Luxury Scottish hotel combats burnout with new biophilic forest bathing hotel suite

Glasgow’s iconic Kimpton Blythswood Square has launched La Chambre Verte, an immersive hotel suite experiment measuring the psychological and physical benefits of biophilic design.

The hotel partnered with Scottish CBD skincare brand La Rue Verte, leading horticulturalists Benholm and award-winning DJ Brian D’Souza to create a multi-sensory experience combining biophilia with CBD rituals, meditation and sound therapy.

Echoing the practice of forest bathing, La Chambre Verte is designed for the growing audience of wellbeing tourists seeking proximity to nature and alternative therapies on their travels to enhance mental and physical health.

Within the room, guests are welcomed to a retreat curated by La Rue Verte, including a host of its 100 per cent pure hemp products including a biodegradable hemp yoga mat, CBD vitamin-infused cocktails and CBD bathing amenities.

Benholm has brought the room alive with a variety of lush green plants, including trailing ivies cascading down walls, deep green monstera leaves, palm fronds and lush foliage plants.

Biophilic design offers both physical and mental health benefits such as purifying air, removing toxins and pollution. Some plants, such as Monstera, even omit natural molecular chemicals which reduce stress and boost the immune system when inhaled.

In addition, guests can experience a bespoke nature-based immersive soundscape within the room created by Open Ear Music.

Tracks combine field recordings of birdsong in Blythswood Square and the surrounding area with sound therapy techniques and a selection of D’Souza’s relaxing musical compositions.

A rejuvenating sunrise flow and calming twilight track help trigger the brain into a deep meditative state of relaxation and feeling of euphoria.

Finlay Anderson, spa director at Kimpton Blythswood Square and area spa director for IHG said: “When we reopened after the first 2020 lockdown we noticed a real desire from our guests to return for rest, relaxation and self-care that enhances mental health.

“Following this, we’re delighted to present an alternative therapeutic experience surpassing the usual parameters of an overnight stay which offers guests the opportunity to reconnect with themselves post-lockdown.

“Alongside La Rue Verte, we’ll collect data on the guest experience through a set of questionnaires, assessing the benefits of biophilia and the Chambre Verte experience in comparison to a standard hotel room environment.

“We look forward to sharing the results and using this experience to continue our development of alternative therapies across the hotel and spa.”

La Chambre Verte is available for one night for two people from £579 (€671, US$816).