When entrepreneur Ryan McCarthy came up with the idea of a spa in SoHo offering everything from facial cryotherapy treatments (deep dermal heating using radiofrequency equipment, followed by cold applications) to Gua Sha massages (where a small heated tool is glided along the meridian lines to relieve tension), he turned to London-based designer Charlotte Taylor and the architectural practice EBBA, asking them to create a space that was as far removed as possible from a clinical aesthetic. ‘He asked us to create something more like a living room at home, with books stacked on the coffee table and a varied assortment of chairs, as if they’d been collected over the years,’ says Taylor. She sought out and assembled vintage pieces – for example, the cube-shaped armchairs from the Ralph Lauren Collection – along with bespoke rugs and sculptures, “scattering them throughout the space like moments of respite”. McCarthy helped select the books, including a well-thumbed biography of Rod Stewart. On arrival, guests are offered cashmere socks bearing the spa’s logo. To wear and then take home. 550 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10012, spencers.spa.
LORE BATHING CLUB, New York
In response to the growing interest in so-called contrast therapy – the therapeutic use of alternating heat and cold – the Lore Bathing Club, which recently opened in NoHo, offers its members scorching saunas and ice-cold baths. Spanning two floors, covering a total of over 570 square metres, it boasts a large Finnish sauna that can reach 190 degrees, an infrared sauna, a spacious cold plunge pool and heated hammam-style benches. Created by British designer Ilse Crawford of Studioilse and Ringo Studio, the club is designed as a sensory journey. However, it does not offer a traditional spa treatment menu; its co-founder, Adam Elzer, conceived it as a genuine social space. ‘It’s a place to reconnect,’ he explains, perhaps whilst sipping a coffee from the Danish roaster La Cabra, a herbal tea from Brooklyn-based Masha Tea, or an excellent bone broth. “In the warmth, everything softens and mellows, and it’s easier to listen. The cold, on the other hand, makes everything more jarring and makes you want to give up.” 676 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, lorebathingclub.com.
ALOOP CLINIC & LAB, Tokyo
The Aloop skincare clinic, designed by Japanese architect Keiji Ashizawa – known for his ‘Honest Design’ approach, which focuses on materials – resembles a boutique hotel: minimalist yet extremely welcoming, with chalk-white walls, bespoke light-wood cupboards, woollen rugs by Hotta Carpet and soft curtains. Here, the experience begins with a personalised skin analysis to develop a bespoke treatment plan. Services include laser treatments, chemical peels, microneedling and light therapy (or photobiomodulation) for the face. Pola Ginza Building 4F, 1-7-7 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo, aloop.clinic.
