Urban SPAs have always been one of the most important places to survey and assess the new needs of SPA customers. This is because those who frequent them usually do so on a regular basis, live in the area, and consider them to be places of reference for everything related to beauty treatments, new technologies applied to wellness, face/body cosmetic products, etc.

There is no need to go ‘elsewhere’ to find a place for pampering and relaxation because there are magnificent wellness oases even in the city.

Characteristics of the environments

They must enhance sensoriality, propose innovative, stimulating ideas, envelop the person, to contribute to the relaxing effect of a day or even just a few hours to dedicate to a holiday for mind, body and spirit, enhancing the uniqueness of each individual person and their desires. Comfort and design must characterise the ambience. An elegant and exclusive setting in which to forget the stress of the city.

Urban SPA to unplug

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city, the Urban SPA is a wellness refuge where you can switch off and regain your lost energy. From anti-ageing treatments to decontracting body massages, from holistic treatments to laser hair removal and sessions with innovative machines to soothe the signs of time, there are many reasons to ‘disconnect’ and take a SPA break. Even a few hours in saunas, whirlpools, steam baths and hot pools help to restore harmony.

Who chooses the Urban SPA and for which treatments

Undoubtedly the so-called Millennials, or Generation Y, are those who are most influencing not only fashion but also the beauty and wellness sector. Their relationship with beauty and wellness is so special that many beauty business brands are reviewing their production and marketing strategies.

They are the generation of the new millennium. In Europe they represent 24% of the entire population. Hyperconnected, highly engaged in professional projects, attentive to the latest trends, they live late into the night and feel the need to recharge their batteries with meditation, yoga and detox diets.

“We are talking about clients who live very busy lives,” explains Gabriella Francia, SPA Manager and trainer for bbspa_Group. They are often exposed to a new kind of stress. A large number of young women state they are tired, not only from lack of sleep but also from the many activities in which they are engaged. This obviously requires special attention when choosing the SPA menu”.

About treatments, “Personalisation is essential because, more and more, people who take a wellness break want a unique and personalised experience” – Gabriella explains. Younger people focus a lot on immediate results. The many tutorials and social media make them aware of new products and treatments. Our task is to intercept their needs as well, because they will certainly represent our largest clientele in the very near future
Some examples? Today’s trendy products and treatments are those that offer very specialised solutions, i.e. those that best meet the personal needs and new lifestyles of this generation. Facial treatments with instant effects, masks that give the skin a radiant and immediate effect, so that you are ready for an important evening. People are less interested in creams that prevent wrinkles after the age of 50, because they live in the here and now. The same applies to make-up: the skin must look radiant, smooth. The selfie phenomenon has influenced this”.

Yoga, meditation, and customised rituals in Urban Spa

Mindfulness meditation is becoming increasingly popular, not only among those who practise sport but also among those who seek to recharge their batteries from stress. This is why URBAN SPAs offer meditation, yoga, or pilates sessions, aimed at all those who think of their well-being as a path to rediscovering themselves and their physical and mental balance.

Targeted investments for a profitable business model

All this makes it clear that even for a successful URBAN SPA you need to organise yourself on several levels. A well-structured spa menu, diversified environments, trained staff, investment in modern, high-performance equipment, an innovative spa concept and welcoming spaces. We talked about this with Régis Boudon-Doris, founder, and CEO of bbspa_Group. “There is absolutely no need to trivialise the idea of the URBAN SPA,” Regis emphasises. On the contrary, it is necessary, especially in this case, to focus on solutions that are very exciting for customers and well-performing for staff. Those who carve out an ‘urban’ wellness break must be able to make the most of it. This is why the environments must be very well designed and the spa menu must absolutely meet the needs of the costumers”.

SPACUBES: modular solutions and technology for successful URBAN SPAs

An absolutely innovative and particularly high-performance solution for creating an URBAN SPA is SPACUBES®. “It is the first prefabricated and modular spa concept. Created by bbspa_Group in collaboration with a team of architects and technicians explains Régis Boudon Doris, it allows to compose and create a spa according to the needs of the location and the investor, creating welcoming, innovative spa environments that can adapt to any environment, especially urban“.

L'articolo Urban SPA: wellness oasis in the city proviene da bbspa_Group.

A business, the one related to the ‘cold’ trend, which will generate significant increases over the next decade.
This is because it has been rediscovered as a valuable ally of well-being and our metabolism.

Pythagoras and Hippocrates advocated the importance of cold baths to stay healthy, but it was Sebastian Kneipp, the inventor of hydrotherapy, who paved the way for a more modern concept of cryotherapy in the mid-19th century. In more recent times, science has validated the benefits of water below 15 degrees.

What are the main applications of cold

Cold therapy is based on this very principle: exploiting low temperatures to treat both medical and aesthetic problems.

