A recent addition to The Donald’s hospitality empire is the Trump Soho New York. Among its most striking components is its seventh-floor Spa, created under the direction of Ivanka Trump and developer Alex Sapir, by local firm DiGuiseppe Architect.

Opened this past summer, the 11,000-square-foot, two-story spa features a sweeping outdoor space, including a tiled swimming pool, allowing guests the opportunity to take advantage of fresh air and sunshine when temperatures cooperate.

Inside, the space (there are nine private treatment rooms and wet rooms) is a relaxing temple of contemporary cool and Middle Eastern calm. The latter touches came to the project via Trump and Sapir, says Anthony DiGuiseppe, principal and founder. “They thought Asian was overdone, and Ivanka had traveled to Turkey and had become enthralled by the hammams there, so we have the only authentic hammam experience in New York City. To create the spa, we did lots of research in Turkey and Morocco, both in ancient and modern sites, and combined the two.”

Guests feel the blend upon entrance. The foyer includes Bar D’Eau, an intimate area for socializing and drinking, as well as the spa entrance, highlighted by a woven mesh chandelier above a DiGuiseppe-designed gold marble fountain. “Throughout we used a neutral palette,” says DiGuiseppe, “and punched it up with bold colors and textures. We looked for unusual art objects—ancient urns and tapestries—to accessorize.”

“The hotel spa is so often done as an afterthought,” says spa director Leigh Smith, who has worked extensively in the Middle East. “But the combination of new and old works so that you don’t feel any aspect is too obscure. And the attention to detail in the hammams is extraordinary.” These rooms—one for women, one for men—feature domed ceilings, with beautiful artist-designed mosaic tiles. (The hammam treatment features an exfoliating and cleansing ritual applied as the guest lies on a heated belly stone made from Calacatta marble.)

All spa lighting is LED, according to DiGuiseppe, “and indirect wherever possible, especially in the treatment rooms.” A number of waterwalls also mask sounds in the corridors, adding to the complete serenity of the space.



Sources: Spa at Trump Soho, Bar D’Eau, and Pool Terrace New York
Owners Bayrock Group and Sapir  Organization
Architecture and Interior Design Firm  DiGuiseppe Architect, New York
Architecture and Interior Design  Project Team Anthony J. DiGuiseppe,  Joanna Reda, Myron Lea, Christian     Soberanis, and Julia Schafhauser
Contractor Sciame Construction
Purchasing Firm DiGuiseppe Architect
Engineering Consultant Cosentini  Associates
Landscape Gunn Landscaping
Graphics Crown Sign Systems
Hammam Equipment Wellworks Design
Art Framing Novo Arts
BAR D’EAU
Chandeliers Hudson Furniture
Banquette NLP Furniture
Banquette Fabric Valley Forge Fabrics
Charis DWR
Table Glass Tops and Mirror Wall Tile     Ann Sacks
Bartop 3form
Wallcoverings and Drapery Innovations
Ceiling Covering Maya Romanoff
Draperies Mason Contract
Artwork and Fountain Design     DiGuiseppe Architect
OUTDOOR POOL TERRACE
Outdoor Furniture Sirio
Cabanas Jardin De Ville
Sticks JANUS et Cie
Cabana Lighting Global Lighting
Pavers Stone Source
SPA ENTRY
Antique Mirror/Urns/Cabinets Whitfield    Collection
Chairs NLP Furniture
Chair Fabric and Wallcoverings  Innovations
Ceiling Covering Maya Romanoff
CORRIDORS
Wallcovering Innovations
Artwork DiGuiseppe Architect and Galarie  Du Marac
Water Features Aqua Design Group
HAMMAMS
Tile Sicis; tilework by Danilo Bonanza
Experience Showers Kohler
Antique Cabinets Whitfield Collection
UNISEX LOUNGE
Drapery Mason Contract; fabric by
  Innovations and Valley Forge Fabrics
Task Lights Humanscale
TREATMENT ROOMS
Wall and Ceiling Coverings Innovations
Accessories DiGuiseppe Architect
Drapery Mason Contract; fabric by  Perennials and Justin David
Floor Mats Chilewich
Chairs JANUS et Cie
UPPER LOUNGE
Drapery Mason Contract
Artwork DiGuiseppe Architect
Sculpture Galarie Du Marac
Tables Sirio
Wallcovering Innovations

 --Hospitality Design, sister publication of Contract