Silken Tent is a 10,500 square foot luxury wellness day spa that focuses on healthy aging, spirituality and personal growth.

Each well-educated, well-traveled, well-read woman deserves a space in which each moment is tailored to her individual needs and point of view. These subtle sensual contrasts are created by layering natural, provocative and serene images that allow for personal interpretation. Sustainable materials and methods were used to compliment the Silken Tent’s mission of healthy natural aging and inner makeovers. The spa consists of integral program elements including; 12 treatment rooms, spa lounge, water ritual area, nail salon, yoga studio, cafe, and retail. A new space provided an opportunity to expand their involvement in the local design community and beyond.

The concept takes inspiration from Hy Hirsh’s photograph of fishing nets over the ocean. It shows everyday objects encountered in new ways that subtly re-order perception. Similarly, a long hallway transitions from the retail and reception areas back to the treatment areas. On the floor, the mesquite blocks were applied and finished like a regular floor. On the walls, they were hand cut and field applied at different thicknesses. This simple craft oriented the fabrication mirrors the client’s desire for environmental responsibility and simplicity. Glass panels are installed to float over the heavy wood mass and attain an ethereal quality diametrically opposed to the tactility of the wood wall. The juxtaposition of the simple elements creates the opportunity for transformative personal experience.

Mis 335 01Silkentent ConceptUntitled [Fisherman's Nets] – Hy Hirsh
Master Layout For Scale 01Master Layout
HeartbreakHeartbreak Landslide – Chris Ferebee

The layered materials throughout the spa represent the complex desires of these sophisticated women.

Mis 335 02Silkentent Collage
Mis 407 02Silken Tent Floor Plan