From stone

to silence:

Spa design 2025

Textiles and wall designs feature motifs from nature: large-format wallpaper with organic patterns, fabrics with a leaf structure, acoustic panels reminiscent of tree bark. This type of biophilia creates visual and tactile experiences to intensify the natural feel.

A clever trick is to combine real and abstract natural elements. A wall with a moss green acoustic wallpaper next to an arrangement of ferns and grasses, an embroidered curtain with leaf motifs in front of large windows inviting the forest inside. The boundary between indoors and outdoors becomes blurred not in physical terms, but emotionally.

Indirect lighting creates islands of light instead of uniform brightness. Designer lamps become sculptural elements that provide structure while drawing attention to different areas when arranged in groups. A reading area needs different lighting than a fireplace, where guests contemplate the flames and relax.

The colour palette follows this natural rhythm. Earthy tones form the basis: sand, terracotta and warm shades of brown like the trendy ‘Mocha Mousse’, a sensual brown tone that adds cosiness and depth. Colours taken directly from nature set accents: moss green, slate grey, soft rosé, deep forest green and misty grey.

The colour schemes are never sharp or contrasting, but rather blend into one another. They create harmony, reduce stress and allow the room to breathe.

Natural materials have a warmth and texture and make rooms look welcoming. In 2025, we are going one step further: healing materials such as clay, loam, lime, salt and oiled wood have a regulating effect on the indoor climate and perception.

Loam plaster, for example, absorbs moisture in the sauna and releases it slowly. Wood ages visibly, smells good and reacts to temperature – either as a warm floor, panelled wall or sculptural ceiling construction. Natural stone such as granite or slate can provide a sense of earthiness while adding a touch of sophistication. Marble is elegant, and shiny surfaces visually expand the room and reflect light.

These lively surfaces are often open-pored, warm and tactile. They feel familiar. It's the mix that makes the difference: warm wood tones meet cool stone surfaces, velvety soft textiles meet rough natural fibres, smooth ceramics meet textured wallpaper.

Fluid transition zones blur the boundaries between sauna, chill-out area, terrace and pool. Textile room partitions such as floor-length curtains made of transparent linen or screens featuring outdoor motifs create flexible zoning. A curtain separates zones without closing them off; the change from stone to wooden flooring indicates a transition.

Organic shapes enhance the feeling of movement: curved walls, vaulted ceilings, rounded furniture. Guidance comes from sensory impressions.

The indoor-outdoor concept is central to this: panoramic windows invite forests, meadows, and sky into the room. Infinity pools blend into the landscape. Green walls turn interior walls into vertical gardens. Ideally, direct access to outdoor areas is available: a terrace with a view of the mountains, an outdoor pool blending seamlessly with the indoor space.

Water -based elements like indoor fountains or waterways highlight the invigorating power of this element. The sound of flowing water has a calming effect and creates an acoustic connection to nature, even in urban hotels.

The next step in biophilic design is not more nature, but rather more awareness. Future spa concepts will incorporate regenerative materials. For example, surfaces which absorb CO₂, regulate the microclimate or self-regenerate.

Acoustics and lighting will increasingly be tailored to guests' moods based on available data. Sensors detect movements, length of stay and body temperature and subtly adjust light colour, intensity, and room climate without you even noticing.

However, the goal remains the same: to create spaces that feel natural, almost like a continuation of the landscape within. Technology serves as a tool. People are at the centre. Nature is the teacher. Materials are the medium.