hospitalitystyle.com

(July 2008) posted on Fri Jul 25, 2008 EDT

Galgorm Manor’s woodland home served as the design inspiration for its expansion into the spa and fitness markets.

By Judi Ketteler

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Galgorm Manor had long been known as a great place to say "I do," operating as a popular lodge and wedding destination for more than 20 years. Situated in the woods on the River Maine just outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland, the 75-room property was tailor-made for romantic weddings.

But eventually, visitors began asking for more, like pedicures, massages and a place to work out. "We had the demand; we just didn't have the facility," says Karen Armstrong, who started work on the project in 2005 as the pre-opening development spa manager. It took two years to develop and execute the concept that would tap pent-up demand and reposition this regional attraction as a world-class spa.

The lush, 163-acre woodland surrounding the facility  became the most important design inspiration for the spa and fitness facility-though the owners did some research before reaching that conclusion, says spa development consultant Jennifer Gorman, managing director of England's JG Associates, Newnham, Kent, which Galgorm hired to manage the spa development project. Also brought on board to work on the project was the Robinson Patterson Partnership, a Belfast-based architecture/design firm.

Owners Nicholas and Paul Hill, along with the project team, toured other spas in the U.K. and in continental Europe to size up the competition, looking at the various design elements and offerings from Asian themes to Euro/modern. "We all realized we didn't want to theme this spa as anything other than Galgorm Spa," Gorman says. "It seemed right to take cues primarily from the surroundings."

From the beginning, the owners had a dual goal, Gorman says. "The spa had to deliver a first class, international level of service and experience, but it also had to profile all the wonders of a true Irish resort." That meant creating a look that felt at home in the woods-without being rough or rustic-while incorporating a modern sensibility.

To achieve that balance, Gorman and her team focused on very tailored design anchored by wood, stone and marble materials. Anything too exotic or too minimalist would feel out of place in this green enclave, she adds. "We wanted to create a journey for the customers that touched all the senses, so that guests get that calming feeling right away," Armstrong says.

Natural light washes over the common areas. Rooms are laid out to showcase river views whenever possible. Like the gentle northern sunlight outside, subtle lighting suffuses the treatment rooms with a sheltered, calming glow-rather than clinically bright illumination.