Psammotherapy stars at new Four Seasons Abu Dhabi spa
by Jane Kitchen | 18 May 2016
The Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island has opened in the UAE capital, featuring both sustainable design elements and an eight-treatment-room spa with separate male and female facilities.
The Dahlia Spa is led by spa director Christelle Besnier, who most recently worked at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, and features work by spa consultants Blu Spas. Its eight treatment rooms, including a couples’ suite, each feature their own shower, and the menu offers organic treatments by skincare brand Sodashi, as well as Swiss Perfection Cellular Anti-Ageing therapies for face and body.
Facilities include two separate fitness centres – one for women and one for men – plus separate hydro pools, steamrooms, saunas, hammams, ice fountains and water-view relaxation lounges.
A four-hour Dahlia Spa Time lets guests create their own spa journey with a choice of successive treatments. Guests can also experience psammotherapy – or sand therapy – with the Gharieni Quartz Sand Escape, which is said to alleviate pain by lying on a base of warmed sand. Gharieni also provided spa equipment and furniture for the Dahlia Spa.
The 200-bedroom, 34-storey hotel is developed by Mubadala Real Estate & Infrastructure and designed by London-based PLP Architecture, which used the Estidama – Pearl 2 standard for sustainable urban planning. It features a unique pattern of copper-coloured ‘baguettes,’ which conserve energy while not compromising the hotel’s views.
“The design responds to the climate and culture of its setting, drawing on a long heritage of regional building with strategies that protect the interior from the extremes of sun and wind,” the architects said.
“Traditional elements, such as shade-screens, thermal mass and carefully integrated building, water and landscape are reinterpreted in a contemporary architecture to create a lush and sensual interior environment.”
The hotel takes full advantage of its waterfront location at the heart of Sowwah Square, Abu Dhabi’s new financial district, where it is adjacent to the new headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
The building’s design features a slender tower contrasted against a low podium, creating an interplay of vertical and horizontal elements, and layered facades complement the geometric aspects of the design.
Inside, natural light floods public spaces, restaurants, meeting rooms and guest rooms designed by Richmond International and HBA. A 267sq m (2,874sq ft) Royal Suite features two-storey windows, crystal chandeliers, hand-painted silks, marble and polished floors.
The hotel also includes four dining venues, with two more to come later this year.
Four Seasons also recently opened at the Dubai International Financial Centre, and plans a Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya.
Four Seasons Abu Dhabi spa Sodashi psammotherapy
The Royal Suite features two-storey windows, crystal chandeliers and hand-painted silks
The Presidential Suite allows guests to entertain or host meetings
The Dahlia Spa features eight treatment rooms and is led by spa director Christelle Besnier
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The Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island has opened in the UAE capital, featuring both sustainable design elements and an eight-treatment-room spa with separate male and female facilities. The Dahlia Spa is led by spa director Christelle Besnier, who most recently worked at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, and features work by spa consultants Blu Spas. Its eight treatment rooms, including a couples’ suite,
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