Just last weekend, I had the honor of giving a lecture on biophilic design (a.k.a. restorative design) and the architecture of The Lodge at Woodloch in Hawley, PA.
I am a certified feng shui practitioner and ground my design philosophy around our need to connect to the natural world. Biophilic design, as I tell my audience, is essentially a stripped-down version of feng shui - the very essence of feng shui being to live in harmony with the natural world.
Biophilic design brings nature to our spaces through these three ways: real nature in our spaces (i.e., natural lighting, views, fresh air), the nature in the space (i.e., natural materials, plants, animal life) and symbols of nature (i.e., artwork, ornamentation, fractal patterns).
On Friday and Sunday, I gave a one-hour tour of the public spaces and the spa areas. We started at the entrance to the resort which is the key to setting the stage for your stay there. The driveway enters a beautiful stone and wood portico with stone arches and a walkway that leads up to the stunning entry doors, in beautifully-carved wood and impressive metal handles. The wood pillars and overhead wood beams mimic the feeling of entering a forest.
When you enter, the first thing you see is a gorgeous wooden sculpture that holds three huge crystal bowls. Being at the entry and the transition space between the public facilities and the spa area, it is a space that each guest passes several times a day. There were few times that I didn't stop and smell the roses....I mean, sound one of the bowls and listen as the vibrations filled the rotunda and emanated out to both buildings.
Moving into the three-floor spa pavilion, and throughout the entire resort, beautiful pieces of art, all focused on the theme of nature, grace the walls. Botanical motifs adorn carpets and wall coverings mimic grasses. Even the lighting sconces and lamps were designed in metal to mimic tree branches.
The most notable piece of art, in my mind, was this piece that spanned two stories high! The base of the sculpture is a beautiful granite boulder with carvings that mimic roots clutching onto the stone. I apologize for the poor photography, but you have to do with the equipment you have (and this was an iPhone!).
Here are a few photos that I took while there, for those of you who haven't visited this beautiful resort.
On Saturday night, during my lecture, they had the gall to offer smores by the outdoor fire pit! Thankfully, when my lecture was over, we were all able to enjoy the gooey wonderfulness of our own creations.
But I have left the best for last. I am a water-holic (is that a word?!). I am known to spend a lot of time in a steam room or whirlpool - they rejuvenate my soul! And, when you learn that I was born in the year of Water (according to 9 Star Ki Astrology), it's no wonder! So, my ultimate go-to spot - and one that witnessed a tearful goodbye from me the morning of our departure - was the double
waterfall that each led into spas!
The waterfalls are created out of locally-quarried limestone and provided a thundering cascade of water ch'i. I will return, if only for those falls...
Yes, the architects at Cooper Carry really know how to bring nature into this wonderful environment and promote the feeling of peace and well-being of the guests and the staff.
The Lodge at Woodloch is awarded a Top Destination Spa in Hawley, PA.
Learn about the Five Elements with Maureen's book
Creating Luminous Spaces, available on Amazon!
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