Sustainable Design in Spas

1. Wellbeing
the next generation
design
writer Mabs Potter
of sustainable
While eco or green may have been the catchwords for
environmentally friendly practices in the hospitality
industry in recent years, the ever-growing field of
sustainable design for resorts, hotels and spas actually
encompasses a much larger picture than just eco-
friendly building principles.
BEYOND GREEN guaranteed to improve overall levels of resource hub for education and resources
Sustainable design has come a long way in management, operational efficiency and for a sustainable lifestyle for this aware
the last decade. No longer limited to post- revenue generation.” demographic, which continue to swell in
construction eco friendly add-ons, the new numbers. According to IPK International,
generation of green hotels, resorts and spas SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES a tourism consulting and monitoring group,
are being designed with both environmental It is not just costs that are driving the 20 percent of Germans, who comprise
and social impacts in mind from the get sustainability trends in hotels and resorts, Europe’s largest economy, embrace the
go. “Green awareness has revolutionised but a new wave of well-off, well-educated, LOHAS lifestyle, and for 64 percent,
the global hospitality industry in ways health conscious and socially and ecological aspects remain at the top of their
that the industry would never previously environmentally aware consumers who list when booking travel.
imagined,” says Mottie Essakow, founder are becoming the premium travel customers, In the same report, 42 percent of
of OmWard Bound, a company specialising according to experts at the 2011 World American leisure travellers say they are
in developing responsible luxury resorts, Travel Monitor Forum. Lifestyles of health willing to pay more for green travel products.
spas and wellness centre. “Being ‘green’ and sustainability, or LOHAS, is the term “LOHAS are a lifestyle phenomenon
means much more than basic ideology designated to describe these eco aware discussed as the new premium target
and has outgrown the boundaries of travellers, as deemed by The World Travel group in tourism,” explains Katja Neller,
traditional corporate social responsibility Trends report for 2011. Originating in the Senior Consultant with German research
practices. Rather, green is being recognised US, but now with an Asia-based site also, company Schober Group. “They think
as a tool and a set of principles that are LOHAS.com has developed as the online globally, are very mobile and open-minded
104 AsiaSpa 2011 2011 AsiaSpa 105

2. Wellbeing
THIS PAGE: Water villa interior at Six Senses Laamu, Maldives. OPPOSITE PAGE:
Sustainably-built yoga sala at Fivelements, Puri Ahimsa, Bali, Indonesia
and operation of high performance green that will not only foster better environmental great lengths to avoid negative impacts in are sourced locally,” notes sustainable WATER USAGE
buildings, and was developed by the US practices, but has also developed criteria all phases of their development by hiring hospitality design expert, Mark Wuttke, Besides being one of the most precious
Green Building Council. A point system is with The Global Partnership for Sustainable environmental impact assessment teams Principal of the Wuttke Group. resources, water is also one of the most
used in which buildings earn LEED points for Tourism to set standards for community so that a comprehensive study can be Six Senses is known for treading heavily relied on in resorts, hotels and spas.
satisfying specific environmentally friendly engagement and social responsibility. undertaken. lightly in the remarkable locations of There are simple, but effective, cost cutting
building criteria in several categories such Key areas include infrastructure and David Simister, Chairman of CB Richard their luxurious resorts and spas, and has measures that can be taken to create a
as site selection, water and energy use community planning, and community Ellis, a development investment firm consistently committed to a sustainable more sustainable operation that will reduce
efficiency, materials and resources, and engagement and consultation, among working with the Royal Group, explains that resources policy in regards to construction overall usage levels.
indoor air quality. others. Hotels such as the Taj Residency their multi-faceted environmental strategy materials, especially when it comes to Installing low flow taps and keeping up
Points earned are applied to a not only shine in many EarthCheck will take into account everything from water timber usage in the construction of their with proper maintenance to avoid leakage
classification of silver, gold or platinum environmental categories, but they also and solid waste recycling and low-energy villas. At Six Senses Laamu in the remote are two of simplest practices. Melia Bali
status. LEED standards are recognised value their responsibility to the society and consumption to outlining the development Laamu Atoll, all 97 of the luxury villas are Villas and Spa Resort reduced their water
internationally and in Bangalore, India, local in where they are located. Initiatives regulations that will include density built with sustainably sourced timber by volume in all fixtures by simply cutting
for example, the ITC Royal Gardenia include engagement with underserved controls, site coverage, height restrictions working closely with local governments water pressure by 30 percent, the cost of
Hotel, which is one of Starwood’s Luxury populations, such as those living in slums and maintaining fauna corridors for and the Forestry Stewardship Council. Other which was negligible compared to the
Collection Hotels, was conferred with the and on the street, and providing education, existing species. Simister cites the untapped sources for timber are from responsible annual dollar savings that they reaped.