Cryotherapy, swimming in icy water and experiencing cold/snowy environments were already under the magnifying glass of wellness enthusiasts in its extreme forms, so much so that in 2017, during the Global Wellness Summit, the ‘charm of cold’ was mentioned as one of the trends of the near future. A vision that turned out to be true.

Just think of the fans of breathing in cold temperatures to achieve greater self-awareness, or the many who believe that immersion in the cold benefits physical health and generates greater ‘self-presence’.

From home-made ice baths to natural cold plunges, this enthusiasm has created a new market for cold treatments.

How to enhance cold experiences in spas, gyms, and wellness centres

A growing market not unnoticed by people working in the wellness sector. New products are being created, as well as new services aimed precisely at cold environments: not only modules with ad hoc temperatures to be inserted in spa contexts, but also staff training, ‘cold’ packages, etc.
Some examples: design baths that allow rapid cooling of the water, or ‘cryo chambers’, i.e., vaporised nitrogen cabins that reach very low temperatures (already used in the sports sector and now very popular in Italian spas).

Therefore, gyms, thermal centres and spas arrange to include cold environments among their offerings: guided breathing sessions immersed in cold water, rituals alternating between warm environments and icy immersions, experiential moments to probe our body’s greater adaptive capacities and draw all possible benefits (better listening, understanding what you need, regulating your breathing, greater mental clarity) .

The main benefits of cold

The power of cold is today conquering an ever-widening public, even among the uninitiated. “Cold” is increasingly sought after to energise, combat stress, improve immune functions and slow down ageing!

The many fans of this trend claim it gives a major boost to metabolism, strengthens the immune system, and helps sleep better. Not least, it significantly improves mood and brain function.
In sports, cold therapy has long been used by athletes to reduce inflammation, muscle pain and swelling.

What about the beauty industry?

Cold has long been a valuable ally in dermatology as well. Both to improve the appearance of the complexion and to treat imperfections of the face and body. Spas and wellness centres, always attentive to what is new and what the public is interested in, cannot miss out on the potential of ‘cold treatments’.

Of course, as with any new activity/wellness programme, it is important to take things gradually and accustom the body so that the shock is not extreme.

Written by Elisabetta Farneti

L'articolo Cold Therapy: the cold trend is growing proviene da bbspa_Group.

The bbspa team of We Design redesigned a 250 square metre space, working with Italian craftsmen who remodelled the existing furniture to adapt it to the requirements of Biologique Recherche’s technologies and protocols, taking the historical materials and embellishing them with Corian and alabaster.

The Roman Embassy is located on Via Frattina, number 7, in the beating heart of the Eternal City. An exclusive project born thanks to the collaboration between Biologique Recherche, a leading company in the cosmetics sector, and bbspa_Group (specifically with its branch bbspa_France).

A glamorous environment steeped in history, opened last 20 December, which will be inaugurated shortly, dedicated to a clientele of connoisseurs and wellness enthusiasts, both Roman and international.

A chat with Regis Boudon-Doris (CEO and Founder of bbspa_Group) immersed us in this intriguing project that combines history, innovation and well-being.

A network of embassies in Italy and around the world. What is the mission?

“As part of its development projects, Biologique Recherche is creating its own network of “embassies” around the world to guarantee customers a brand experience. For this reason, the collaboration with bbspa_Group will continue with the opening of 2 more “Ambassade” in 2023 and 2024,” Regis emphasises. “We are also creating a collaboration that goes beyond Italy thanks to projects that Biologique Recherche would like to realise with its clients worldwide.

What was the most fascinating or curious aspect of this job?

“Ambassade Roma is located on the site of a very famous lingerie shop from the 1950s that boasted a VIP clientele, including all the famous actresses linked to Cinecittà as well as famous women from all over the world passing through Rome. Also, for this reason – adds Regis Boudon-Doris – we wanted to respect what already existed. The challenge was to transform a shop into a wellness centre and this was possible thanks to the collaboration of architect Joanne De Lepinay, who adapted ‘retro’ environments to the specific needs of Biologique Recherche for 2023″.

Technology, design and well-being: a perfect mix

Works started in July 2022. They were planned, organised and realised by bbspa_Group and a team specially structured for such a specific project.

A 250 m2 space (including 50 m2 on the ground floor with reception, shop, waiting room and product testing room) with 6 treatment cabins, 4 for individuals, 2 for couples and a team area.
Skillful Italian craftsmen have remodelled the existing furnishings to adapt them to the needs of Biologique Recherche’s technologies and protocols. How? By taking historical materials and embellishing them with Corian and alabaster.

In addition to Joanne De Lepinay, bbspa_Group specialists worked on the project: Federico Dottorini (Project Manager), Hande Yildiz (Interior Designer) and Andrea Francia for project procurement.

