Euphoria Retreat Nhazi Ọkụ Spa by Anna Sbokou and Katerina Plota

Euphoria Retreat Nhazi Ọkụ Spa by Anna Sbokou and Katerina Plota is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo in Nhazi Ngwaahịa Ìhè na Ihe E Kwụnyere Competition Category.

ỌlaedoÌhè· 2021

Euphoria Retreat Nhazi Ọkụ Spa

by Anna Sbokou and Katerina Plota

Client: ASlight

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo Winner in Ìhè Category

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The Design

About Euphoria Retreat Nhazi Ọkụ Spa

Euphoria Retreat bụ nhazi ọkụ e mere maka spa dị na Mystras, Greece. Spa a bụ ụlọ nwere okpukpu anọ nke mita skwea 3,000, nke a wapụtara na ntọala ugwu. E lebara ọkụ nke ohere ọ bụla anya dịka ihe pụrụ iche, na-akwado njem mmetụta nke na-eme nwayọọ nwayọọ ma na-eweta udo. Ìhè ehihie na-adịgasị iche nke ukwuu site n'otu ohere ruo n'ọzọ, ya mere e mere ngwa ọkụ ahaziri iche iji ṅomie ọnọdụ ìhè ehihie. Ngwa ọkụ ahaziri iche ndị a na-eme ka mgbanwe dị n'etiti ohere ndị ahụ dịkọta n'otu ma na-akwalite ụkpụrụ ụlọ ahụ na-adọba mmadụ n'ime ya.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo

Euphoria Retreat Nhazi Ọkụ Spa meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị dị n'ọkwa mbụ, dị ịtụnanya ma pụtara ìhè. Ndị meriri na Ọlaedo bụ ihe e kere eke dị oke ọhụrụ, nwere ọhụụ ma na-egbu maramara nke na-egosipụta ọgụgụ isi, amamihe na nka nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Euphoria Retreat Nhazi Ọkụ Spa ga-abụ ihe e mepụtara kacha enweta otuto, na-edu ọnọdụ ma bụrụ ihe ncheta nke na-enye uru na-adịbeghị mgbe ọ bụla. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaedo bụ ọrụ dị ebube, a na-asọpụrụ nke na-erite uru buru ibu ma na-ebuga oke nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ n'ihu. Euphoria Retreat Nhazi Ọkụ Spa na-eweta mmetụta ọchịchọ siri ike, na-akpali agụụ, na-akwado nzụlite ihe ma na-adọrọ anyị adọrọ.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Spa at the Euphoria Retreat, is located in Mystras. It is a four-storey building, of 3.000 m2, that is carved into the base of a mountain. The lighting for each space was considered as a unique piece, contributing to the crescendo of the ultimate relaxation experience. As daylight would vary substantially from one space to another, custom luminaires were designed to imitate daylight conditions, thus harmonizing the transitions through spaces and enhancing the immersive architecture.
Tags: Spa, Retreat, Immersive, Peaceful, Sensory, Lighting, Transition, Daylight, Crescendo
Production Technology: Catacombs- To mitigate the harsh entry from daylight into the catacombs, the corridor and reception area were lit with custom tunable white LED COB ‘daylight tubes’, linked with 2 daylight sensors for a smooth transition. The golden-plated niches were highlighted with warm wall-washers for an even distribution.
Staircase Well- Due to the repetitive openings and varying height along the route of the staircase, custom wall-to-wall luminaire was designed, with up/down component on independent controls. This way, the mystical effect could be balanced throughout the route, in harmony with the daylit well. For the night condition, an inground light dish inside the foot pool hints the moon reflection on the water.

Second level is the most complex and diverse. The visitor moves around alternate centers with variable degrees of light, humidity and temperature.
Sphere Pool- to enhance the shape and the experience of the sphere pool, two custom large scale systems were designed. At the top of the sphere, with the 1.5m deep skylight, a cylindrical lightbox was designed to allow for natural light, as well as artificial diffused light into the sphere. 4000K IP65 LED strips in gradient setting-out for optimum effect were installed on an aluminium cylinder and plexiglass diffuser, integrated within the architecture. The second system, four high-output spotlights aimed at a large custom parabolic reflector to generate a ’light column’ through the bottom glass and the water, for reflections. Additional discrete lighting in the outer wet areas was also introduced in warm tones.
Tepidarium- 3000K flexible LED luminaires were used in a perimeter cove to provide apparent brightness, while keeping the actual light levels low. For the centre of the space, 2500K source was used in the central pendant, for a soft relaxing glow.
Byzantine Hammam- in keeping with the character of the room, artificial lightubes were designed, with a 2-layer fibre optic system (2700K & 4000K) and frosted glass ‘vases’, for the central treatment pedestal, while the perimeter resting areas were lit with soft indirect neutral white light.
Design Challenge: A destination spa hotel, such as the Euphoria Retreat, is a holistic immersive experience, where the light and the design of it becomes a silent protagonist that can hide and reveal elements, draw visitors to one area or another and play with the human senses, with low levels of illumination, tone contrast and detailing that integrates seamlessly with the architecture. It was good reminder for the design team to slow down, take a moment and understand what is vital to each space and each experience.
For the purposes of this entry, only selective feature areas of the project are presented, while the lighting design addressed the project in it's entirety.
Inspiration: The design of the Spa is meant to be peaceful and subversive, meditative and hallucinatory, orderly and free-flowing. This occurs through a choreographed transition of spaces in which light, sound, temperature, humidity, textures and smells create immersive sensory experiences. The lighting strategy needed to accommodate the sudden transition from the outdoors, into the catacombs, through to the wet areas and identify each of these areas with a unique character and environment.
Project Duration: The Euphoria Spa is the centerpiece of the Euphoria Retreat, located beside the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mystras, in Greece. The project was completed within 2.5 years.
Team Members: Anna Sbokou and Matina Magklara
Image Credits: Image #1 : Photographer Margarita Nikitaki, Spa Sphere Pool interior, 2019.
Image #2 : Photographer Margarita Nikitaki, Spa Sphere Pool exterior, 2019.
Image #3 : Photographer Margarita Nikitaki, Spa Light Well Staircase, 2019.
Image #4 : Photographer Margarita Nikitaki, Spa Tepidarium, 2019.
Image #5 : Photographer Margarita Nikitaki, Spa Byzantine Baths, 2019.