SCANDINAVIANS have long been regarded as authorities in wellness and the curative powers of ancient bathing traditions. With the opening of The Thief’s new spa, the hotel is taking the spa concept in Oslo, Norway, to another level, while encouraging the gentlemen out there to join in.
“We’ve put as much thought and care into the spa as we put into our rooms. Now with this last piece of The Thief puzzle in place, we’re taking Scandinavian wellness traditions to new heights, fusing them with the best the world has on offer,” says the hotel’s owner and visionary Petter Stordalen.Stealing the best of renowned traditions and treatments from around the world, Thief Spa takes its aesthetic inspiration from the rugged beauty of the Norwegian landscape. The 800-sq-m space features a pool, sauna, steam room and hammam – Oslo’s first – as well as six treatment rooms and a fully equipped gym. As the city’s largest spa, the scene is set to slip away from the everyday and ease into a world of wellness, rest and relaxation. At the meeting point of the peninsula Tjuvholmen and the fjord, where the sea and Nordic light reign, take respite in the rituals from around the world, where centuries of practice are united. Designed by Danish architecture firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen, with added design touches by Anemone Wille-Våge – also responsible for interiors of the hotel – the spa adheres to the principles of clean Nordic design. Located in an adjacent building, mere meters from the mighty Oslo fjord, a private glass elevator ushers guests to an underground walkway.Taking centre stage in the serene space is a 12-m swimming pool, with lighting transitioning from blue to red to green. Swim under a celestial sky of small ceiling lights and the warm glow of candlelight, or contemplate the Nordic skyline inspirations from the poolside loungers. Elegance and sophistication combine with natural materials of slate and wood, creating a rooted-sense of calm and indulgent luxury.Thief hammam, Oslo’s only hammam, is a sanctuary for the ancient Turkish bathing ritual. A water-drenched room and a heated marble slab is the locale for exotic relaxations, with private treatments bookable to scrub away the day’s stresses. In the sauna, the best of German and Finnish spa cultures merge with the classical Aufguss technique of pouring water and essential oils on hot rocks. Those seeking the damper option are invited into the spacious steam room, where an aromatherapy-infused mist and high humidity provide varied health benefits, and a dewy glow. For the first time in Norway, Sensory Sky showers by Dornbracht will be on offer – with a complex choreography of rain, fog, light and fragrance to cleanse and cool. Thief Gym includes a range of cardio machines, featuring an on-screen platform offering virtual training options across several different motivational environments.Highlighting Turkish, Moroccan and Japanese elements of wellness, the spa offers a diverse range of treatments, from traditional facials and massages, for both men and women, to tailor-made options to suit any therapeutic need. Bringing the Moroccan tradition of Rhassoul (mud pack) home to Thief Spa, volcanic mud brought in from the foot of the Atlas Mountains is applied in the steam room. For detoxifying, the Laminaria Algae facial uses algae handpicked from the Irish coast. With the use of exotic materials sourced from around the world, century old methods and state-of-the-art technology, Thief Spa will return what the everyday life steals from us all.A good spa is only as good as the products it uses. Thief Spa adheres to this philosophy, using the finest sourced beauty and wellness products from around the world. Holistic healing, harmony and the power of nature is the creed of German brand Babor, known for its nourishing skincare products, making it a perfect match for the Nordic spa. Voya’s products and treatments are eco-certified and 100 per cent organic, with hand-harvested algae. Located next to the iconic new Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, The Thief overlooks the canals of Tjuvholmen and the Oslo fjord, with most of its 118 bespoke rooms offering brilliant waterfront views. The interior of the hotel reflects the innovative spirit of its surroundings: original artwork lines the walls, selected by famed curator Sune Nordgren, while furniture chosen by Anemone Wille-Våge reflects up-to-the-moment design without sacrificing comfort. Known in the 18th century as Thief Island because of its role as a prison islet, the waterfront district of Tjuvholmen is home to one of Scandinavia’s most exciting urban renewal projects, as a thriving centre for business, art, and nightlife.