Romania's first luxury spa to be operated by an international spa brand is due to open by the end of this year at the new entertainment complex, Stejarii Country Club, in Bucharest.

The complex is being developed by Romanian businessman Ion Tiriac in Baneasa forest in northern capital after an investment of approximately €18m (US$24m, £15m).

Situated in the centre of an ancient forest the project is conceived as an inversion of Central Park, the woodland introduced at the heart of the scheme creates a link between the surrounding calm environment and the new development. The club concept was conducted by London-based architectural company Collado Collins.

The 22,000sq m (236,806sq ft) complex will comprise sport, wellness and hospitality services. Facilities include a spa, health club, driving range, kinesis, spinning, aerobics, an indoor and outdoor jogging track, martial arts, swimming, indoor and outdoor tennis, climbing walls and squash.

The spa will be a Shiseido-branded facility and will mark the skincare company’s entry into eastern Europe.

Victoria Dello Ioio, spa business development and training manager EMEA for Shiseido said: “With the international design group HBA, under the leadership of Shoko Nishimura, and the international spa consultant Helen Coulon, we have been able to create a fresh new concept based on spa ambiance, art and design.”

Shiseido Spa will include therapy suites, an energy pool, relaxation spaces, hammam, sauna and steam rooms, sundeck and a hair and beauty salon, as well as a pilates and yoga studio.

The spa will have a strong focus on catering to male guests with dedicated spaces for male grooming.

There will also be an art gallery that will host exhibitions of young artists, as well as Shiseido historical art pieces from over the years.

The spa design aims to create a dramatic and daring atmosphere that combines vivid colors, playful scents, sounds and energizing lights to play with the senses.

Helen Coulon, spa consultant, added: “Our objective is to grow and develop the local talents that would further promote the concept of an international spa. We start from the basic principles of the Japanese spa culture and adapt them, so that all who come here would enjoy more than a simple massage - a complete experience for the mind, the soul and the body.”

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