When dust settles, time forms a gentle hill, while mist and dew soften the yellow earth. Shenzhen, a city of reinforced concrete and dazzling lights, thrives on relentless pace. Yet, amid this urban rush, there is a longing for a serene retreat to refresh both body and mind. Tasked by the owner, Lamp Lamp Stool Creative Company crafted an authentic Thai massage and spa sanctuary right in the heart of the city.
Many still associate Thailand with lush greenery, intricate wood carvings, and elephants. However, the country’s rich cultural heritage includes lesser-known treasures such as primitive villages, ancient relics, and the historic Loess City Wall—a tangible echo of the past.
△ Source of Inspiration
Chiang Mai, the birthplace of traditional Thai massage and spa culture, greatly influenced the design. The space prominently features the red brick motifs of Chiang Mai’s ancient city walls, complemented by layered water features and lush tropical plants. The mottled brick surfaces shimmer with reflections of water, immersing visitors in the ambiance of the historic Lanna kingdom and offering a momentary escape from the haze of everyday life.
△ Source of Inspiration
△ Red brick exterior facade
The entrance foyer serves as both a waiting area and a display space, effectively shielding guests from the outside noise. Natural light filters through a round window and the frosted Changhong glass, casting soft reflections on the red brick walls.
The space revolves around the theme of “loess dust,” blending vintage materials such as red bricks, thin stone slabs, terrazzo, red-dyed fabrics, and earthy antique bricks. This palette evokes the rich history and texture of the ancient Lanna city.
△ Source of Inspiration
△ Pristine Foot Bath Area
The foot bath is nestled within a tropical rainforest-inspired setting. White wisteria blooms and cloud-like reflections stretch infinitely across mirrored surfaces, evoking the serene feeling of an ancient garden.
△ Source of Inspiration
△ Woven Vine Furniture
△ Source of Inspiration
△ Coarse Linen Printed Hanging Curtains
Hidden among the tropical plants are indigenous Chiang Mai wood carvings, assorted herbs and traditional containers, wicker furniture and partitions, coarse linen printed curtains, and floating water lamps drifting through the mist. These aged accents collectively evoke the local lifestyle of a bygone era.
△ Dark Brown Herbal Storage Bottles
△ Waiting Area
The rest area is infused with the scent of fragrant thatch and the soothing sound of flowing water. Dark brown herbal storage bottles serve as semi-transparent partitions, harmonizing with rattan furniture to maintain an open feel while optimizing the space.
△ Front Desk
Ascending soft carpeted steps to the second floor, the design blends mirrors, transparent glass, heavy curtains, and semi-transparent blinds. Contrasting textures on the floor create sensory illusions that captivate visitors, encouraging them to lose themselves in the moment and fully embrace their current experience.
At the top of the staircase, a sunken red brick water pool is positioned to enhance the feeling of moving through an ancient cityscape. Mist and clouds gently cascade from above, while the airflow shifts with the movement of guests, enriching the sensory experience.
△ Staircase
△ Layered Red Brick Water Feature
Sunlight filters through wooden blinds, casting patterns onto the water and reflecting tropical plants and dyed fabrics. This interplay of light and mist evokes nostalgic memories of the earth’s dust and time.
△ Source of Inspiration
△ Mist Pool Installation
The dimly lit, earth-toned space is filled with the scent of lemongrass, accompanied by the gentle sounds of birdsong and flowing water. The design carefully engages the senses—sight, smell, and sound—to soothe the soul and prepare the body for an authentic ancient spa journey.
Thick fabric curtains and soft, dim lighting in the massage and spa rooms create an intimate, secure atmosphere. The intentionally minimalistic space invites guests to close their eyes and fully immerse themselves in the therapeutic Thai spa experience.
△ Massage Room
△ Spa Room
For branding, Lamp Lamp Stool Creative Company aimed to imprint the spirit and experience of the ancient Lanna capital into the brand identity. The brand name, LOESSSPA, reflects the yellow earth of historical time and memory—“loess.” The earthy yellow of the city walls is the core brand color, while the gentle silhouettes of light filtering through the trees on the brick walls serve as the primary visual element.
Technical Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Elevation
Project Information
Project Name: LOESSSPA Lan Yu
Location: No. 95, Building 1, Jingying Quting, No. 3076 Yu’an 1st Road, Bao’an District, Shenzhen
Type: Thai SPA
Area: 283 square meters
Completion Date: January 2021
Scope: Brand Strategy and Positioning, Visual Identity, Product Packaging, Space Design, Interior Decoration, Lighting Design
Design Firm: DDDD Creative Company
Website: __AI_ST_URL_0__
Lead Designers: John Sun, Sun Weizhong
Design Team:
Brand Positioning: Renee Zhu
Visual Design: Huasen
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