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A real estate firm which also operates marinas commissioned the project / photo: ABCPlus Studio
A botanical spa, woven through open-air pavilions and meandering freshwater canals, lies at the heart of a bold eco-conscious destination designed by Italian architecture firm ABCPlus Studio.
Located near the town of Bibione, between Venice and Trieste on Italy’s Adriatic coast, the project is capturing industry attention with its blend of hospitality, residential and wellness facilities. The total development is expected to cost €37.5 million (US$43.9 million, £32.1 million) and is slated to open in 2030.
Wellness immersion At the core, the spa unfolds as a sensory journey where nature and design converge. A striking glass-and-steel pavilion will house hammams, thermal baths and lush tropical planting that thrives in the naturally humid micro-climate. Salt treatment facilities, including massage rooms, saline pools and saunas, will be positioned on panoramic relaxation decks suspended in a pine canopy with sweeping sea views. A dedicated yoga and meditation pavilion constructed from untreated larch will feature acoustically engineered walls that allow the music of wind, water and birdsong to filter through.
“Our design philosophy centres on guiding guests to discover and connect with the extraordinary indigenous territory that surrounds us,” says Damiano Capuzzo, partner at ABCPlus Studio. “In doing so, the act of wellness becomes a journey of environmental discovery and cultural appreciation.”
Business drive Commissioned by Bibione Darsena SRL – a real estate firm which also operates marinas – the development prioritises wellbeing. The wider scheme includes a 100-room hotel, private residences and off-grid micro-lodges scattered across the wetlands.
Public infrastructure investment of €6 million (US$7 million, £5.1 million) will fund the marina, waterfront works, pedestrian pathways and hydraulic safeguards, while the hotel and residential components are estimated at €16.5 million (US$19.3 million, £14.1 million) and €8.5 million (US$9.9 million, £7.2 million) respectively.
Capuzzo describes the vision as “a demonstration of how contemporary hospitality architecture can transcend traditional boundaries, creating spaces where human wellness and environmental regeneration exist in perfect symbiosis.”
Green ethos Sustainability underpins every detail across the 50-hectare masterplan, which overlooks a saltwater lagoon and sits within a protected wetland. The hotel and lodge design draws inspiration from traditional stilt houses, lifting structures among dunes. Native vegetation with shaded terraces, green roofs and reflective surfaces will tame thermal impact.
Raised walkways will preserve the fragile ecology below, while micro-lodges are designed to be fully energy-independent. The spa itself will run off-grid, with solar energy and rainwater harvesting systems. Every element of it (and all other structures on site) will adhere to cradle-to-cradle principles that allow complete removal and site restoration if required.
photo: ABCPlus Studio
"Wellness becomes a journey of environmental discovery and cultural appreciation" - Damiano Capuzzo, ABCPlus Studio
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Spa people: Tim Fu
Leading a wellness architecture project in Slovenia that’s one of the first in the world to use AI in all stages of design
Spa people: Kayley Thomas
Lush is famous for its bath bombs and retail empire, but the co-founder of its day spa concept reveals why its 19 global spa facilities are so essential
Spa people: Colin Mcilheney
We find out more about Colin Mcilheney, the man who created the ISPA US Spa Industry Study and has been analysing the sector’s performance ever since
News report: Map of luxury
New research by WATG shows emerging wealth hubs in India, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and Africa are reshaping luxury travel demand
Interview: Chris Norton
The CEO of Equinox Hotels tells Katie Barnes how the uber-cool brand is scaling its bold fusion of fitness, spa and luxury
Ask an expert...: Recovery
From cryo to compression to contrast bathing, Julie Cramer investigates why and how spas and resorts are integrating recovery packages
Research: Behind the boom
What are the hidden messages in the latest US study by ISPA? Colin Mcilheney digs beneath the surface
Research: Bigger picture
Rising salaries and shifting consumer expectations – two new surveys by the UKSA and GSG reveal the trends impacting UK spa operators
Sponsored: Lemi - Good sensations
Lemi’s Venice Head Spa combines the beauty of Italian design with fine-tuned technology to provide the ultimate top-to-toe treatment station for spas
Sponsored: G.M. COLLIN – Smooth operator
The new toner from G.M. Collin represents a ‘gold standard’ in leave-on liquid exfoliation for smooth and radiant results, without the irritation of a scrub
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin – Snow for all seasons
TechnoAlpin’s magical Snowroom installation at the Alpenrose resort brings the Austrian landscape and feel-good nature factor to its wellbeing experience
First person: Costa Blanca cure
Jane Kitchen visits Spain to compare and contrast two world-class medi-wellness clinics: well-established SHA and ambitious newcomer ZEM
Sponsored: Gharieni Group – Tech-powered recovery
The new brand in the Gharieni Group portfolio – Metawell – is delivering what today’s wellness clients are seeking most – deep recovery and mind-body renewal
Sponsored: BC Softwear – Human touch
While touchless therapies are a positive addition to spas, nothing can replace the healing power of human touch, says Barbara Cooke
Sponsored: Yon-ka – A potent blend
Yon-Ka’s new Serum Omega is a potent blend of Omega 3, 6 and 9 to target
dry, stressed-out skin and deliver a calm and nourishing client experience
Menu engineering: At your service
Self-playing gongs in Sweden, surfing therapy in Morocco and Ananda launches holistic diabetes management programme in India
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
A real estate firm which also operates marinas commissioned the project / photo: ABCPlus Studio
A botanical spa, woven through open-air pavilions and meandering freshwater canals, lies at the heart of a bold eco-conscious destination designed by Italian architecture firm ABCPlus Studio.
