Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness at La Cantera Resort Perched atop San Antonio’s Hill Country, This Resort Offers Hushed Luxury

The Challenge

Located on the skirts of the existing resort, the layout of the spa became an opportunity to address a difficult sloping site constrained on three sides by the natural and existing conditions of the site. On the backside, a 30-foot-tall boulder wall created a natural visual barrier but a challenging construction site. On the down hillside, the Hole No.1 tee boxes from the golf course created interesting relationships with the future spa guests and the players at the golf course. With a name that means “Hill of Life,” this urban resort sought to bring a sense of rejuvenation and serenity just beyond the attractions of San Antonio.

The Design Solution

To avoid creating heavy structures that would create more harm to the site than good, the design team decided to break the mold of the existing architecture style and proposed an alternative modern design approach to the project. This allowed the team to create a modern and contemporary steel building that could cantilever and span across the rugged terrain while creating dramatic volumetric shapes and vistas to the guests through large windows and open-air decks. Glass, steel and wood became the initial design palette. Lifting the structures also allowed the spa guests to have enough separation from more active areas of the resort such as the golf players and vehicular noise from the porte cochere above. Using vernacular traditions, local materials, spa treatments, and a sense of openness, Loma de Vida spa creates a destination in stark contrast to the traditional resort setting. Complete with sky lofts, private soaking pools, and private decks, the spa’s clean lines, glass walls and steel frames offer a contemporary setting for relaxation overlooking the expansive landscape.

The Design Impact

The partee of the project, which was unveiled in 2015, allowed the resort to reposition itself as one of the leading destinations in the Texas Hill Country region. It offers visitors some of the best views of San Antonio, while enjoying one of the most serene spa offerings in the Lone Star State.