The Brief
A 22-room boutique hotel in Barcelona's El Born district was renovating its rooftop terrace into a wellness deck. The owners wanted a striking visual centerpiece that would differentiate their property in a competitive luxury market.
The rooftop setting at 6 stories high meant every design decision had to account for strict weight limits and Spanish building codes for rooftop installations. Traditional concrete-substructure spas were immediately ruled out.
The hotel's interior designer specified a dark walnut aesthetic for the spa surrounds, requiring custom skirting to match the hotel's signature design language.
The Challenge
- High-rise installation with a strict weight budget: the rooftop could support no more than 1,200 kg per unit including water. Traditional alternatives were far too heavy.
- The Mediterranean construction season left a narrow 6-week installation window. Any delay would push the project into the peak summer tourist season, impacting hotel revenue.
- EU electrical safety standards and Barcelona municipal codes for rooftop water features required full compliance documentation.
The Aqua Lux Pro Solution
Aqua Lux Pro recommended the lightweight 304 stainless steel AP SWIM SPA-C, which at 500 kg net weight (approximately 1,100 kg filled) stayed comfortably within the rooftop weight limits without requiring structural reinforcement.
Pre-assembled modular delivery meant the units arrived fully built, requiring only final connections on-site. A 2-person rigging team completed both installations in 2 days using a mobile crane.
Custom wood-plastic composite skirting in a dark walnut finish was fabricated to the hotel designer's exact color specification, creating a seamless match with the rooftop decking.
Specifications Used
Project Outcome
[Pending client approval] The rooftop wellness deck opened on schedule and was featured in two Spanish design publications as part of the hotel's renovation story. The hotel owner reported a measurable increase in direct bookings citing the rooftop spa as a key decision factor for guests.
[Pending client approval — placeholder text]
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