Following the COVID-19 pandemic, wellness spaces are gaining popularity in the realm of architecture and hospitality sectors. In particular, design for wellness spaces is considered a new attraction among architecture students. Design for wellness spaces is an architectural approach that has a positive impact on people’s well-being. Moreover, by designing and creating spaces that promote relaxation, comfort, and connection to nature. To truly optimize health and well-being, building design needs to shift beyond regulating single characteristics like temperature and humidity.

Seven Required Conditions for Wellness Spaces:

Creating an environment that promotes well-being entails more than just elegant design. Moreover, it demands the deliberate incorporation of several crucial aspects. Whether you’re designing a personal shelter or a communal wellness center, meeting all of the following characteristics is key. Additionally, it can significantly improve the space’s effectiveness and comfort.

1 Psychology

Interior design exerts an enormous influence on our moods, particularly when we visit a new area, such as a hotel. Designers should prioritize building a clear, strong entrance to instill a sense of identity, independence, and enjoyment. This can be accomplished through material or volume utilization.

2 Light

Sunlight aids vitamin D absorption, which is crucial for preventing bone loss, heart disease, weight gain, and cancer. The architect carefully orients the main spaces and bedrooms to optimize natural light. The high ceiling and properly placed openings allow light to fill every part of the room, creating a dramatic ambiance. Natural light is necessary for humans; however, some locations do not allow it in. Artificial light can be used to achieve specific goals inside a space since research shows that bright, harsh lighting can hurt mood.

3&4: Comfort & Aesthetic

To distinguish details like colors, textures, and materials, light is essential to elevating the overall difference. Avoiding visual monotony and experimenting with colors and tactile materials creates pleasant and warm indoors. Things like reducing noise, optimizing thermal comfort, and indoor air quality are significant parameters of comfort. This overall comfort can be termed indoor environmental quality.

5 Nature

The right location of a project blends natural elements into its design to retain a connection with nature. Plants provide emotional rewards as well as clean air, both of which improve physical and psychological well-being.

6 Activity

The project’s proximity to the coast and forest offers a relaxing environment, ideal for families, children, and friends to enjoy. Regular physical activity can help to alleviate depression and improve mental health. In hospitality projects, wellness spas, swimming pools, and more encourage guests to relax.

7 Control

Some people might not realize how important it is to choose where they live. Choosing a preferred setting for whom and what they wish to do improves overall comfort. Hotel rooms frequently have the same arrangement and decor, but giving visitors control over their surroundings is essential for their well-being. Whether in hotels or retreats, inhabitants’ influence over their surroundings contributes to overall satisfaction.

Contemporary Projects in Harmony with Nature.

1 Verdant Villa, Nepal

Designed by: 42MM Architecture
Climate Zone: Temperate

Verdant Villa by 42MM Architecture weaves wellness into its architecture through the thoughtful use of green buffers and volumetric layout. The home’s orientation and semi-permeable surfaces maximize natural light while filtering heat, resulting in a warm and relaxing environment. The terraced greens provide privacy and visual refreshment, while the open spaces and deliberate use of natural materials like wood, stone, and glass promote a strong connection to nature. The design’s preference for natural light, vegetation, and open spaces not only improves aesthetics but also benefits the occupants’ mental and physical health.

2 Holiday Home, Jaipur

Designed by: Beyond Designs
Climate Zone: Hot-Dry (As per ECBC Classification)

This holiday home’s lush six-acre site seamlessly integrates with its design amidst natural beauty, in harmony with nature. The architectural layout spans two stories, featuring seven en suite bedrooms and a powder room. Additionally, the adjacent structure by the pool houses the bar and library. Artworks, furniture, and soft furnishings gain unique distinction through daylight captured in the double-height living room, contributing color, character, and warmth to the space. The presence of wooden pillars and sloped roofs elevates the psychological mood and sense of identity.

3 Farmhouse, Chattarpur, New Delhi

Designed by: Design Deconstruct
Climate Zone: Composite

An enormous 55-foot-long chandelier in gold finishes the ceiling from one end to the other of the double-height drawing room, bringing proud extravagance to the home. The three-story house allows them to live, play, entertain, and style parties. Grand living to the areas that connect indoors with the green exterior improves the quality of the views. The furnishings and accessories complement the brilliance of the chandelier, resulting in an atmosphere of outstanding beauty and elegance.

The lower ground floor entertainment room, named after the family’s enthusiasm for shisha, encompasses a formal drawing room, dining room, bar, and entertainment room. It features neon furniture, sound-insulated wall panels, and versatile furniture for different events. The house has an inviting atmosphere with a selenite crystal bar, an outdoor swimming pool, and a play area for a two-year-old daughter, all geared to cater to future children with vivid décor.

4 The Second Home, Vapi, Gujarat

Designed by: IPIPL
Climate Zone: Warm-Humid

This 7000-square-foot modern villa in nature promotes wellness through the intentional integration of natural elements and open spaces. The villa’s huge windows, glass facades, and high ceilings infuse the rooms with natural light, providing a peaceful and uplifting environment. The indoor swimming pool, surrounded by nature and natural materials, provides an idyllic spot to unwind. The villa’s simple, clutter-free design promotes mental focus, while technologically enabled mood controls provide comfort and adaptability. This modern home transforms nature, light, and practical design into a healing retreat that promotes both physical and mental well-being.

5 Khosla Farmhouse, Sultanpur, New Delhi

Designed by: Nivasa
Climate Zone: Composite

This vast Farmhouse offers wellbeing via the use of natural features and sustainable building concepts. The use of ample natural light and solar energy, together with the preservation of the original building, promotes an eco-friendly environment. The seamless link between indoor and outdoor spaces, which includes lush flora, as well as the use of natural materials such as wood and stone, strengthens the connection to nature, providing a holistic approach to well-being in architectural design.

6 Nalukettu, Thrissur, Kerala

Designed by: Temple Town
Climate Zone: Warm-Humid

This traditional Nalukettu house, based on Thachu Sasthra principles, promotes wellness by creating a strong connection with nature and heritage. The main courtyard (nadumuttam) provides natural ventilation and lighting, resulting in a balanced setting. The use of natural materials such as wood, stone, and clay matches the surroundings, and the Ayurvedic garden contributes to the home’s therapeutic aura. Thoughtful design details, such as gabled windows and steep roofs, improve comfort by providing insulation from the elements. This home is an oasis that promotes physical and emotional well-being by combining history, nature, and thoughtful building.

Wellness spaces, ranging from nature to retreat activities, require a variety of circumstances to promote health and well-being. However, there is a standard program called WELL STANDARD, which focuses on healthier surroundings and wellness spaces. With rapid infrastructure development and large built-up regions with many occupants, these guidelines help to decrease sick building syndrome. Wellness spaces in architecture are more than just retreats; they ensure the health and well-being of their residents. The creation of a technically ideal environment may diminish the importance of inputs that promote active, aware, and engaged behavior rather than focusing on comfort and control.

Content Writing And Research By: Ar. Baarat Krishna