Refined and intimate wellness centre with innovative treatments

An intimate, cozy and muffled atmosphere as well as the organization of the spaces, specially designed to experience each treatment to the fullest. The design and furnishings are in blue, white and champagne (the signature colours of Biologique Recherche) enhanced by the mahogany and copper of the historical structure.
The ambience is permeated with touches of refinement combined with the lively personality of the Roman Dolce Vita. Distributed on the first floor, single and double treatment cabins welcome guests for a rejuvenating moment. There is also a lounge for personalised consultations.

A bien-être experience signed by Biologique Recherche

L’équipe dell’Ambassade Roma è formata secondo protocolli e tecnologie The Ambassade Roma team is trained according to Biologique Recherche protocols and technologies and is at the service of those who wish to enjoy an effective and different beauty experience. The first step is an in-depth assessment of the skin’s condition. The results of this analysis determine the customised treatment protocol to be applied, which will then be spelled out in the various face/body treatments.

What has been bbspa_Group’s trump card?

“We create synergies that amplify the effectiveness and efficiency of solutions to maximise the profitability of each project. Our one-of-a-kind character is represented by a philosophy that allows us to organically approach the entirety of a Wellness&Spa project by optimising processes without ever neglecting attention to detail and the peculiarities of our clients’ projects. A vision born where the expression of Italian design and the culture of pleasure typical of the French art de vivre meet,” says Regis Boudon-Doris.

The history of Maison Biologique Recherche

Biologique Recherche was founded at the end of the 1970s by Yvan and Josette Allouche, a biologist and physiotherapist respectively and experts in cosmetic treatments with an artisanal flavour. Their savoir-faire and visionary approach to the world of cosmetics are behind the brand’s success for the effectiveness of its exclusive products.
Indeed, the founders have conceived an exclusive methodology of personalised cosmetic treatments adapted to each ‘Skin Instant^©‘, based on products with a high concentration of active ingredients.

Regis, who would you like to thank for the success of the project?

All professionals who have worked very intensely and in very short times. Especially:

Chiara Ferrari, administrator of Biologique Recherche Italia
Paolo Ruggeri, CRT Group together with Giorgio Gotti who did an incredible job with carpentry and finishes
Maurizio Mei of Green Edil for managing a construction site in a complex location
Alessio Leoci who allowed us to make the project a reality in the historic centre of Rome with all the bureaucratic difficulties that this entails.

Ambassade Rome, watch the video.

By Elisabetta Farneti

L'articolo Biologique Recherche wellness center in the heart of the Roman Dolce Vita proviene da bbspa_Group.

What is Kundamiri

A steam bed enriched with oxygen and essential oils, it is one of the treatments par excellence for an optimal detox and deep cleansing and purification of the skin, which is immediately radiant, supple and soft. The technology of the Kundamiri lounger promotes muscle relaxation, helps get rid of tiredness and is a technique for relaxing psychological tensions as well.

How Kundamiri works

The heat of the steam causes sweating, which eliminates toxic substances and helps relax the muscles The moist heat softens the stratum corneum of the skin, sebum, fatty substances and impurities, which can thus be eliminated more easily. In addition, the heat acts to promote the release of tension.

To these beneficial actions of the steam bath, Kundamiri combines the action of oxygen, which triggers a detoxifying and draining action through the enlarged pores. What it entails

What it entails

The treatment involves a Finnish birch bed, with a built-in sanitising system, which creates a microclimate similar to a real Turkish bath, with added oxygen. In this way, the body is enveloped in a cloud of oxygen-saturated micro-steam that penetrates the dilated skin and stimulates its regeneration and defence processes against oxidants and free radicals. The next step is a deep peeling and a relaxing massage with customised essential oils. Chromo, aroma, music therapy amplifies the effectiveness of the treatment. Aromatherapy steam baths are far preferable to the dry heat of saunas as they do not irritate the capillaries and do not stress the venous circulation.

Less toxins, more relaxation

Kundamiri is a typical technique used in spa and thermal baths that, thanks to steam, creates a personal moment in which to pamper oneself, to treat oneself to well-being, relaxation and tranquillity.

The temperature and humidity produced by this particular thermal bed stimulate blood vasodilation and sweating, resulting in increased body metabolism and a detox effect.

The benefits of this SPA treatment

You remain inside the bed for a minimum of 30 minutes.

This is to achieve different results, all aimed at aesthetics and well-being:

• Expulsion of toxins produced by our body and those caused by external factors (drugs, cigarettes, pollution, etc.)

• Deep purification of the skin, which immediately shows a firmer, more elastic and radiant texture.

• Stimulation of cellular turnover, stimulated by the steam and temperature of the thermal bed, which encourages rapid detachment of dead cells from the stratum corneum.

• Sebum, fatty substances and impurities are fluidised.

• Counteracts and improves cellulite-related imperfections.

• The enveloping steam helps release contractures and muscle tensions, relaxing body and mind, promoting a state of well-being that is not only aesthetic but also psycho-physical.

by Elisabetta Farneti

L'articolo Kundamiri: a detoxifying and relaxing steam bath proviene da bbspa_Group.