Seaside serenity

After years of researching spa treatments around the world, the team at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Jacksonville, Fla., compiled the latest and greatest services to create the state-of-the-art, 30,000-sq.-ft. facility that opened last November. "Demand for services and treatments outpaced the capacity of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club's previous 10,000-sq.-ft. spa, which opened in 1996," says Andy Radovic, vice president of sales and marketing for the resort. "The design goal was to create a dramatic, yet peaceful and serene environment through the use of soft textures, natural materials and an eye-pleasing color palette." To bring their spa vision to life, the resort turned to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Pavlik Design Team, which was originally called upon to design the spa's 1,000-sq.-ft. giftshop. "Once they saw our vision for the retail shop, they said this was what the rest of the complex should look like," explains Fernando Castillo, design studio director for Pavlik.

Castillo and Amy Roesler, senior designer for Pavlik and color and materials designer for the project, started the design process by doing some research of their own. "We researched a lot of spas from around the world—just as they did for treatments, we did the same for design and environment," Castillo says. "We created a fusion of all of those elements: the warmth, the natural materials, the contemporary factor. And then we blended it with the overall look of the resort, which is very old-Florida, residential and warm."

The Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club features a lobby of generous proportions and a registration area, as well as a central gathering lounge—half of which features a relaxation area, while the other half features a spa kitchen and dining room for 40 people. The layout includes 22 treatment rooms, two couples suites, a 4,000-sq.-ft. salon, a barbershop, two luxurious locker rooms, an outdoor specialty pool, and the aforementioned giftshop. The giftshop features goods and products displayed on fixture islands, while "warm woods, ceiling-to-floor linen sheers, indirect lighting and stone floors with marble inlays all combine to create a wonderfully fresh and sensual retail environment," Radovic notes.

The overall guiding concept for the design of the spa and giftshop was a "seaside spa courtyard," Castillo says. The beachfront location of the resort served as the main source of inspiration—elements of sand, water, seagrass and ocean breezes were incorporated throughout the design to create a soothing and contemporary environment. "We wanted it to feel more like a breezy indoor/outdoor space, instead of an enclosed small space," Castillo says. "Lots of the spas that we researched were small, very claustrophobic and closed in. The intimate factor is nice for the treatment rooms, but we wanted the courtyards and the hallways to be very tall, welcoming and grand."

To achieve this, the design team focused on soft lighting and materials, using natural textures and stones, such as the exotic marbles for the countertops at the reservation desk. Textured stone also is used on vertical surfaces to enhance the natural environment, while mahogany wave panels act as a dramatic backdrop at the main entrance. "We wanted to incorporate some contemporary elements that were inspired by nature, but are actually man-made materials," Roesler explains. "We used some acrylic panels as dividers throughout the space that have natural reeds sandwiched between acrylics so that you're still getting that natural feel, but it's more of a contemporary element." Soft green colorations accent the space throughout, including green marble floor accents in the lobby. Bamboo floors are found in the salon, and natural river rocks work in an accent piece on one of the focal walls in the lounges.

Perhaps one of the most impressive features of the facility (and also the most difficult to implement) is the central courtyard. Half of the courtyard functions as a café, while the other half serves as a space to relax between appointments. "That particular part of the spa was the most difficult to execute, because you have conflicting functions there," Castillo says, adding that the client originally had planned to have two separate rooms. To overcome this challenge, Pavlik proposed that they unify the spaces and use a sculptural fountain to create a sound barrier between the two areas. The next challenge was to make the large courtyard feel intimate, despite its soaring 30-ft. ceiling. Soft lighting, lush landscaping, a large sculptural fountain in the center and small furniture groupings give the courtyard an intimate feel, with individual nooks and crannies within the overall space.

"[Ponte Vedra] combined the best features from all around the world, and they've put it all together in one place," Castillo says. "We've been able to give those treatments a home that's very human scale, very warm, very natural, but at the same time it's got a fusion, including elements from Europe, from Asia and from North Florida that create a very unique personality. It fits in with the warm residential character of the resort, but at the same time, it has its own identity."

WEB EXTRA! One-on-one with the designer: Fernando Castillo, design studio director, Pavlik Design Team, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Q: How did you get started in the design profession?
A: I've been interested in architecture since I can remember, so it's always been a challenging goal and rewarding career path for me.

Q: Where do you see the retail design industry five years from now?
A: More innovative and efficient to stay ahead. Very flexible, with diversified clienteles, and offering multidisciplined services. We all have to embrace both new and ever-changing markets in order to achieve growth and success.

Q: What motivates you to go to work every morning?
A: Besides bills and a mortgage, I truly enjoy designing projects on a day-to-day basis.

Q: What inspires you as a designer?
A: The creative and collaborative process (read: roller coaster ride) that takes you from initial idea to a completed open-for-business project.

Q: What is your favorite design project of all you've worked on?
A: My next one… with each new project comes new challenges and opportunities.

Q: Where is your personal favorite place to shop?
A: Smaller stores that have more specialized offerings and more personal service.

Q: Because of your profession, do you have trouble differentiating yourself as customer or designer when in a store?
A: Not at all. As I shop, along the way I always notice good and bad, new and better opportunities within the overall shopping experience.

Q: What is your dream job?
A: Creating ideas and environments that have positive impact on people.

Q: Who are your role models/mentors in the design field?
A: So many. I've been blessed to have worked with many visionary and creative clients and colleagues—I've learned from all of them along the way. Each one in their own individual way has left a lasting impact.

Q: What three words would you use to describe your design philosophy?
A: Innovative, Straightforward, Unlimited.