LEED Platinum rating for its sustainability training and resources so that they may have potential of Cambodia’s coastlines as an timber suppliers, which ensures that timber Laundry is a huge water consumer
practices, which include innovative a means to make a living. opportunity for a responsibly developed for the resorts is either recycled and comes in resorts and efficient, energy star-rated
and are looking for a type of tourism that technology and design integration in beach destination. “Given that Cambodia from second-hand uses or is renewable and machines make for a huge savings in
is ecologically sustainable and meets their water and energy conservation practices. SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES is an emerging tourist market, it still has not cut from old growth forests. overall water consumption. Water is also
standards of ethics and social justice. But Chief Executive of ITC Hotels, Nakul Sustainability premises embrace many key the opportunity to adopt eco-development Material sourcing is also part of the greatly consumed by cooling towers, which
they are also critical consumers, especially Anand explains, “The challenge was to principles that range across a variety of practices and avoid the mistakes of existing core philosophy at Balinese healing centre, remove heat from hot refrigerant gases
of ‘green washing’ marketing strategies.” see how luxury and responsibility could disciplines, and in the hospitality industry destinations such as Phuket, Samui, Pattaya Fivelements. All buildings at the deeply from air conditioners. Proper maintenance
As global travellers, these eco lifestyle exist in harmony together, thus a series of include everything from selecting the and Bali, which have followed a more eco-conscious resort are made of local of the towers, along with reducing overall
driven consumers are also seeking out sustainable measures and practices were initial location, orientation and layout typical development route,” notes Ellis. bamboo and feature other locally sourced cooling needs, ensures that the towers are
resorts, spas and hotels that reflect their adopted to ensure sustainable practices of the facility to the types and sources “Pattaya Bay, for example, was an area of materials such as coconut wood, stone and not operating within wasteful levels and
sustainable values, which go way beyond were effectively implemented at every level of construction materials, along with outstanding natural beauty in the 1960s alang-alang grass, which is used for roofing. using excessive amounts of water.
just the old standards of eco awareness inside the hotel.” operational fundamentals such as efficient until it got developed. With carefully “Sharing the Balinese way of life teaches Another key area for water conservation
that hotels may have adopted, such as Another well-respected certifying water and energy usage and renewable planned and executed environmentally people to nurture harmony with both the is in the recycling of grey water (water
encouraging hotel guests to use towels body is EarthCheck, an internationally sourcing, solid and liquid waste reduction, sensitive development strategies, Koh Rong spirit and the environment, which is key to which is not fit to drink, but which does not
more than once. “Sustainable best practice recognised environmental management and disposal and recycling and the responsible can avoid these mistakes, minimise the mass personal transformation,” says Fivelements contain any human waste matter). A star
principles are now being integrated into all certification programme designed for the sourcing of products used in everyday developments found in other established founder Chicco Tatriele. performer in this realm is EarthCheck (Silver
aspects of planning and development from travel and hospitality industry, and which operations. A solid social responsibility destinations and create a carefully planned
design and architecture to management has, over the last 10 years, created standards policy that includes engagement with ecological resort island. This type of
and operations,” claims Essakow. “Green that through independent verification, the community in which the resort or large scale development illustrates how
is now being practiced as an integral part ensure the measurement and monitoring hotel is located is also an aspect of the sustainable design is a key component when
of everyday management and operations, of natural resource consumption (such as core fundamentals of sustainability in the planning sustainable developments, even on
yet without using the word ‘eco’, ‘green’ or energy and water), in addition to monitoring hospitality industry. a large scale, as is the case with Koh Rong.”
