MAG news
Steigenberger Icon Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden launches reimagined two-floor bank vault spa
by Helen Andrews | 17 Dec 2025
Steigenberger Icon Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden in Baden-Baden, Germany, opened earlier this year following extensive renovations and now its reimagined Vault Spa and Suites have launched too. The heritage of the city centre property was preserved by architects DK Studio and the interiors were adapted by Bachhuber Contract. The project required ambitious construction solutions, including building directly in the waters of the river Oos. The 126-key hotel’s updated spa now measures
Frank Gehry tributes praise his “extraordinary mind” and “endless imagination”
by Magali Robathan | 12 Dec 2025
Tributes to Frank Gehry from across the design world and beyond have flooded in following his death on 5 December. Gehry died aged 96 at his home in Los Angeles following a brief respiratory illness, according to his chief of staff Meaghan Lloyd. One of the world’s most well-known architects, Gehry redefined architecture during his almost eight-decades-long career, challenging convention with his unrestrained creativity, resulting in truly original buildings including
The first UK Six Senses will open in London in Q2 2026 with city’s “first magnesium hotel pool”
by Helen Andrews | 03 Nov 2025
Six Senses London, the first Six Senses in the UK, will open in Q2 of 2026 with the brand’s first private club called Six Senses Place and what is said to be the city’s first magnesium hotel pool. Anna Bjurstam, strategic advisor for Six Senses confirmed to Spa Business on 7th November 2025 that the property will start to take bookings from early April. The property will be housed within
Exclusive: Accor reimagines future of wellness, spa and fitness design in all-new white paper
by Megan Whitby | 18 Feb 2025
Accor has released a comprehensive white paper designed to deepen understanding of wellness design and its capacity to enhance guest experiences, boost loyalty and drive revenue. Spanning 16 chapters, Making Waves: Rethinking Spa and Wellness Design for a Modern Era explores key aspects of the wellness design process, exploring best practices, challenges and innovations in spa and fitness design. The white paper outlines Accor’s evolving approach to wellness across its
Wellscape creates mesmerising AI naturescapes to capture guests’ imaginations at spas, hotels and health clubs
by Megan Whitby | 23 Aug 2024
Wellscape is a new company, spearheaded by industry figure Brian Paris, set to revolutionise spa, wellness and hospitality guest journeys with advanced immersive visual environments. After collaborating with a team skilled in creating VR settings for film and TV, Paris is using AI and high-resolution LED panels to bring healing spaces to life with naturescapes, light, scent and soundscapes – some of which are composed by wellness music provider Myndstream.
Equinox Hotels to launch futuristic wellbeing resort in Neom's luxury coastal region
by Megan Whitby | 23 Jul 2024
Fitness-focused hospitality brand and management company Equinox Hotels has announced plans to open a modern new resort on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba in northwest Saudi Arabia. The venture is part of the ambitious US$500 billion (€462.7 billion, £396 billion) Neom* giga-project. The new resort, Equinox Resort Treyam, will be a centrepiece in Magna**, Neom’s new luxury coastal region, which encompasses 12 destinations along 120km of coastline. Magna
Christian Lachel appointed chief creative officer at BRC Imagination Arts
by Magali Robathan | 26 Mar 2021
Global design and production agency BRC Imagination Arts has appointed Christian Lachel as chief creative officer, taking over the role from BRC founder Bob Rogers. Previously vice president and executive creative director, Lachel first joined BRC in 1997. Since then, he has helped guide the company during a period of rapid GLOBAL growth, and has taken lead roles on projects including Destination Scotland (Johnnie Walker Princes St, Glenkinchie Distillery), Jameson Distillery
BRC Imagination Arts completes new Glenkinchie Distillery brand home for Diageo as part of cycle of Scottish whisky attractions
by Liz Terry | 29 Oct 2020
LA-based experience design studio, BRC Imagination Arts, is the creative force behind the new Glenkinchie Distillery attraction, which has opened today (29 October 2020) near Edinburgh, Scotland. The single malt distillery is located in East Lothian, a region known for its produce and has undergone a major transformation of its visitor attraction as part of a wider £185m investment by owner, Diageo. Glenkinchie will be known as the ‘Lowland Home
noa* reimagines alpine wellness retreat to merge seamlessly with mountain landscape
by Megan Whitby | 05 Aug 2020
A South Tyrolean wellness resort in Saltaus, Italy, has received a new two-floor wellness centre designed to provide a sanctuary of wellbeing that integrates smoothly into the natural landscape. Apfelhotel Torgglerhof hotel’s new 570sq m facility has been created to complement the resort’s existing spa with its apple-shaped bio-sauna – inspired by the local apple orchards. Architecture and interior design firm Network of Architecture (noa*) led the overhaul, with construction
Bjarke Ingels Group creates groundbreaking furniture factory with visitor centre for Vestre in Norway
by Tom Walker | 14 Jul 2020
Details have been revealed for what is being described as the world's most radical and environmentally-friendly furniture factory and visitor centre. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) for Vestre, the 6,500sq m factory – called The Plus – is in Magnor, Norway. It will be a "global showcase for sustainability" and highly-efficient manufacturing. As well as a fully functional factory, The Plus will include a visitor centre and a 300-acre
