interviews
Panta Rei, Spa-Cafè
Interview with Daniele
Cantoni
From Wellness Design Magazine
Issue N. 05 | 2004
Three questions for Daniele Cantoni
Two years ago in the town of Riva del Garda, at the
Riva Wellness Hotel, we heard you mention the term "Spa-Cafè"
for the first time. Now we have seen the idea become
a reality with Panta Rei.
 Tell
us how the idea for a place like this was born.
About a year ago, while strolling along the streets
of Capri with my friend, the architect Massimo Esposito,
having been asked to design a wellness center there,
I suggested the idea of building something with an entirely
new concept, that would be one of a kind. A place where
wellness, music, shows, food and drink would blend together
and be integrated "contemporarily" under one
roof, creating a synergy that would further amplify
sensations and emotions. And so, Panta Rei was born.
What was the most complicated aspect of this project?
It was the first of its kind, with four different activities
being carried out simultaneously under one roof. We
therefore had to protocol a complex weave of licenses
and authorizations which went beyond "normal"
situations. This offered us - and believe me on my word
- a wealth of experience such that we will now be able
to reproduce this format anywhere without any difficulties.
What did Spa-Concept look after besides the normal
phases of development in this project?
This is a new type of center, so we basically oversaw
every detail, from the hiring of the personnel to the
package deals, from the choice of wines to the creation
of personalized cosmetics, from the music to the water-resistant
upholstery for the spas sofas, which have the duplicate
function of both a seating and a shower area, and so
on.
The building
The center was constructed in a building that was formerly
used as a cinema-theater, in the heart of Capri. One
arrives at the entrance to the spa from a small road
shaded by bougainvilleas, which leads to an amphitheater-shaped
terrace facing the Marina Grande bay. The ample terrace
serves as an outdoor lounge that is open both during
the day and at night. Here, customers can either choose
to relax on a chaise lounge or have a massage under
one of the red, oriental-style tents.
Upon entering the spa, immediately behind the reception,
is an area where the client has the opportunity to sample
and purchase an array of rigorously-selected fine products
such as wines, chocolates, herbal infusions, etc. produced
exclusively for the spa. In the large room which was
formerly used as the old cinema hall, an area with staggered
levels and mezzanine floors has been created. This area
serves as the spa's relaxation room during the day and
then becomes the heart of the center in the evening.
 On
one side of the room, a bar was installed that can also
be reached from both the kitchens and the tasting area,
by way of hidden hallways. In the highest part of the
main room, separated by a large glass panel, is the
beginning of the wellness area. After 9:00 p.m., this
becomes the "vip area" of the center, with
a 16 sq. m. embedded hydro-massage tub and two large
sofas that are upholstered with a special water-repellant
material and that also serve as a massage/shower area.
Off to the side, one enters the steam area of the spa,
which includes a light hammam, a turkish bath, a sauna,
a "Nuvola" [cloud] tub, a chrome sit-in shower,
a minty cold fog area and a pelting shower.
Upon going upstairs, one finds a beauty area with two
large massage rooms. The entire area is characterized
by ample windows, which offer clients a breath-taking
view of the entire Gulf of Naples from any vantage point
in the room, including the hydro-massage tub. In the
hallway that leads to the wooden bar, there is a window
that looks out over a cleverly illuminated artificial
brook below. In the main room, in honor of its previous
use as a cinema-theater, there are two large roll-away
screens where images related, naturally, to the water
world may be projected. Finally, as an added perk, the
top part of the small tables doubles as a tray and can
easily be detached from its base and replaced with another
tray.
Technological aspects
To the left of the old stage, there is a "control
room" that can be reached by a small escalator.
From this location, it is possible to regulate five
different types of music in the various areas of the
center without them interfering with one another. This
is possible thanks to a highly-refined system that allows
the distribution of sound by cones. In addition, as
far as techniques of
illumination are concerned, new innovative technology
was utilized, such as luminescent, chemically-reacting
ink films, which were applied to the underside of all
of the shelves. Using extreme care and sensitivity,
these films can alter the entire chromatic appearance
of the center without the client even noticing the change.
The materials
Marble in the light hammam, black resin for the spa's
floors, which gives a slate effect, resin combined with
"Tunisian dust", that apart from lending a
natural ivory color, increases the non-slippery effect,
synthetic tatami, fire-retardant cotton, black river
stones inside the spa...
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