‘sustainable.’ Simply put, ‘authentic’ is the social and environmental impacts. Although
new ‘chic’, ‘responsible’ is the new ‘luxury’ EarthCheck has raised awareness in the SITE SELECTION AND SURVEY MATERIAL SELECTION
and ‘eco’ is an integral part of mainstream.” hospitality industry for the need to reduce Perhaps one of the most important elements After site selection, which takes into account
environmental impact in a transparent is site section, as many of the world’s the existing resources available to support
SUSTAINABLE STANDARDS manner, sustainability is taken a step further. most alluring and pristine places are the the resort, hotel or spa, the construction
Certification also plays a key role in the As EarthCheck CEO Stewart Moore states, very ones that tourists would like to visit. components are equally as important.
growth, implementation and awareness of “The terms ‘eco’ and ‘green’ tend to refer Locations like the Maldives, or other island Sourcing locally available or recycled
sustainable design, and although standards to practices that have a positive impact atolls are particularly vulnerable since building materials not only supports the
continue to evolve, there are a few that on the biophysical environment, but these both the flora and fauna on land and in the local community’s economy, but also
stand out. Sustainable building certification practices often overlook the needs of people marine ecosystems are at high risk from lessens the carbon footprint, which can be
is most widely available from LEED, and local economies.“ irresponsible practices. Both currently heightened due to excessive transportation
which refers to Leadership in Energy and EarthCheck, taking its lead from the operating Song Saa Private Island in the of goods. “Sustainable design should be
Environmental Design, and it is one of the Sustainable Development principles of Koh Rong Archipelago and the proposed developed in harmony with the natural
most recognised third party certification Agenda 21, as laid out at the Rio Earth island development by The Royal Group of and cultural environment, which includes
benchmarks for the design, construction Summit, encourages core design elements Cambodia in the same area, have gone to using non-toxic building materials that
106 AsiaSpa 2011 2011 AsiaSpa 107

3. Wellbeing
level) certified Alila Villas Uluwatu on Bali’s more sustainable future. Resorts and hotels through sustainable means are equally the level of biodegradability of the product, into everyday life in the area, but can also
southern Bukit peninsula, which uses a are more frequently considering alternative as important. Many resorts are located the distance the product had to travel to contribute to its longevity. Guest contributions
comprehensive grey water recycling system energy sources such as solar, wind, thermal in particularly delicate ecosystems such arrive at the resort, and many other factors. go towards the upkeep of existing projects
that was engineered by Singapore-based (volcanic steam), and tidal. At Shatki, a as tropical islands. Reducing the overall Everything from personal care products for and the development of new social and
WOHA Design into the core design, and luxury tent camp in the foothills of the volume is paramount in lessening the guests, such as soaps and lotions, products environmental ventures. As Stewart Moore
which supplies irrigation to the landscaping Himalayas, the principle energy source need for disposal, as are recycling efforts. used in spa treatments, and cleaning states, “Sustainable tourism takes into account
and is also used for toilet flushing. The grey for the electricity supply is primarily solar, Proper training of staff with a specific waste supplies to ingredients used in the kitchens the social, economic and environmental
water is sourced from an extensive rainwater including solar lamps, which are used in the reduction and recycling plan in effect will for dining, all add up to having impacts, impacts of travel and strives to leave host
collection system that is built under any low traditional dwellings. In a similarly pristine increase the effectiveness of any policy. whether positive or negative. The Langham destinations in a better state as a result of
lying areas where water tends to collect, setting, Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa, which In the West Indies, the Sandals Regency Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand, for visitors passing through. For tourism to benefit
and is stored and filtered in reservoirs and borders the Greater Blue Mountains Heritage La Toc Golf Resort and Spa is very waste example, has developed a Green Suppliers a host destination, resorts and hotels must be
rain gardens. By utilising natural rainwater Area outside of Sydney, stipulates that 35 conscious due to its island location and Procurement policy which is used as a sustainable for the long term and deliver real
for landscape irrigation, a vast amount of percent of its energy for the entire resort be composts all organic waste on site which qualifier for purchasing managers who, as a outcomes for the local community.”
secondary water needed by the resort is sourced from solar, wind and tidal power. is eventually used for landscape mulching result, will be more able to make informed
supplied through proper and thoughtful Quantity of energy usage is key in and is also developing a means to recycle and responsible choices on products used BIOMIMICRY: NATURE’S DESIGN
design from the onset. Steve Jeisman, Group sustainable design and there are a plethora their kitchen oil into bio-diesel which will in the hotel. For a truly sustainable future in our quest to
build and dwell on this planet, which has THIS PAGE: Deck overview at Song Saa Private Island.
Director of Spas and Development for Alila of solutions for reducing consumption in be used for the resort’s motorised boats.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Alila Villas Hadahaa, Maldives.
