Facility: The Great Outdoors

We asked Effler to share some of the elements that create a unique outdoor treatment space.

Theme and details: An overall continuity should be evident throughout the space. For example, an island-style vichy shower can enhance a Tahitian-themed area, or specially-designed fans and heaters can create a warm desert flavor. “A lot of theme flavors give a space a ‘wow factor’ for how it’s staged and marketed,” he says.

Multipurpose potential: An ideal outdoor treatment space will accommodate heat, steam, showers and controlled sunlight. It can also be designed as a venue to host events.

Natural lighting: Glassed ceilings with skylights, sun tubes and other solar-powered features complement outdoor spaces and save electricity costs. “If the room is going to be used during daylight hours, build it with the maximum amount of overhead glass as possible,” he says.

Temperature control: Glassed structures that make use of solar-power also help to regulate temperatures. Effler says another way to maximize outdoor space in colder climates is to build a treatment room with a retractable wall that opens into a patio area. Or, build a fireplace that creates exterior ambiance.

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