VIRTUAL TOUR OF GIANFRANCO FERRE'S E'SPA
by Michelle Bienias
Gianfranco Ferre’s new Milan boutique, opened in March 2004 at 15 Via Sant’Andrea, has the novelty of an attached E’SPA – from the British design genius of Susan Harmsworth. Though located in the busiest high-end shopping neighborhood in Europe, E’SPA is a remarkably calm oasis that looks out of its 18th century palazzo onto a tranquil garden. A discreet door at the back of the store leads to a parallel universe of meditation gardens and a mosaic vitality pool for holistic treatments.
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Offering rare ideas like purifying herbal linen wraps and nail treatments incorporating hot stones and mud, Ferre’s Total Lifestyle boutique is tiny at only 150 sq. meters. Yet wax stucco, shiny rosewood and briarwood walls, and superb black and white marble create an opulent effect in the spa, which is centered around a giant bath. Each of the two treatment room contains a foot ritual throne where therapists perform a welcoming foot massage, soaking sore tootsies in a ceramic bowl filled with aromatherapy oils and rose-petal water. After a rejuvenating treatment, shoppers enjoy a body jet shower and may relax in a lounge overlooking an enclosed garden. The E’SPA team created Italy's first vitality pool - featuring swan-neck fountains, bubbling airbed and body massage jets. Reached via a wooden catwalk that surrounds the vitality pool, four sunken and molded beds overlook a formal Italian garden. At the back of the pool are Ferre's signature stripes of color on wooden panels backed by gently changing colored light. Designer touches throughout the spa include polished walnut and marble, gold leaf ceilings, chocolate brown stucco plaster on the walls, creamy leather on furniture. The garden is visible through large windows, while changing chromatherapeutic lights create soothing sensations and aromatherapy fragrances further refresh and de-stress. The steam bath is rose-scented while the showers are fine sprays of mint water. Escape Milan’s chill in the Serail Mud Chamber, a tiled capsule seating four. As fiber optic lights and a golden globe suffused with steam set the mood, E’SPA healing muds are applied to your body. Step into golden mosaic Lifestyle showers as tropical rain, cool mist, and body jets remove the mud. Cool off with crushed ice from a marble font, and you're set for a night of la dolce vita. Ferre Spa offers exclusive E’SPA treatments and Day retreats. Signature treatments include Holistic Total Balance with Hot Stone Therapy (Two hours, EUR220). For privacy, reserve the VIP Suite, with bathroom and changing area (Madonna is a regular). Virtual Tour of E’SPA at Gianfranco Ferre
The Gianfranco Ferre E’SPA virtual tour is comprised of two panoramas of the vitality pool and relaxation area and the mud chamber. The virtual tour is available in three formats – Fullscreen QTVR (recommended for those with a high-speed connection), QTVR medium (recommended for those with a dial-up connection) and Java (recommended for those with QuickTime). Virtual tour url: http://vrway.com/test_gianfranco_ferre/
Gianfranco Ferre website: http://www.gianfrancoferre.com/
E-mail: reservations[at]gianfrancoferre[dot]com
Phone (39) 02-7601-7526
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