RDHA's library and Komagata Maru Park project given RAIC medal
by Tom Walker | 04 Jun 2020
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has named the Springdale Library and Komagata Maru Park – designed by RDH Architects (RDHA) – among the winners of its bi-annual Governor General’s Medals. The biennial awards recognise and celebrate excellence in recently built and designed projects by Canadian architects. First opened in 2019, the 26,000sq ft Springdale Library, contemplative garden, neighbourhood park and splash pad was created for the City of
Copenhagen's 'parkipelago' project looks to redefine public parks
by Tom Walker | 28 May 2020
A project involving hand-crafted islands on the Danish capital Copenhagen's waterfront is set to create a completely new genre of public parks. Described as a "parkipelago", the Copenhagen Islands project will involve a number of islands being distributed to suitable locations around the city's inner harbour, with the aim of providing people moveable, floating, public spaces which will be free to explore and conquer. During summer, the islands will be
Ekies resort receives overhaul inspired by monastic traditions using earthy tones and natural materials
by Megan Whitby | 20 Apr 2020
Ekies All Senses Resort, Halkidiki, Greece, has undergone a redesign and expansion project inspired by an ascetic vibe and its proximity to Mount Athos – home to 20 monasteries under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Resort owner, Alexandra Efstathiadou, worked in collaboration with Athens-based Agarch + Architects and Fytron Landscape Design, to create ten brand new suites and renovate five existing rooms. The team drew on
Newly opened Meliá Koh Samui pays homage to the island's heritage
by Megan Whitby | 05 Mar 2020
Meliá Hotels has opened Meliá Koh Samui, a beachfront resort and spa in Thailand designed by PIA Interior that pays homage to Samui's island heritage with suites constructed from old merchant vessels. Meliá opened the resort in partnership with Thai holding company Asset World Corporation as part of a plan to build three properties in the country. Located on Choeng Mon Beach, it accommodates 159 rooms and 41 suites, with
Aurelien Chen pavilion reimagines the mountains, forest, clouds and water of Chinese landscape
by Stu Robarts | 16 Jan 2020
Aurelien Chen has created a pavilion in China that reimagines the traditional Chinese landscape of mountains, forest, clouds and water. The 350sq m (3,770sq ft) Dragon Mountain Landmark Pavilion, so-called because of its location in Zhulongshan – literally Dragon Mountain, was created to draw the attention to the entrance of the Dragon Mountain Natural site. Described by Chen as "an ethereal and abstract version of a traditional Chinese landscape", the
Weiss/Manfredi to reimagine the La Brea Tar Pits
by Stu Robarts | 16 Dec 2019
Weiss/Manfredi have been chosen to lead a masterplanning project for the 13ac (5ha) campus of the La Brea Tar Pits, which is described as the world’s only active paleontological research facility in a major urban area. Tar Pits form when a type of naturally occurring petroleum leaks to the surface of the ground and its lighter elements evaporate off, leaving a sticky pool that can trap and preserve animals. Research
Chybik + Kristof create wine bar in restored and reimagined 19th-century brewery buildings
by Stu Robarts | 02 Dec 2019
Chybik + Kristof have created a wine bar and tasting room in a converted 19th-century brewery and its adjacent 1970s technical space by employing two distinct approaches to renovation. House of Wine is located in Znojmo, Czech Republic, and comprises the two spaces with very different heritages. The original brewery building has been treated as a heritage site, with its fabric restored and preserved, but little in the way of
New images reveal Heatherwick's 1000 Trees as it nears completion
by Stu Robarts | 18 Nov 2019
Heatherwick Studio have released new images of its 300,000sq m (3,230,000sq ft) mixed-use development 1000 Trees as it approaches completion. Located on a 15ac (6ha) site in Shanghai, 1000 Trees takes the form of a mountain-like tree-covered topography. Unconventionally, the building's hundreds of structural support columns are left exposed, doubling as podiums with large planters built into the top, each holding a handful of trees. The undulating shape allows the
Stock-a-Studio's installation reimagines the gym as temporary, reconfigurable and low-budget
by Stu Robarts | 06 Nov 2019
A multidisciplinary design studio called Stock-a-Studio has created a temporary gym in a shopfront that can be easily assembled, disassembled, customised and reassembled using a variety of low budget materials. The installation, called [ a kit of these some parts ] x budget gym ], is aimed at encouraging assembly rather than construction and refinishing rather than remanufacturing. Hosted at LA's Materials & Applications – a non-profit organisation that seeks
The Manser Practice reimagines road bridge with green space and traffic-free
by Stu Robarts | 01 Nov 2019
The Manser Practice has created a concept design for a road bridge that is temporarily closed to traffic, reimagining it with green public space for use by pedestrians, cyclists and riverboat users. London's Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to vehicles since April this year due to concerns about its structural integrity. People have responded to the closure by making use of its full width as pedestrians and cyclists and enjoying
Disney Imagineers transform Epcot for 2020