Located near the town of Bibione, between Venice and Trieste on Italy’s Adriatic coast, the project is capturing industry attention with its blend of hospitality, residential and wellness facilities. The total development is expected to cost €37.5 million (US$43.9 million, £32.1 million) and is slated to open in 2030.
Wellness immersion At the core, the spa unfolds as a sensory journey where nature and design converge. A striking glass-and-steel pavilion will house hammams, thermal baths and lush tropical planting that thrives in the naturally humid micro-climate. Salt treatment facilities, including massage rooms, saline pools and saunas, will be positioned on panoramic relaxation decks suspended in a pine canopy with sweeping sea views. A dedicated yoga and meditation pavilion constructed from untreated larch will feature acoustically engineered walls that allow the music of wind, water and birdsong to filter through.
“Our design philosophy centres on guiding guests to discover and connect with the extraordinary indigenous territory that surrounds us,” says Damiano Capuzzo, partner at ABCPlus Studio. “In doing so, the act of wellness becomes a journey of environmental discovery and cultural appreciation.”
Business drive Commissioned by Bibione Darsena SRL – a real estate firm which also operates marinas – the development prioritises wellbeing. The wider scheme includes a 100-room hotel, private residences and off-grid micro-lodges scattered across the wetlands.
Public infrastructure investment of €6 million (US$7 million, £5.1 million) will fund the marina, waterfront works, pedestrian pathways and hydraulic safeguards, while the hotel and residential components are estimated at €16.5 million (US$19.3 million, £14.1 million) and €8.5 million (US$9.9 million, £7.2 million) respectively.
Capuzzo describes the vision as “a demonstration of how contemporary hospitality architecture can transcend traditional boundaries, creating spaces where human wellness and environmental regeneration exist in perfect symbiosis.”
Green ethos Sustainability underpins every detail across the 50-hectare masterplan, which overlooks a saltwater lagoon and sits within a protected wetland. The hotel and lodge design draws inspiration from traditional stilt houses, lifting structures among dunes. Native vegetation with shaded terraces, green roofs and reflective surfaces will tame thermal impact.
Raised walkways will preserve the fragile ecology below, while micro-lodges are designed to be fully energy-independent. The spa itself will run off-grid, with solar energy and rainwater harvesting systems. Every element of it (and all other structures on site) will adhere to cradle-to-cradle principles that allow complete removal and site restoration if required.
photo: ABCPlus Studio
"Wellness becomes a journey of environmental discovery and cultural appreciation" - Damiano Capuzzo, ABCPlus Studio
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Spa people: Tim Fu
Leading a wellness architecture project in Slovenia that’s one of the first in the world to use AI in all stages of design
Spa people: Kayley Thomas
Lush is famous for its bath bombs and retail empire, but the co-founder of its day spa concept reveals why its 19 global spa facilities are so essential
Spa people: Colin Mcilheney
We find out more about Colin Mcilheney, the man who created the ISPA US Spa Industry Study and has been analysing the sector’s performance ever since
News report: Map of luxury
New research by WATG shows emerging wealth hubs in India, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and Africa are reshaping luxury travel demand
Interview: Chris Norton
The CEO of Equinox Hotels tells Katie Barnes how the uber-cool brand is scaling its bold fusion of fitness, spa and luxury
Ask an expert...: Recovery
From cryo to compression to contrast bathing, Julie Cramer investigates why and how spas and resorts are integrating recovery packages
Research: Behind the boom
What are the hidden messages in the latest US study by ISPA? Colin Mcilheney digs beneath the surface
Research: Bigger picture
Rising salaries and shifting consumer expectations – two new surveys by the UKSA and GSG reveal the trends impacting UK spa operators
Sponsored: Lemi - Good sensations
Lemi’s Venice Head Spa combines the beauty of Italian design with fine-tuned technology to provide the ultimate top-to-toe treatment station for spas
Sponsored: G.M. COLLIN – Smooth operator
The new toner from G.M. Collin represents a ‘gold standard’ in leave-on liquid exfoliation for smooth and radiant results, without the irritation of a scrub
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin – Snow for all seasons
TechnoAlpin’s magical Snowroom installation at the Alpenrose resort brings the Austrian landscape and feel-good nature factor to its wellbeing experience
First person: Costa Blanca cure
Jane Kitchen visits Spain to compare and contrast two world-class medi-wellness clinics: well-established SHA and ambitious newcomer ZEM
Sponsored: Gharieni Group – Tech-powered recovery
The new brand in the Gharieni Group portfolio – Metawell – is delivering what today’s wellness clients are seeking most – deep recovery and mind-body renewal
Sponsored: BC Softwear – Human touch
While touchless therapies are a positive addition to spas, nothing can replace the healing power of human touch, says Barbara Cooke
Sponsored: Yon-ka – A potent blend
Yon-Ka’s new Serum Omega is a potent blend of Omega 3, 6 and 9 to target
dry, stressed-out skin and deliver a calm and nourishing client experience
Menu engineering: At your service
Self-playing gongs in Sweden, surfing therapy in Morocco and Ananda launches holistic diabetes management programme in India
Gran Hotel Taoro in northern Tenerife, Spain, has completed the final phase of its three-year
renovation with the debut of its Sandára Wellness Centre.
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the spa business with more than 650 locations across
the US and Canada, has appointed franchise expert Carrie Walsh as CEO as the company plans
to expand.
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
