guides visitors through warm and cold elements, different forms of water and snow, making the cold experience enjoyable and accessible without the sudden shock of intense temperature change.
Salmaso says: ”I wanted to capture that feeling of wellbeing, intimacy, happiness and calmness that one experiences when watching snow fall. This was made possible with TechnoAlpin’s technology that generates soft indoor snow, filling different areas of the spa with the enchanting sight of crisp and freshly-fallen snow.”
Fresh powder snow TechnoAlpin’s Snowsky is the technology that produces this real snowfall in the middle of a room. For even greater immersion, TechnoAlpin’s Snowroom offers a holistic way for guests to cool down, especially after a sauna or steamroom session, enveloping them in an engaging cave-like atmosphere of cold air and soft snow.
The Snowroom is cooled to -10° C (14°F) and filled with real snow,made from only water and air.
Fresh snow is made every night, so clean powder snow is ready every morning to delight guests. The entire body cools down efficiently and gently: the respiratory tract and lungs, organs and brain cells cool down at a slow pace and the skin is cooled over the entire surface without any damage to the tissues.
Sara Brenninger of TechnoAlpin says: “Snow is the gentlest version of cooling and can be enjoyed by both men and women of any age. The benefits of cold therapy are made accessible to all, without the shock or dizziness that many would like to avoid.”
Snow also ticks many of the right boxes for an effective biophilic design environment. As Salmaso says: “A well-designed restorative space should incorporate as many biophilic patterns as possible. An innovative approach is integrating snow, which provides thermal variability when combined with warm elements such as a sauna.
“The integration of snow in an indoor spa environment covers at least four of the 15 biophilic design patterns. Snow is a biophilic element that designers can use, just like water, plants and animals. It’s fascinating – a form of water – and engages all the senses.”
With advances in technology, indoor snow can become a special highlight for luxury wellness and spa areas – a new way of cooling down that guests will remember.
"Today it’s possible to create indoor environments that rejuvenate almost as much as a walk in the woods" – Giuliana Salmaso, biophilic design expert
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2024 issue 3
Editor's letter: At a crossroads
As the UK prepares to host this year's Global Wellness Summit, fresh research shows its wellness industry must address a number of issues if it's to maintain levels of unprecedented growth
Spa People: Charlotte Church
The Welsh singer talks about how growing up in the media spotlight has influenced The Dreaming, her healing retreat business
Spa People: Julia Bradbury
Leading a series of Walk Yourself Happy retreats based on her best-selling book and years of TV presenting
Spa People: Samantha Dunn
Shaking up the industry with her new, affordable DIY consultancy programme for entrepreneurs
News report: Big spenders
Finn Partners’ latest research shows how China’s high-net-worth women are redefining luxury travel
News report: Step back in time
Two new GWI reports analyse the growth of the global spa and hot springs markets over the past 10 to 15 years
Interview: Dillip Rajakarier
Following a 450 per cent increase in core revenues, Minor Hotels is planning 200 more properties. Megan Whitby sits down with its CEO
New opening: Kintsugi Space
Patrizia Bortolin talks to Lisa Starr about creating a transformative women-only sanctuary in Abu Dhabi
Research: To inform and inspire
The UK Spa Association has conducted its first survey of spa businesses in the country for 18 years. GM Bobby Griffiths unveils the numbers
Research: From wellness to wellbeing
A new study uncovers four wellness consumer market segments ripe for innovation. WELLSurvey co-author Kevin Kelly reveals the findings in a Spa Business exclusive
First person: To the source
Jane Kitchen takes to the sulphurous waters of Terme di Saturnia in Italy and shares details about its exciting upcoming sister site in Milan
Promotion: L'OCCITANE en Provence – the art of recovery
With an approach to wellbeing that’s both holistic and grounded in science, the latest massage from L’OCCITANE en Provence promises to have a powerfully-beneficial effect on customers, both in the spa and at home
New opening: Surrenne at The Emory
The £15k memberships at this wellness club in London sold out in just weeks. Creator Inge Theron tells us why
First person: Playful wellness
A Stella McCartney facial and Tracy Anderson studio are just two USPs Megan Whitby finds at Surrenne
Promotion: TechnoAlpin – naturally cool design
TechnoAlpin’s snow technology is not only an effective way to introduce gentle cold therapy into the spa environment, it’s also a powerful biophilic design element that can bring the wonder of nature indoors
Promotion: Biologique Recherche – potent partnership
A new anti-senescence serum from Biologique Recherche offers transformative results and raises the bar in anti-ageing skincare when combined with its iconic collagen formula
Promotion: Comfort Zone – A longer life for skin
Created to combat the visible signs of ageing, Comfort Zone’s latest range revamp is based on the company’s pioneering research into cutaneous cellular longevity
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN – Clinical excellence in skincare
With laboratories based in Montreal, G.M. Collin’s highly researched derma-corrective treatments have been helping skincare professionals deliver exceptional and exclusive results worldwide for many decades. We talk to VP Myriam Sayer
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
