St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles – August 2019

90 AUGUST 2019 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM

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slhl Escaping in Style: Spas By Julia Johns

When escaping to this Four Seasons Spa, it is impossible for guests

to forget they are in St. Louis. Marnell Architecture, a Las Vegas firm

also credited with the Mirage and Bellagio, recognized the grandeur

of the city’s focal points and incorporated them in their design. Brett

Ewing, president of Marnell Architecture, explained that the Gateway

Arch is “a magnificent sculptural expression on an urban scale.” Thus,

the Four Seasons was crafted to complement the Arch’s geometry

in a contemporary fashion: the finished product is an oasis of light.

To flood the building with natural light, the architects utilized two

separate curtain wall technologies of glass and steel construction

on its exterior. Similarly, the cantilevered, three-story Grand Stair is

another light-infused, glass structure; the connection of the event

spaces, spa and lobby with transparent materials and unobstructed

sightlines imparts upon guests the illusion of floating above the

surrounding buildings. The 12,000-square-foot glass building frames

the surrounding sights: the glistening Arch and sparkling Mississippi

river. Once inside, guests will discover 12 treatment rooms including

a couple's suite, heat experiential room, relaxation lounges, indoor

water features and steam rooms — many of which have floor-to-ceiling

windows. Ultimately, the hotel’s elements coalesce into a pillar of

serenity and a dazzling beacon of light among the St. Louis skyline.

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri

Photography courtesy of Four Seasons

Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, Texas

Photography courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort

Adorned with decor that is one-of-a-kind and displaying art

and antiques that are stunning, Lake Austin Spa Resort shows

that beauty is essential to relaxation. Nestled in the Texas Hill

Country, this paradise is the fruit of co-owner Michael W.

McAdams’ s labor. In 1997, he and business partner Billy Rucks

purchased the spa and began its reimagining. McAdams, who

spent 13 years with Trammel Crow Design Centers cultivating

an extensive knowledge of real estate and architectural design,

built a truly unique getaway by working with craftsmen and

artists from around the world. At the resort, guests will take a

stroll from one of the 40 guest rooms on their way to the spa.

First, this walk leads along a garden path exhibiting more than

300 species of plants. Then, guests will pass by the Pool Barn

that houses a crystal-clear, 25-meter lap pool. Finally, they will

reach the spa that boasts a façade of Austin stone that was care-

fully selected by McAdams for the artistic standard it set for the

rest of the building. Equally as impressive is the spa’s interior that

McAdams spent thousands of hours shopping for from California

to Europe, New York to small towns. Lake Austin Spa Resort also

takes care to incorporate the area’s local history of handicrafts.

There is a display of quilts made by Joyce Massey, tapestries

made by Denyse Schmidt, and handcrafted, circular light fixtures

of spring green from David Jones. And once all treatments are

complete, guests can retire to a state of complete serenity in the

1,000-square-foot quiet area known as the Blue Room.