The serenity factor!

When one thinks of a spa, relaxation and peace are the two words that come to mind. We imagine ourselves sitting on a chair in a densely lit room with light music playing in the background and someone massaging our feet. Truly, spas are a paradise for those who just want to take a break from the hectic routine of the world.  It is the feel good factor of a spa that just makes us so excited when a new spa opens in town. It is this very feeling of peace that one feels when one sets foot in the recently opened Nirvana spa/restaurant in Lahore. The spa was initially launched in Islamabad almost a decade ago and the success it received made the owners Ayaz and Nadia Lakhani to branch out.

Once you set foot to experience the luxury of spending a day at the spa you also realize that it is the fruit of meticulous effort in overall planning, design and formation. Yes, we are talking about the interior of the place which is eye catching and gives off a serene feeling.

The entire space speaks volumes about Ayaz and Nadia Lakhani’s remarkable eye for detailing in style and colour coordination. The couple has designed the spa themselves as they believe that interior designers over here are not aware of the specialized interior that a spa actually  requires. Nadia has made sure to bring her distinctive design and decorating skills to best use while doing up the place.

However, the design of the spa has been conceived after a lot of research and effort. “We visited the best spas in the world including some in America and Middle East in order to pick and choose the best theme. We wanted to create a theme totally opposite to the Moroccan style and earthy tones that have been incorporated in our spa in Islamabad,” shares Nadia.

The exterior of the spa boasts of an incredible glass and stainless steel structure with stone tiled flooring and water jet sprays oozing out of carved Buddha figurines. A life size statue of Buddha is yet again spotted when one enters the lobby. The statue actually relays a very soothing and peaceful message.

Nirvana is divided into two sections - men and women - which are done on modern and straight lines. The overhead lighting element is quite unusual and noteworthy. The subdued colour selection and furniture goes with the contemporary theme. Each handcrafted product lends uniqueness and adds a striking feature to the spa’s reception area and massage rooms.
Equipment including the body sculpting machines, bridal room furniture and salon gear has been imported from various parts of the world. The reception also has a small pond with water gushing out from it. “We were travelling to Las Vegas when on a visit to one of the spas we got inspired by this feature. Hence we got the pool customized and it took almost 11 months to manufacture it,” informs Ayaz Lakhani.

A section of the window panelling is made out of wooden slats that are finished with lacquer. A lot of mirrors have been used in the bridal room that are accentuated by illuminated light fixtures with designs focusing on complementing the textural qualities.

Specifically for the spa, two artificial life size trees have been imported from abroad that now stand proudly on the sides of the entrance. The area that leads towards the salon and mani-pedi rooms has a jade stone which have been brought from the mountains and weighs over 350 pounds. The ‘Zen’ theme comes out alive in the form of chimes which is called ‘dun’. “Basically, ‘dun’ is an announcement of your arrival at a Buddhist Monastery which is done by hitting the bell in the centre. And that makes a ‘dun’ like vibrating sound,” explains Ayaz Lakhani.

Talking about the bamboo chairs, Nadia shares, “We saw the 16ft high bamboo chairs in a Burmese monastery and decided to order those too and they go so well with the overall theme of the spa.”

The waiting area just outside the steam, sauna and jacuzzi rooms has a refreshing air owing to the rocks from the salt mines of Pakistan which have been strategically placed around the corners. And the ultra violet lights behind these rocks activate the salts, which help in purifying the air. The paintings, coat handles, bamboo table and samovar are customized and imported from America as well.

The spa also has a separate and fully functional restaurant. At the entrance a golden centre piece - Chinese calendar that presents astrology - has been placed which is quite striking. According to the owners, this is also a part of their personal collection which has been showcased at the restaurant.

The walls of the restaurant are done in fresh green colour and are decorated with artwork and ornaments. This includes the exquisitely framed bark tree paintings, wall separators and the three tiered brass chandelier, which hangs at the foot of the stairs. Brown and green furniture are placed in a way that it doesn’t look cluttered and goes well with the overall theme of the restaurant. The leather world map with gold leafing, a sea coral converted into shell decorative pieces from Singapore is an amalgamation of high-quality craftsmanship. Moreover, the building is equipped with fire fighting kit and an air purifier which purifies the air after every fifteen seconds.

Nadia and Ayaz Lakhani’s attention to detailing and aesthetic sense is surely evident through the decor, light fixtures, furniture and random placement of the planters.

Feel like visiting the place? Lahoris, go ahead and enjoy the serene surroundings.