André Fu Designs Claridge’s New Spa

Marking a new wellness chapter in the iconic hotel’s history, London’s Claridge’s has unveiled a new spa, its suitably elegant interiors realised by André Fu

Iconic London hotel Claridge’s, which opened its doors in 1856, has unveiled a brand new spa. Set against the backdrop of the hotel’s Art Deco heritage, the new luxury space was designed by esteemed interior architect André Fu, and embodies the Hong Kong designer’s personal vision of wellness. Imagined as a sensuous and experience-driven journey, the spa is, as Fu describes, ‘an escape that celebrates mindfulness’. 

According to Fu, his approach to designing a space that promotes personal wellness came from his experiences visiting traditional Japanese temples and Zen gardens in Kyoto. ‘However, rather than imitating these particular aesthetic traditions, I’ve imagined a unique contemporary experience that promotes a genuine sense of mindfulness and balance, drawing heavily on Asian design influences,’ he says. 

Designed with a restrained palette of honed limestone, warm oak and bronze, the 650-square-metre spa includes features such as an electrolyte-rich relaxation pool, steam rooms, saunas and seven luxurious treatment rooms with private bathrooms.

Stepping into the space, guests are welcomed into a dramatic arrival chamber that opens onto a circular reception space anchored by a solid limestone counter. A wall embellished with a decorative grid casts soft shadows across the ceiling, while on the other side, a linear glass opening looks onto the swimming pool, creating a visual connection to the water and  evoking a subterranean microclimate. From there, a corridor leads to a series of private changing pods, each complete with private showers and amenities.

The showpiece of the spa is the striking swimming pool area, which has a sense of quiet opulence. Limestone-clad columns and a multi-vaulted ceiling frame the space, while a low wall feature cut into the pool echoes the pool room’s geometry.

‘As with many of my other projects, the Claridge’s spa conveys a sense of purity and a feeling of warmth and intimacy,’ Fu notes. ‘The notion of “luxury” is evolving to become more holistic, incorporating different concepts of wellness. For me, this means creating a pure and balanced escape that celebrates mindfulness.”

Text by Nina Milhaud
Images courtesy of Claridge’s