BY RYAN WENHAM, CHARTERED ARCHITECT & REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNER, LARSEN ARCHITECTURE
POOLS, SPAS & HOT TUBS
POOLS, HOT TUBS & SPAS
BY RYAN WENHAM, CHARTERED ARCHITECT & REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNER, LARSEN ARCHITECTURE
Entering a body of water, whether in your own home or at a dedicated spa facility, should be a full-body experience, yet it is often overlooked from a design perspective. Too often, the focus is placed solely on the visual or functional aspects of a pool, hot tub, or spa, while the tactile and sensory elements are neglected. As a designer, I believe that every detail, from the materials chosen to the way light interacts with surfaces, contributes to how a space is perceived and experienced.
One of the most undervalued elements in spa design is materiality and texture. The sensation created by artificial grass and a printed mural of Barcelona rooftops is entirely different from that of soft, warm light cascading down a textured stone wall, next to a mosaic floor tile, or in a natural wood Scandinavian sauna. These tactile and visual contrasts can subtly guide a user’ s journey and shape the overall atmosphere. They are part of a carefully curated experience that engages the senses in a way that fleeting decorations alone cannot achieve.
Creating a memorable experience is not simply about lighting candles or burning incense. Those touches may provide a momentary sense of atmosphere in an otherwise uninspiring space, but true experiential design goes further. It is about choreographing a journey through and around the water, considering how the user enters and exits the pool or spa, what they see and feel at every stage, and how their surroundings interact with their movement. Every detail, from the warmth of a handrail to the texture underfoot, contributes to the overall impact.
Experience in water design is not determined by budget. It is determined by creativity, imagination, and the quality of execution. Working with your environment, whether indoors
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