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Eden Day Spa, one of the first projects designed by Soluri Architecture, is a 7,000 sq. ft. full-service spa located on Broadway in the midst of bustling downtown New York City in TriBeCa. When this project was built in 2001, there were only low-cost massage parlors and nail salons in the neighborhood.
Our client wanted to create a tranquil oasis that would welcome customers into a relaxing environment, away from the chaos of the city. Because the spa would be very visible and was the first high-end facility in the neighborhood, they needed an especially inviting front entrance. However, they were having trouble deciding how best to design this entry so as to establish the best possible mood and brand for the spa. The client commissioned Soluri Architecture to solve these problems and design the front reception area, main entry, and retail space.
Due to the large glass storefront opening directly onto the sidewalk, and its location on Broadway in downtown Manhattan, we decided to have the entry sequence through the retail area act as a transition from the bustle of the street to the tranquility of the spa beyond. To achieve this, we chose a minimalist design with soothing cove lighting and a curving retail display to gently move the customer towards the reception area. To further separate the street from the spa, we included a large door and hallway between reception and the spa to act like a “decompression chamber”, subtly helping the customer transition from the city to the spa’s tranquil oasis.
The design for the Eden Day Spa establishes an entry sequence that provides a tranquil transition from the large street-level storefront, through retail sales, and finally into the private space and serenity of the spa treatment area. The entry sequence utilizes a single, curving element that begins as a display case, becomes the receptionist desk, and concludes as a glowing wall. This wall is intersected by a small hallway that acts as a “decompression chamber” with a large glowing door leading into the spa itself. These new elements are were custom-made and fabricated of stock, hot-rolled steel and opal Plexiglas with an integrated lighting system, evoking the industrial history of the neighborhood while providing a soothing, contemporary environment.
The Eden Day Spa has been featured in numerous articles at both the local and national level in magazines and newspapers, including mentions of celebrities that frequent the spa. The spa also received honors and awards for providing complimentary services to 9/11 responders, as the facility opened near the World Trade Center just before the tragic event.