Bill Bensley creating 13th-century village in the shadow of Yên Tu Mountain
Architect Bill Bensley is working on a national cultural heritage site in Yên Tu Mountain – considered to be the cradle of Trúc Lâm Zen Buddhism in Vietnam – as part of the Vietnamese government’s strategic development plan for the area.
Designed with attention to historical detail – Bensley has created the entire Yên Tu Village in 13th-century style and using 13th-century techniques where possible – the village will include a museum, hotel and hostels.
The 133-bedroom hotel will include a 2,240sq m (2,111sq ft) wellness centre, set to open in February 2019, which will specialise in Zen meditation, herbal baths and remedies, yoga, meditation and wellness counselling.
The wellness centre has also been designed by Bensley, who worked with spa consultants Dorian Landers and Florence Jaffre. It will include a swimming pool, oversized steam rooms and saunas built inside four large brick kilns, and large windows to take in the natural setting around it.
“As Yên Tu does not have hot natural springs, our idea was to evolve the Japanese onsen concept to heating filtered water and simmering roots, herbs and flowers to make various types of hot baths,” said Landers. “Those types of baths were used in ancient times for therapies and/or relaxation. We added herbal steam rooms and herbal scrubs to widen the spectrum.”
Dedicated meditation rooms are also located inside the wellness centre, and the large outdoor square pool is designed after the ancient 5th century monk bathing pools found in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which was a also great centre for Buddhism.
Treatments in the herbal spa will include a herbal steam bath in the large ‘kiln’ brick steam rooms, where local herbs, roots and floral essences are added to the steam; and herbal body scrubs, using various types of herbs for therapies and skin exfoliation.
Mineral pools use stones and gems from Yên Tu Mountain known for their mineral and magnetic properties. The water flows on the stones before entering the common bathing pool, with the idea that ions from the stones are leached into the water in the process.
“Most treatments are done in a social environment and sexes are separate,” Landers explained. “There are personal options available such as personal herbal tubs, scrubs and massage done with bamboo. Following the tradition of the Tung Lam Zen Buddhist philosophy, there is no direct skin-to-skin contact in any of the treatments to avoid transfers of energy. The treatments are designed to absorb the properties of the herbs, roots, flowers and ions from stones.”
Jaffre has been working on the project over the last few months to finalise the treatments and work on the operational side of things.
“My team and myself have been intensively exploring the thousand years old healing modalities of Asia,” said Jaffre. “This system included philosophy, science and healing. Healing plants from the rich botanical vocabulary of Yên Tu mountains are cleverly blended with science and philosophy to assist guests in the quest of peace and happiness. It is a pilgrimage of self-discovery.”
Yên Tu Village herbal spa 13th century village Bill Bensley Vietnam Zen Buddhism Dorian Landers Florence Jaffre
Bill Bensley-designed Cambodian glamping resort will protect wild ecosystems
Bill Bensley’s luxury tented resort to include signature lunar phase wellness treatments
Bill Bensley's creative spirit let loose with launch of own hotel brand
Bensley in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll classic inspires designer's Vietnamese JW Marriott resort
Bill Bensley and Gensler partner to create St. Regis resort 'paradise' in Malaysia
Homely spa design is the future, says Bill Bensley
FEATURE: People profile – Bill Bensley
FEATURE: CLAD people – Bill Bensley
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
