Conscious escapism told from the depths of the sofa by Steph Sutton // Designer's Perspective
In late spring 2020, residents of smog-choked cities in India could suddenly see the Himalayas. A headline i’ll always think back to for being an unexpected by-product of just two weeks into a global shutdown. For locals this sight has been absent for over 30 years, at last a positive that would have never had arisen if humanity had been forced to stop for a moment. Its made ‘Doomers’ ( a person with mindset that climate change is non reversible) re-evaluate their philosophy and see hope? With the addition of Attenborough on our screens in lockdown with ‘A life on our planet’ ways to combat climate change and be more mindful of the way we treat our environment is at the forefront of many peoples minds whilst we have been held captive on our sofas.
For myself and i’d say for many, it’s been a chance to think about how we travel and to question our choices to become a more sustainable, ethical global citizen of the world in the future. 2020 for many has been an opportunity to look on our doorstep for an escape rather than a flight overseas to busy destinations— our national parks have had more visitors than ever before and for many, the great outdoors has been a much needed healer for what this year has brought to us.
With this (new adopted) mindset to what escapism means, many voices within the travel industry predict that the future traveller in 2021 will ultimately focus on the outdoors and less visited places with operators looking to be more socially aware and focused on sustainability which will allow destinations which have suffered the effects of over tourism, a breather.
Globetrander x Euronews ‘Travel after 2020’ report predicts 6 trends to shape the future travel industry with three in key focus for this post being;
’WILDERNESS TOURISM #1 Trend: Celestial Escapes
‘With constant “noise” from our cities, as well as the news and social media, the search for silence will be a top priority.’
‘Within the Wilderness Tourism a sub trend being ‘Celestial Escapes’. As the world becomes more urbanised, finding night skies that are unpolluted by artificial light is getting increasingly harder. Up until now, most people plan holidays around what they do in the daytime but as the call of the wild becomes more pronounced, post-dusk experiences such as campfires, starlight cinemas, astronomy classes and sleeping under the heavens will become more popular. Anticipating demand for Celestial Escapes’
ECO TOURISM #2 Trend: Cultivacations
‘According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people and involves education”. It takes many forms, and has been a type of travel that has grown in popularity over the past decade. In the wake of the pandemic, people will be thinking far more carefully about the way they travel, and seeking out hotels and companies that are doing everything they can to minimise their impact on the planet. We can also expect accreditation to gain prominence, as consumers look for reassurance from legitimate “eco tourism” and “carbon negative” certifications.
WELLNESS TOURISM #4 Trend: Longevity Retreats
’The fast-growing wellness sector will become even more important after 2020, with the Conscious Traveller thinking about their health more than ever. Positioning of wellness services is set to change from indulgences to necessities, with travellers prioritising fitness, stress-relief and therapeutic treatments. With health concerns being at the forefront, marketers will need to emphasise the scientific credentials of their wellness offerings, whilst also reassuring consumers about hygiene measures.’
Travel as we know it will mean that trips going abroad will become a much more precious commodity – an experience to be planned and savoured, mindfully with new forms of luxury being redefined as destinations that offer positive environmental and social impact.
A stellar example of all mentioned above is the development of the worlds first energy positive hotel, Svart.
Due to open in 2022, the 100 room hotel is situated on the foot of Svartisen glacier in Norway set to pioneer the new-age of responsible ‘wellness-adventure’ travel.
It is to be the first building to be designed and built to the highest energy efficiency standards in the northern hemisphere. The hotel will save 85% of its annual energy consumption and it will harvest enough solar energy to cover both the hotel operations, and the energy needed to construct the building. 5 years forward, the hotel plans to go fully off-grid, meaning the hotel and its adjacent services, including the farm and the boat shuttles, will be completely self-sufficient in terms of electricity and waste management.
The Concept: A 360° Mindful Journey
Guest amenities will include four restaurants fuelled by a sustainable on site farm with a nutritional focus at the forefront. A 1,000-square-metre spa, which incorporates physical and mental wellbeing, two electric boats, an education centre and a design laboratory.
The construction of the building itself takes a circular form, offering full panoramic views of the wider immediate landscape inspired by local architecture in the form of the “fiskehjell” and A-shaped wooden structure for drying fish and the “rorbue” a type of building used by fishermen.
Situated on both fjord, land and within close proximity to a glacier, guests will be able to experience year-round activities, from hiking, diving, wildlife spotting, fishing, foraging, ice climbing on the glacier to practicing yoga in the midnight sun.
Guests will be able to use non-invasive technology such as wearable devices, in order to access to useful data to better understand themselves and enhance goal-orientated efforts.
“Our aim was to create a truly immersive and purpose driven experience for guests, enabling them to become more in tune with themselves as they take in the natural wonders of Norway’s incredible Svartisen.” says Felicity Leahy, Svart’s appointed Spa & Wellness Consultant
With Svart raising the bar and setting a new standard going beyond the expectations of the informed and conscious traveller, never has there been a more important time for the general public to understand the future of travel and have the power and knowledge to opt for experiences that will be about stronger connections to culture, heritage, and seeing the real destination. The mindful traveller will take lead on what it means to travel with operators adapting to new aligned expectations from tourists to make a positive impact on the places they visit.
Words by Steph Sutton, Interior Designer