Champalimaud Design has revealed its latest hospitality project: The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman. The studio has reimagined the space and paid homage to Cayman’s land, sea, and community through artful design while continuing to lead with innovation, while the spa itself delivers first-to-market treatments and programmes.
The studio’s vision was to create a series of inviting, serene, yet subtly whimsical spaces that tell an authentic story of Grand Cayman through colour, form, and texture.
Inspired by Caymanite, the semi-precious gemstone found only in the Cayman islands, the interiors embrace an earthy palette of coral, clay, and sea-washed white, complemented by natural textures and greenery. Its organic striations also reflect the fluid shapes and vibrant movement of the coral reefs beneath the island, while the lush, endemic flora informs the project’s botanical layers.
“Our goal was to create a space that not only reflects Cayman’s coral reefs, flora, and gemstones, but also offers an immersive sanctuary where guests can reconnect with themselves and the surrounding environment. Every detail, from the textures to the soundscapes, is designed to celebrate the island’s heritage while elevating the modern wellness experience,” said Courtney Brannan, Principal at Champalimaud Design
The atmosphere is both refined and playful. Guests begin their journey along an interior corridor that transitions seamlessly to the outdoors, guided by a wraparound mural depicting local flora and fauna in shades of green, blue, and orange. This path leads to a new tropical entry framed by silver thatch palms and onward to the reception area. Here, the reception desk—crafted in argan brown zellige tile, vein-cut travertine, and set against Calacatta Viola marble & Vein-Cut Travertine checkerboard flooring—anchors the space. Limewash-painted curved walls add depth and softness, enveloping guests in a palette reminiscent of Caymanite. Loose planters introduce the island’s flora indoors, complemented by sculptural accessories and furnishings.
Throughout the corridors and locker rooms, a language of gentle arches softens the architecture. In the locker rooms, we sought a warm, uncomplicated ambiance, using cork flooring, playful squiggle-panel locker fronts, and woven fabrics. The spa’s extensive treatment rooms and amenities—from the sauna and steam rooms to the hot and cold plunge—embrace a contemporary serenity, featuring travertine flooring, mosaic marble and travertine wall mosaics, illuminated cove ceilings, and wall coverings inspired by the iconic silver thatch palm.
The journey continues to the second-level relaxation spaces, where private and semi-private rooms welcome guests before their treatments. Deep coral red limewash walls carve out intimate niches for individuals or groups, layered with onyx lighting details, curvaceous furnishings, and soft, textured fabrics. Guests then pass through the “crystal cave”—a symbolic nod to the island’s natural crystal caverns—offering a moment of cleansing and clarity before treatment. The nail treatment room becomes a special, immersive moment of its own, wrapped in soft fern-green limewash and adorned with a delicate floral mural.
The facility now features 16 treatment rooms, including three couple’s suites, three rooms with private showers for body therapies, and a dedicated nail room with two pedicure and three manicure stations. The hydrotherapy area has been expanded to include four cold plunge pools, revitalised saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation lounges. Massage and facial tables now incorporate vibroacoustic technology, which synchronises sound and vibration to enhance relaxation and deepen the meditative experience.
