The design concept of HISPA is inspired by “The Garden of Forking Paths,” a story by Jorge Luis Borges. For this project, design studio c.dd incorporated the concept of forking paths and time travel into the design of a spa, creating a “gateway to time and space” in the bustling city. Through diverse perspectives and comprehensive strategies, the design team aimed to build a spiritual sanctuary where city dwellers can escape daily life and reconnect with their spiritual selves.
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- Photo credit: Jack Qin
Hidden in an office building at the heart of the central business district in Guangdong, China, HISPA offers a spa experience that combines natural health and comprehensive sensory healing, providing a refreshing counterbalance to its immediate high-intensity, fast-paced office environment.
A blue entrance immediately calms visitors, guiding them through a corridor enveloped in a blue ambiance and white noise, reminiscent of the deep blue seabed, to a salon area. Rippled glass facade refracts light, creating a vortex-like sense that slows down time, setting the stage for a journey into a different time and space dimension that is both artistic and mysterious.
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- Photo credit: Jack Qin
The design evokes a sense of boundless freedom and energy within the confined space. A stainless-steel ceiling extends through the entrance, corridor, and salon area, reflecting the city skyline of the Greater Bay Area. At 2.6-metre high, this mirrored ceiling creates a divergent mirrored parallel world, creating a multi-dimensional sensory experience.
Timeless, tech-infused surfaces contrast with the rough texture of natural stones, with light and shadow creating a delicate artistic flow. Neutral and cool trendy elements resonate with the modern urban pursuit of freedom and self-expression. Complementing the warm and cool tones are round, enveloping elements derived from the brand’s visual identity. Custom light-coloured curved furniture, a silver round marble table, and a curved electronic fireplace contribute to a relaxing atmosphere.
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- Photo credit: Jack Qin
Throughout, c.dd creates a tangible connection between objects and the self, infusing the space with a quiet and progressive narrative rhythm.The corridor along the central axis serves as the main circulation route, flanked by varying spa experience areas distributed in an orderly manner. The design employs a humble and restrained language for the spatial structure, interface, and furniture.
The VIP twin room features a ceiling outlined by a centripetal arc, allowing natural light to create a cozy, diffuse reflection, offering comfort to both body and soul. The floor is elevated in two layers, with terrazzo naturally separating the dry and wet functional areas. The steps lead to a white bathtub, ensuring safety and imparting a sense of ritual.
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- Photo credit: Jack Qin
Soft and warm details converge to foster close connections between people and space, resulting in a graceful environment that strengthens user perception of the brand’s values. Here, neutral textured wall paint sets the tone of the VIP rooms, complemented by blue luxury stone dressing table, custom metallic sink and bathing accessories, embodying an ideal lifestyle of natural warmth and modern refinement.
Green acrylic sink and metal shelf, combined with the slightly translucent background wall texture, creates a sculptural, sensory surprise and emotional immersion. The result is a space that is refreshing and engaging.
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- Photo credit: Jack Qin
