Klafs Ice Lounge, Newman Spa / Klafs
Klafs, the world leader in sauna and thermal wellness solutions, continues its strategic expansion into the UK’s commercial hospitality sector with a landmark installation at the newly opened The Newman in Fitzrovia. London’s first hotel spa to feature a fully integrated Klafs Ice Lounge and Salt Room, the project enables guests to experience the complete thermal journey within a single setting.
As part of the project, Klafs and Guncast have delivered:
- A fully bespoke Klafs sauna with glass frontage and integrated mood lighting
- A Klafs steam room with illumination under the benches and a ceramic ball feature.
- London’s first hotel to feature the Klafs Ice Lounge, with a temperature maintained at approximately 14–16°C. The Ice Lounge also includes the Klafs Polaris ice fountain.
- A Klafs experience shower with tropical rain, cold fog and immersive soundscapes.
- A dedicated Klafs Salt Room with patented salt inhalation technology
- A vitality pool and a 3.7m x 3.3m swimming pool by Guncast Pools & Wellness
- A Klafs Talo outdoor sauna with adjoining anteroom, positioned on the hotel’s rooftop penthouse terrace
- Klafs illuminated salt brick feature wall in the wellness studio
- Treatment room steam showers
This project represents a strategic advancement in Klafs’ commercial growth across the UK hospitality sector, highlighting the brand’s capability to deliver technically complex and fully bespoke wellness solutions for high-end developments – including luxury hotels, spas, health clubs and leisure suites.
A defining feature of the project is the introduction of the Klafs Ice Lounge – the first of its kind within a London hotel spa. Designed with atmospheric ice optics and backlit acrylic glass elements, the space delivers controlled exposure to cold air after heat therapy. The Polaris ice fountain within the Klafs Ice Lounge allows guests to apply crushed ice directly to the skin, tightening pores, stimulating collagen production and intensifying the cooling response.
Equally significant is the installation of the first Klafs Salt Room within a London hotel that includes halotherapy technology. Using patented inhalation technology – the quietest salt inhalation system on the market – microscopic salt particles are dispersed into the air to facilitate halotherapy. The treatment supports respiratory health; cleansing airways, revitalising skin and aiding recovery from certain dermatological conditions. At The Newman, the Salt Room also functions as a heated relaxation space, extending dwell time and enhancing guest wellbeing.
Every element of the spa has been custom-engineered to meet the operational and spatial demands of the five-star luxury hotel. The Klafs sauna and steam room were built to a fully bespoke specification, incorporating reinforced benching structures and durable finishes suitable for continuous commercial use. Integrated mood lighting and ergonomic layouts were carefully considered to balance aesthetics with guest comfort.
The rooftop Klafs Talo outdoor sauna – reserved for penthouse guests – extends the wellness offering beyond the internal spa footprint, providing an elevated, private heat experience with panoramic views across London.
Complementing the thermal suite is a vitality pool and swimming pool delivered by Guncast Pools & Wellness, part of Klafs UK. The vitality pool incorporates heat and hydrotherapy massage functions to promote muscular recovery and relaxation.
Gilles Darmon, Director of Klafs UK, comments; “The Newman represents a new benchmark for hotel wellness in London. Rather than installing standalone features, this project was about engineering a complete thermal journey within an urban setting. By combining heat, cold, hydrotherapy and halotherapy in a single, coherent circuit, we are enabling guests to experience the full physiological benefits of structured contrast therapy – something rarely achieved in city hotels.”
Andy Carr, CEO of Klafs UK & Guncast Pools and Wellness comments: “This project required close collaboration with the ownership and design teams to ensure that the facilities met both design ambitions and technical performance standards. Delivering a vitality pool, integrated hydro experience and thermal suite within a central London hotel footprint demands precision engineering and full scope thinking. We are proud to have helped create a landmark project that will serve guests for years to come.”
With The Newman installation complete, Klafs continues to progress on multiple UK-based commercial developments across the luxury hotel, residential, and spa sectors – each reflecting the company’s commitment to craftsmanship, client collaboration and creating enjoyable experiences for end users.
For more information on Klafs visit klafs.co.uk.
And for Guncast Pools and Wellness visit www.guncast.com.
