THDP Blend Bespoke Craftsmanship, Tactile Materials, and Immersive Sensory Elements

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a refined wellness experience by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, THDP.

De Montel: Terme Milano is a transformative spa project by THDP, restoring Milan’s historic 1920s Scuderie into the city’s largest urban thermal complex. Merging Art Nouveau elegance with sustainable innovation, the design honors the site’s equestrian past while showcasing Milan’s only certified thermal waters. Spanning 16,000 sqm, the interiors blend bespoke craftsmanship, tactile materials, and immersive sensory elements inspired by water, nature, and heritage. Every detail—from custom lighting to spa layouts—creates a refined wellness experience. This unique restoration sets a new benchmark for heritage-led design, fusing tradition, well-being, and environmental responsibility in an urban sanctuary.

What was the client's brief?

The client asked us to restore and transform the historic Scuderie De Montel into a contemporary urban thermal spa for Milan, while preserving the soul of the building. The brief was to create a place dedicated to relaxation and well-being that would balance tradition and innovation, respect the Art Nouveau heritage, and integrate the unique thermal waters into a modern wellness journey.

What inspired the design of the project?

Our inspiration came from three pillars: the elegance of Milanese Art Nouveau, the equestrian heritage of the stables, and the transformative power of water. These themes guided the interiors, where bespoke details recall the building’s equestrian past, Art Nouveau forms celebrate its architecture, and water-inspired materials immerse guests in a sensory journey.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The greatest challenge was balancing faithful restoration with contemporary functionality. Working under the supervision of the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape meant every design choice had to honour the original architecture while still delivering modern wellness spaces. Integrating innovative solutions into a protected historic building required sensitivity, creativity, and precision.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing the transformation of the abandoned Scuderie into a vibrant wellness destination was the true highlight. The moment the bespoke lighting installations (such as the Venetian glass discs and floating glass bubbles) came to life, we felt we had captured both the history and future of the space. Bringing light, water, and heritage together into a harmonious experience was incredibly rewarding.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

THDP deeply value the recognition of design excellence on an international level. The SBID Awards provide a platform to showcase projects that combine heritage, storytelling, and innovation. For us, entering was about sharing the journey of De Montel: Terme Milano with a wider audience and celebrating the collaborative effort behind it.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being a finalist is both an honour and a validation of our approach to design. It affirms our commitment to creating immersive experiences that respect history while embracing the future. For our studio, it strengthens our international profile, motivates our team, and builds confidence in our clients that we can deliver meaningful, world-class design.

Questions answered by Claudia Mazzucato, Associate Director & Project Leader of THDP.

Coral Spa Consultants, part of the Gym Marine Group, will be managed by Kayleigh Westgarth and will allow the Group to expand its service offering and providing clients with spa design and specification services alongside Gym Marine’s successful gym design and equipment supply business.

Initial offerings from Coral Spa Consultants include a spa starter pack, which will allow any yacht with the necessary space and skill amongst its crew to offer massage and spa treatments to guests, without the need for a pre-existing or purpose-designed space.

Coral Spa Consultants will advise interior designers of the operational practicalities, they will provide expert design and specification, and manage installation, focusing on operational flow for a seamless onboard experience.

Coral Spa Consultants outfit spas with the most suitable equipment for the space, whether that’s a dedicated wellness area, a treatment room, or a portable massage setup.

The team will also support crew and onboard therapists with pre-launch recommendations for professional products, how to create a treatment menu, and provide ongoing training if required.

“With over 15 years in the health and wellness industry, I have worked on many prestigious yachts and was I responsible for setting up and managing the spa aboard one of the world’s largest superyachts. This first-hand experience of onboard spa use and guest requirements has helped me identify gaps in the market in terms of design and layout, as well as guest needs and the needs of the spa therapist.”
– Kayleigh Westgarth, Coral Spa Consultants.

"When it comes to space planning for superyacht spas, the required storage space is often overlooked, causing last minute changes and disrupting the treatment flow. My goal is to commence these conversations earlier in the design stage, placing owner and guest experience forefront of the discussion – so that ultimately, the spa therapist can provide the level of luxury expected in these environments.”
– Kayleigh Westgarth, Coral Spa Consultants.

“This is a very natural development for us, and we’re really excited about this new arm of our business. Kayleigh’s expertise in all areas of spa design and specification will allow us to offer a broader scope of services to our clients and design full-scope health and wellness spaces aboard yachts, as well as designing for private residences and luxury resorts.”
– Ed Thomas, Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors.

Engaging Coral Spa Consultants for spa design and guidance will result in a perfectly proportioned, holistically designed space, which is equipped to offer the latest in spa trends and treatments and meet every owner and guest requirement.

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