Behind the scenes of Nordic spas

Nearly 20 years ago, the first wave of Nordic spas emerged in Quebec. Since then, the province has become a leader in this area. Local teams whose expertise is sought from across North America work on the design of these places where everything is done down to the smallest detail for our comfort and well-being.

Isabelle Morin
The Press

You turn off your car engine. Already, by taking the path that leads you to the spa, a first sigh of relaxation emanates from you. The strategy put in place to ensure that you pick up is operational.

“The space-time is dilated from the first minutes. Upon arrival, we are already called upon to connect with nature,” explains architect Pierre Thibault, who designed the latest expansions of the La Source spa in Rawdon, where 80 steps over more than seven floors lead to the building. This buffer zone allows a first break with everyday life.

The experience continues at the reception where a sensory lullaby and a point of view on the beauties of the site announce the journey to come. The customer, given confidence, can then leave their worries in the locker room to better continue in an environment designed for their escape.

Making the trigger

“I always say jokingly that a spa is a Disneyland for adults,” says Pierre Mierski, of the Lemaymichaud firm, which for 10 years has worked on a dozen spas in Quebec and elsewhere, including the four Strøm and Chelsea Nordik. “You can take a hot bath at home and relax. In a spa, we want to create a unique environment where everyone finds a form of well-being in their own way. »

Nature is intimately linked to this relaxation operation. Failing to work from an exceptional site, we will bring natural elements into the ecosystem created.

Docked in an urban environment, the former Bota Bota theater boat offers spectacular views of the city centre, the Old Port and the river. “In this kind of project, the architecture becomes a machine for seeing,” describes Jean Pelland, of Sid Lee architecture, who worked on the design of the establishment under the umbrella of the Nomade firm. “A large part of well-being comes from being in contact with a unique environment. »

This porosity with the environment allows not only contemplation, but also the orientation of gazes towards the outside rather than towards the other. Generating the impression that everyone is alone in the world on a site hosting 300 people is a carefully thought-out exercise.

The cocoon in its details

The notion of intimacy is an essential aspect of the design of a spa. “When a customer enters a room, he must have the impression of being the first to set foot there”, underlines the co-owner of La Source, Patrice Lalancette.

Nothing should be vibrant or garish in this enveloping bubble, notes Pierre Thibault “No source of stress and agitation for the senses. »

Spas are “complex bugs”, “machines apart”, still portray their creators. About 40% of the spa is visible to the public, according to Pierre Mierski. The rest takes place behind the scenes where many employees are busy. “There are secret doors and hidden corridors planned. There is always this double circulation so that the bucolic side of the experience is never compromised. »

The link between nature, well-being and ecology can also be misleading. The energy consumption of spas is particularly high. Research to improve this aspect with less polluting energies or to overcome it with added value — the recycling of a building or the preservation of the site, for example — is constant.

Added to these challenges is a particularly harsh environment, especially for materials subject to extreme humidity and temperature variations. “In Quebec, we probably have the worst climate for designing spas. When we have a project in Arizona, we died laughing! », emphasizes Pierre Mierski, evoking the expertise acquired by local craftsmen over the years in these difficult conditions.

find uniqueness

“When I started, there was little competition. We now have to stand out,” says Denis Laframboise, whose Balnéa was among the first to offer the Scandinavian experience. The Bromont spa recently announced an investment of 10 million in the renovation of its facilities. It also wishes to advertise itself as an eco-responsible multi-activity destination with greater accommodation capacity, the addition of a micro-farm, greenhouses and gardens.

To enhance the offer for an increasingly demanding clientele, catering is becoming a must, as is the offer of care: two particularly lucrative aspects.

However, many surprises are to be expected. You can find spas like nowhere else here, with daytime formulas and exceptional sites. “What we see in Quebec remains the tip of the iceberg of what is being done in Europe, notes Pierre Mierski. Spas are beginning to import experiences from elsewhere. It’s a planet of possibilities! »