Wellness in the woods: a smart spa house for the whole family

We all need a break once in a while – and what better way to unwind than enjoying a full spa treatment? With this in mind, a German family decided to create their very own wellness oasis. The newly built spa house has everything you could wish for on a holiday – not least thanks to smart technology.

Kids playing in the pool while the parents are relaxing in the sauna: this was the dream that a couple with three children turned into reality. On the edge of the Teutoburg Forest in Lower Saxony, they built a private retreat to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The result: a spa house where modern comfort meets pure nature. 

Across 60 square metres, the spa house offers enough room for two saunas, a shower, and a light-flooded rest area with infrared heating. The outdoor area hosts a large pool (15 by 3.70 metres) that can be used all year round, thanks to a photovoltaic heat pump. A wooden deck shaped like an amphitheatre serves as a shield against wind and nosy onlookers. A few steps further, you’ll find the family’s main residence: a fully renovated farmhouse from the 17th century.  

On the northside, a barely discernible glass door leads the way inside. Toward the east, an indoor space with floor-to-ceiling windows and heated floor tiles allows for an unobstructed view onto the idyllic scenery. Thanks to a clever tilt-and-turn system, the glass walls can be opened in all directions. When closed, they serve as a thermal buffer that shields the spa house from adverse weather conditions.  

Windows and door frames in dark grey form an elegant contrast against the spa house’s wooden cladding. Likewise, anthracite-coloured socket outlets from the Gira TX_44 design line add eye-catching accents on the wall. With a certified IP 44 protection standard, the installation is ideal for wet rooms and outdoor areas. 

Inside, bright surfaces made from oiled ash wood and cosy furniture create a calm ambience. White Gira E2 switches and socket outlets round off the minimalist interior concept.   

Both indoors and outdoors, the spa house offers all the perks of a Smart Home. From temperature regulation at the sauna down to LED lighting inside the pool, everything is connected to the Gira X1 server. This server acts as the central control unit of the KNX network – based on the international standard for connected building technology. It allows the family to monitor and adjust each function within their system via app or smart operating elements such as the Gira G1. On its touch-sensitive display, they can heat up the pool, turn on the lights in any area, or activate individual settings for the sauna, for example.