When Lanserhof opened in 1984 in a secluded Austrian village, the medical spa was designed to provide a place for rest and rejuvenation in a soothing rural environment. A retinue of doctors and specialists diagnose and address guests’ ailments through a bespoke schedule of daily treatments, including cryotherapy, cupping sessions, and deep-tissue massage. “The human is in the center of all our efforts,” says Dr. Christian Harisch, CEO and cofounder of Lanserhof Group.
The concept took off. Everyone from royalty to actors and oligarchs flocked to the original Lanserhof Lans and Lanserhof Tegernsee, which opened in Germany’s Bavarian countryside in 2014. Hamburg’s Lans Medicum, which debuted in 2012, marked the company’s first day spa, with a focus on sports medicine and diagnostics.
In 2017, Lanserhof Lans reopened after a yearlong, $26 million renovation. German architect (and frequent guest) Christophe Ingenhoven updated the hilltop compound with his trademark supergreen practices, using natural materials and integrating the lush surroundings. Peace takes precedence in the muted design, which juxtaposes white, taupe, and gray tones with untreated red cedar. “It doesn’t matter if it is a placemat, a knife, or a couch, it is designed to be calming,” Harisch says. “It lets in wellness through your eyes. You feel it.”
In addition to investing in new technology and incorporating treatments from other cultures, Harisch plans to update the Lanserhof locations every 10 years. The company’s second day spa is set to open in London’s Mayfair neighborhood in spring 2019 as an urban concept. (The company also has a partnership with London’s members-only Arts Club to open a Lanserhof-designed gym.) Another retreat on Sylt island, known as the Hamptons of Germany, is slated for 2020. If the London day spa proves successful, the company will look to expand into the U.S., Asia, and the Middle East to cater to its international clientele. “We are not only wellness, we are also a medical option in a luxury surrounding,” Harisch says. “In this niche, we want to be the leading company in the world.”