Hotels, and who plays a very active role the first place. Both water heating and air Even in urban settings, hotels are making COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT finite resources, we must ultimately look
in spearheading Alila’s commitment to conditioning systems eat up an incredible important changes such as the Alto Hotel Sustainable design in hotels, resorts to Mother Nature herself for the answers
sustainable design, notes “Eco-initiatives amount of energy so efficiency and proper in Melbourne which has greatly reduced its and spas is no longer relegated to only to designs that will not deplete and stress
in a spa or resort can only be reached by waste level by eliminating all plastic bottles the actual operational practices and the earth to its limits. Biomimicry is an SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
maintenance is key. The Alto Hotel in
in guest rooms and replacing them with physical construction of a facility, but innovative aspect of sustainable design that The underlying notion of sustainable design
a full commitment from everyone involved Melbourne has installed movement sensor
refillable pump dispensers, composting all also encompasses a wide range of social cannot be overlooked when considering is an interface in which the overall design
in the development, including investors, technology in their guest rooms, which
green waste for garden use, and purchasing principles, that take into account the impact the long-term environmental impacts of and the daily operational procedures of
designers, builders, local government and continuously adjust the air conditioning
bio-degradable basics such as corn-based on the community in which it is located. the hospitality industry. Biomimicry is a the facility integrate with both the people
management.” output, which not only resulted in a 35
garbage bags and key cards. Supporting local communities not only key aspect in sustainable design in which and the place in which it is located
percent increase in efficiency but also
creates a more welcoming destination for the evolutionary ideas of nature inspire and continues to evolve to incorporate
ENERGY SOURCES AND USAGE reduced use when no one was staying in
GREEN PROCUREMENT tourists, but it also supports and engages design and processes. In terms of the built even greater conservation practices and
The size of a hotel or resorts’ carbon the room.
Sustainability in hospitality design the community so that the resort itself environment, The Biomimicry Institute calls community involvement. Today’s travellers
footprint is a direct result of their reliance
extends beyond just physical design, can become more integrated into the for “harnessing energy like a leaf, growing have more planning resources at their
on fossil fuels, the use of which creates SOLID WASTE REDUCTION AND
and energy use and waste management community, both from a economical food like a prairie and building ceramics fingertips than ever before with the deluge
carbon dioxide emissions and adds to the RECYCLING
practices. Products consumed by the standpoint and a social one. like an abalone…” of information available on the Internet, and
greenhouse effect (where excess heat is Hotels and resorts have the potential of
hospitality industry also have the potential In Yunnan Province in China, Banyan By using nature as our model, we cannot thus awareness for sustainable lifestyles is
trapped in the atmosphere which leads to producing vast amounts of garbage and
Tree Ringha sponsors the waste management just take from the world, but learn from it as continuing to grow and hotels and resorts
global warming.) Energy usage that relies both the reduction of the amount to begin for significant environmental consequences
operations of the local community to help well. This is well illustrated in Bill Bensley’s are responding with ever more practices
on alternative sources will thus create a with, and the disposal of the remainder due to the amount of packaging involved,
protect the local ecosystem. An incinerator newest spa design at the Indigo Pearl and possibilities.
was supplied to Geino village, which Phuket’s, Coqoon Spa, which is a dramatic David Simister reflects on what is to
is managed by a village resident whom combination of a tree top spa suite nestled come and says, “Travellers, now and in the
Banyan Tree Ringha pays, in order to help in old Banyan trees, with a deluxe spa future, are more environmentally aware
the community promote more responsible salon below. By working with the existing and I believe this will lead to further growth
waste management practices. Keeping in trees, Bensley suspended the hand-woven
in demand for new unspoiled holiday
line with sustainable principles, Banyan structure ten metres above the ground in
destinations. Sustainable design practices
Tree has also supplied 14 families in Geino the trees, much like a bird would build
are being embraced by more and more
village with solar water heating panels, its own nest. Understanding how Banyan
developers and operators and it seems to
which provide hot water. trees grow by extending runners outward,
be the best way forward.“
Community engagement extends beyond he notes, “Years from now, the tree will
environmental practices, and can create grow around the cocoon and embrace it in
sustainable incomes for the local people. its own way. The interplay of this gorgeous www.lohas-asia.org
At Malikha Lodge in the eastern Himalayas, tree is paramount, whereas the ‘chic’ aspect www.earthcheck.org
the lodge consulted with local church and is secondary.” By taking inspiration from www.ecotourism.org
village elders to create guest experience nature, this innovative spa design not only www.sustainabletravelinternational.org
programmes that would not only encourage synergizes with the natural surroundings, www.1planetwellness.com
their guests to engage in local community but also mimics what nature would have www.usgbc.org
projects, so that they can gain insight created herself.
108 AsiaSpa 2011 2011 AsiaSpa 109