Salvarola Terme, Sassuolo (Italy)

Maximum functionality, but also exotic hints and suffused oriental atmospheres to create emotional spaces: these are the project objectives for the Centro Estetico Termale Sensoriale Balnea. Created at the Terme della Salvarola spa complex in Sassuolo (province of Modena), Balnea is an exclusive, refined spa and wellness centre where guests can undergo curative treatments using the salsobromoiodic thermal waters and restore physical well-being by taking advantage of a brief holiday. The centre is situated in the vicinity of the ancient thermal baths, within a complex that offers numerous options: swimming pools, gyms, saunas, and all other facilities dedicated to wellness.
 

The objective of the Balnea project is to organise the spaces where the wellness treatments are provided using the latest technologies alongside ancient wisdom, such as shiatsu and ayurvedic therapies, all within cosy environments that house systems for body treatments based on fruit essences, such as cherries and grapeseed. In the design by architect Grazia Franzoni, the morphology of the space (prevalently longitudinal, with openings onto the exterior on only one side) suggested using the part with windows for the treatment rooms and the relaxation zones. In terms of the selection of the materials, the architect decided to draw from the variegated world of ceramic production which, thanks to the most sophisticated technologies, offers contemporary materials with an ancient soul, such as the Casamood mosaics of the Vetro series, selected in different colours for the wall coverings. “The irregularity of the tiles,” explains designer Grazia Franzoni, “along with the alluring and mysterious reflections, envelop the spaces like a precious fabric, becoming essential participants in conveying well-being and sensoriality.” A significant part of the entire space is the use of water, an element of purity that pours forth from two interior fountains and ideally renews the fluids of the body with its continuous flow. In this sense, the two fountains are the focal point around which the spa environment revolves, with access by means of an antique carved dark wood door from India.
 

Wood was also the inspiration that guided the choice of the flooring for the space: the Abisko collection by Rex covers all the spaces, giving warmth and personality to the rooms and hallways.

The well-being itinerary begins in the area of the treatment rooms, where guests can undergo the initial preparatory treatments, and then winds through the more intimate zones for the deeper and more time-consuming treatments. Water is a constant throughout the spaces and appears as a stream crossed by immaterial foot-bridges made of glass dotted with white pebbles that, running along the side of the treatment rooms, enliven the environment with vibrating light that produces reflections with a bright and intense chromatic energy.
 

Thanks to the attentive orchestration of colours, smells, and soft music, the Centro Estetico Termale Sensoriale Balnea is an environment that envelops guests in rarefied atmospheres in which they can lose themselves in deep and mindful relaxation.