by Andy Knaggs | 29 Aug 2019
Disney Imagineers have promised the biggest ever transformation of any of the Disney parks in announcing a host of new attractions and experiences for its Epcot theme parkin Florida, with many set to open in January or summer 2020. Among the new characters that will inhabit the park are Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Moana and Guardians of the Galaxy. The location will be divided into four neighbourhoods that
Merlin Magic Making and Warner Bros will partner to design Lego Movie World California
by Tom Walker | 20 Aug 2019
Merlin Entertainments, the world's second-biggest visitor attraction operator after Disney, has revealed plans for the largest new addition at its Legoland California resort since the park launched in 1999. The new Lego Movie World area is set to open in 2020 and will be based on the popular Warner Bros movie franchise. The area is being designed by Merlin Magic Making, Merlin's in-house design team, in partnership with Warner Bros
BIG's twisting bridge in Norway has the potential to reimagine the museum experience
by Andrew Manns | 05 Jun 2019
The Twist – a museum designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) – is set to make its debut on 18 September in Hønefoss, Norway. Situated in the Kistefos Museum's 270,000 sq m sculpture park, the new structure – which has been described as an “art museum, sculpture, path in the landscape, and bridge" – spans the Randselva river. The Twist will house three galleries dedicated to contemporary art The site used
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios set to reimagine Liverpool’s waterfront
by Andrew Manns | 30 May 2019
British architecture firm Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) have won a competition to draft a master plan for Liverpool's historic waterfront district. Situated in the city's UNESCO-recognised maritime quarter, the rehabilitated development will – according to the architects – "maximise the use of the 18th-century dockland to create an outstanding visitor destination." Set to unfold over a 10-year-period, FCBS's plan will also see the area's disused listed buildings restored to
Yabu Pushelberg and ISC release stunning images of new restaurant in Times Square
by Andrew Manns | 16 May 2019
Yabu Pushelberg and Ian Schrager Company Design Studio (ISC) have unveiled images of their designs for 701 West, a luxury restaurant located at the recently opened Times Square Edition in Manhattan. Perched on the hotel's 11th floor, the 100-cover flagship has three main sections – a salon-like cocktail bar headed by mixologist Salvatore Tafur, a dining lounge with a prix fixe menu conceived by chef John Fraser, and an outdoor
Concrete pay homage to 'kaleidoscopic' Bavarian culture with Germany's first Andaz hotel
by Andrew Manns | 01 Apr 2019
The Andaz Hotel Munich Tor Schwabinger – Germany's first Andaz-branded hospitality venue – has opened its doors. Designed by Dutch architecture studio Concrete Architectural Associates to reflect what the group have called the "kaleidoscopic" cultural and artistic diversity of Bavaria, the hotel boasts 234 rooms and 43 suites, as well as a spa, two bars, a pool deck, a gym, and a restaurant. The Andaz Spa – said to be
SBE teases first images of its upcoming Dubai Hotel and Residences
by Andrew Manns | 26 Mar 2019
Lifestyle and hospitality group SBE Entertainment has unveiled renderings for its first resort in the UAE – the SLS Dubai Hotel and Residences. The US$550m (€485.9m, £416m) flagship will be situated in a 75-storey tower and feature 254 rooms and 371 residences, as well as infinity pools, bars, restaurants, terraces, and cocktail lounges. The resort will also boast a bevy of SBE's Ciel-branded spa facilities, including seven treatment rooms, plunge
Reimagined TWA Flight Center readies for May take-off
by Andrew Manns | 19 Feb 2019
The Eero Saarinen-designed Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight Center – arguably the most iconic example of Space Age neo-futuristic architecture – is set to reopen its doors at JFK Airport on 15 May. The air terminal, which – according to Saarinen – was designed to express "man's desire to conquer gravity" as well as the "drama and excitement of travel", will now be a leisure epicentre, featuring eight bars, six
Reimagined Museum of Modern Art to open its doors in October
by Andrew Manns | 06 Feb 2019
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has announced that it will close this summer and reopen with expanded exhibition spaces on 21 October 2019. Designed by New York architecture practice Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) in collaboration with Gensler, the MoMA's extensions will feature more than 40,000 sq ft (3,716 sq m ) of galleries – allowing for the inclusion of both new and re-choreographed exhibits. The
Sasaki reimagine China's first professional soccer arena as wellness hub
by Andrew Manns | 10 Jan 2019
Interdisciplinary architecture firm Sasaki Associates have released images of their proposal to change the face of Hongkou stadium in Shanghai, China. The future 50,000-seat sports complex will feature a number of wellness-focused green spaces, recreational amenities, and VIP clubs, plus a "cantilevered restaurant" offering panoramic views of the Shanghai skyline. A museum memorialising Hongkou's role as China's first professional soccer arena will also be added to the venue's facilities. Sasaki's
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"Culture is the beating heart of this project"
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
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
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