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.