In Milan, in Via Marco d’Oggiono, there is Imperial Spa, a wellness centre that stands out for its strong Thai connotations. This characteristic, which it shares with its sister establishment in Brescia, is not limited to the very rich ‘menu of services’ available to customers, but is highlighted by the furnishings and decorations, which are the result of a personal commitment to on-site research, with the choice of local craftsmen and traditional processing techniques: a commitment carried out with dedication and passion by Gianni Ragnoli, owner with Massimo Campadelli of Imperial Spa.
It is therefore an exclusive space that evokes atmospheres, suggestions, colours and scents of a faraway land, which comes down to us with the wise magic of its rituals and the beauty of spaces and settings full of charm.
Ragnoli’s passion for Thai art and culture is tangible in the furnishings and accessories that create the special character of Imperial Spa; furnishings whose long journey, born of research into the artisan world of deep Thailand, tracing the currents of trade in precious local woods, is fascinating to retrace.
Starting from an intense dialogue based on respect for tradition and the personality of the craftsmen, the furniture, door and window frames, mirrors and accessories that furnish the spaces where everything is authentic and precious have been created. From the finest woods such as teak and mahogany, to the gold leaf finishes – strictly on a red background to enhance their lustre – furnishings that have all the splendour to which the Indochinese world has accustomed us, enriched by precious inlays.
What is striking is the genuineness of the shapes in their irregularity, the great thickness of the doors intended to house real bas-reliefs: creations that date back thousands of years.
Everything is the result of a dialogue between Italian taste and traditional Thai craftsmanship, with the sole exception of the statues, which respond to the ritual functions and mythical projections of Thai Buddhism: they are the guardians, the classic dragon-men who watch over the entrance to the temples and who, in this case, become the custodians of the space dedicated to the well-being and relaxation of guests.
The dominant colours in the wellness centre in Milan are the traditional colours that travellers find in Thailand: red, black, gold and white. The symbologies are skilfully characterised and the evocative power of tradition surprises and excites. This is another reason why the Imperial Spa can rightly be defined as “a corner of Thailand in Milan”.
