Spas in the News

Douglas Wallace Spa Design Wins 2006 European Design Award

November 2006 - Douglas Wallace Architects and Designers' design for E'Spa at the g Hotel in Galway has won the "Best Hotel Design for Spa, Health and Leisure Interiors" at this year's European Hotel Design Awards. The g was nominated in a further two categories, including Best Hotel Design for Bar & Restaurant Interiors and Best Hotel Design for Lobby / Public Area Interiors.

The European Hotel Design Awards are part of Sleep06, the prestigious European Hotel Design Event, which took place on 7th and 8th November 2006 at Old Billingsgate Market in London. Judges included industry experts such as hotelier Gordon Campbell Gray and Jeroen Bergmans, editor at Wallpaper Magazine.

Douglas Wallace worked in consultation with ESPA International, creating a spa that offers a holistic oasis of calm for guests. The space uses rich colours and natural materials such as stone, wood and linen to reflect the surrounding Galway landscape and creates a welcoming five-star environment for pure indulgence.

Susan Harmsworth, CEO and Founder of ESPA International commented, "It was a great pleasure for the ESPA team to work in collaboration with the innovative and creative talent of Douglas Wallace on this unique project. The G's striking character of stylish glamour is perfectly complimented by the Spa's contemporary elegance and sense of place, providing guests the unique combination of vibrant residence and urban spa retreat in the heart of Galway." ESPA at the g offers guests a contemporary urban spa setting on the upper two floors of the five star g hotel, Galway. The beautifully blended and meditative space is inspired by a Japanese theme and offers an air of tranquillity in contrast to the out and out glamour of the rest of the hotel.

The wet area features a vitality pool, heated tepidariums, rock sauna, steam room, rain showers boasting ½ metre diameter heads and offering a tropical mist effect, and an ice fountain. Four beauty suites are situated on the lower floor and eight treatment rooms are to be found on the upper floor.

Rising over the stairwell as if in flight, is the spa features a breathtaking installation of a flock of origami cranes, representing long life and happiness in Japanese tradition. The sculpture was especially designed for ESPA at the g by artist Eva Menz.

The European Hotel Design Award is the latest addition to Douglas Wallace's awards successes in 2006. The EYE Cinema project in Galway won the Best Commercial Building of the Year at this year's RIAI Awards. The Scotch Hall mixed-use development in Drogheda won Louth County Council's Design and Conservation Award for Best Commercial Building as well as being highly commended at the 2006 Opus Architecture Awards.

www.douglaswallace.com

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