BLINK Design Group is stepping into the New Year with a celebration of its achievements, while taking on new challenges with a major initiative to carve out a foothold as one of the prime movers in cutting-edge spa design…
In a year punctuated by awards across several platforms, a 2024 highlight for BLINK was undoubtedly the ground-up design of the first Six Senses hotel in Japan in downtown Kyoto. The design of the property honoured the courtly elegance and refined charm that marked the city’s birth as a new capital, reimagined through the lens of contemporary style.
Image credit: BLINK / Ben Richards
Highlighting the studio’s design philosophy, the Banyan Tree Dongguan Songshan Lake resort, inspired by a deep dive into ancient Lingnan culture, was realised in a series of serene oases offering panoramic mountain and lake views. Rounding out 2024’s honour roll was Huvafen Fushi Maldives, a loving restoration of an icon of the Maldives and an enchanted hideaway at North Male Atoll which required some fresh thinking and love to bring its lavish above-water and beach bungalow dwellings up to date and into the future.
Image credit: BLINK / Ben Richards
BLINK’s move into wellness in 2024 included the creation of The Banyan Tree Spa Dubai, an oasis of serenity on the tranquil shores of Bluewaters Island overlooking the Arabian Gulf, inspired by the changing moods of the desert.
Founder Clint Nagata said he was excited and inspired by BLINK’s bold move into the wellness space, with new projects moving apace into 2025 including The Guerlain Spa at One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius and the studio’s first foray into France with Six Senses Loire Valley. Embracing the seasonal textures, shapes and colours of the surrounding Sologne Forest, the design of Six Senses Loire Valley epitomises a new wellness experience across its luxury resort facilities and branded residences. Venturing into Normandy, a second French project infuses a touch of luxe wellness experience into a 1930s hotel.
Image credit: BLINK
The Guerlain Spa at One&Only Le Saint Géran is more than a retreat — it is a living embodiment of dual harmony, where two seemingly distinct worlds unite to create an unparalleled experience. The serene shores of Mauritius, with their crystalline waters and vibrant natural landscapes, provide a canvas for the timeless elegance of Guerlain, a brand that epitomises French luxury and refinement.
The team was inspired by the sublime contrasts; rugged volcanic terrain meeting lush tropical greenery, while the shimmering expanse of the Indian Ocean frames the island in tranquillity. The spa design incorporates dark, textured finishes inspired by volcanic rock, juxtaposed with the soft luxury of French-inspired furnishings and textiles.
‘BLINK enters 2025 in great shape, with a renewed push into Europe to expand our frontiers, the tremendously exciting possibilities of the burgeoning wellness space, and continuing to attract and inspire the best in the business,” concluded Nagata.
Since you’re here, why not read more about the design of Six Senses Kyoto?
Main image credit: BLINK / Ben Richards
