Wellness blends with 2,300 years of history at The Museum Hotel Antakya
– Ergin Erden
A luxury spa which overlooks an archaeological excavation spanning 13 civilizations, has recently been unveiled at The Museum Hotel Antakya, Turkey.
Turkish design firm Emre Arolat Architecture led the multi-layered project’s design which centres around rare mosaics and is stacked with contemporary steel frames supporting sheltering rooms linked by walkways and glass-panelled bridges.
The hotel’s decor has been completed with copper accents, warm wooden floors and views onto the surrounding Habibi Neccar mountains while local cultural references are interwoven throughout interiors with mosaic-inspired designs, decoration walls, en-suite marble bathrooms and woven Antakyan furniture.
The spa shares its home with the world’s largest single-floor mosaic which covers 1,050sq m and dates back 2,300 years to the fourth century.
The Museum Hotel Antakya, was originally destined to be a five-star luxury hotel in the heart of modern Antakya, but once work began an archaeological treasure trove was discovered revealing five layers of history, including 30,000 ancient artefacts as well as the single-floor mosaic made of 160 shades of natural plant-dyed stones and city walls dating back to 300BC.
The building has been raised to make room for an open-air national archaeology park, – called Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeology Museum named after the owner of The Museum Hotel Antakya – a spa and hotel suspended above, where guests can step out their rooms and experience open-air views of the ancient mosaics below.
Balans Spa and Fitness Centre is claimed to be the city’s largest wellbeing facility standing at 3,300sq m, the rooftop wellness centre crowns the destination and has been designed to blend the indoors with outside.
The spa includes six treatment rooms named after Apollo’s muses as well as a private couple’s spa suite with two massage beds, a Turkish hammam, sofa, Jacuzzi and garden.
A highlight of the spa is a bathhouse experience that includes both mixed and female hammams, this feature is inspired by the mural of Apollo and the Muses depicted in the mosaic and the visible ancient Roman bath ruins.
With contemporary wellness at its heart, the spa menu offers treatments including facials, massages, hammam experiences, aromatherapy and reflexology, all inspired by ancient beauty rituals and supplied by botanical product house Cinq Mondes.
Turkish spa consultancy Promet oversaw the delivery of Balans Spa as a turnkey project.
The wellbeing offering also extends to fitness as the destination includes a Life Fitness-equipped gym, studio for classes such as reformer Pilates, yoga and spinning, three pools including an outdoor infinity pool and a Jacuzzi.
During the day, the wellness centre is open to both hotel guests and to members of the public via a membership system – a scheme purposefully devised to foster interest and a strong relationship between the facility and the local community.
Following official guidelines, the Turkish destination is currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Museum Hotel Antakya Turkey Cinq Mondes Promet Emre Arolat Architecture
Museum at Emre Arolat Architecture-designed archaeological hotel set to open
Leisure dominates World Architecture Festival 2019 Awards shortlist
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
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 investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
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 attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
