As part of World Wellness Weekend, Positive Luxury is spotlighting our community of certified brands that are redefining wellness through the lens of sustainability. We’re exploring how each brand uniquely connects wellbeing with environmental and social responsibility – reinforcing the vital role sustainability plays on the global wellness stage. For The Other House, wellness and sustainability are not separate pursuits but deeply intertwined principles. From reimagining historic buildings with a focus on circularity to designing immersive wellness spaces that nurture both people and planet, The Other House has embedded conscious choices into every layer of its guest experience. We sat down with the team to explore how they are setting new standards for sustainable hospitality and what it means to create a sanctuary where well-being extends far beyond the individual.
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How does your brand define the link between wellness and sustainability?
At The Other House, we see wellness and sustainability as deeply interconnected. True wellbeing extends beyond individual health; it’s about living in harmony with the environment and the community. Our approach blends both by creating spaces and experiences that nurture body, mind, and spirit while respecting our precious environment. Our journey, therefore, starts from the very foundations of The Other House concept and the way we build, as we are committed to creating both a positive social and environmental impact. We start by refurbishing and repurposing historic buildings rather than building new, reducing embodied carbon and protecting our heritage. In creating our wellness and wellbeing sanctuary, The Other Space, which includes a vitality pool, spa, sauna, gym and treatment rooms, we focus on sustainable operations, from eliminating single-use plastics to using British craftsmen, sourcing locally and using environmentally friendly products wherever possible. Our ethos is to offer treatments that are as mentally uplifting as they are restorative, to enable our residents and guests to enter a new dimension, their other space, with practitioners such as Mamma Wellbeing, who share our values. For us, sustainable wellness isn’t an add-on; it’s the foundation of a lifestyle where residents and guests leave feeling better, both about themselves and the impact they’ve made during their stay.
Why is it important that the wellness industry embeds sustainable values?
The wellness industry exists to enhance personal quality of life, but that mission is incomplete if it overlooks environmental and social impact. The industry has a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to lead by example, because it naturally attracts people who care about living more consciously. By embedding sustainable values and a commitment to enhancing wellness into hospitality businesses like ours, we can influence behaviours well beyond our own walls, encouraging residents and guests to make choices that are healthier and more positive for themselves and the planet. At The Other House, sustainability is not a marketing line, but embedded in everything we do, from our zero-gas energy model, targeted management of water consumption, zero use of landfills and strict supplier vetting, to circular waste initiatives and seasonal, locally sourced menus.
The values of our residents, members and guests are equally important to us as we attract a community of like-minded individuals. Our cocktail bar is named the ‘Owl and Monkey’, as we see our tribe as being people who want to make a positive difference – they are as wise as an owl – whilst always searching for new, meaningful experiences – so they are as curious as a monkey. This epitomises the values of The Other House.
What three key priorities guide your efforts to combine wellness and sustainability?
Firstly, empower conscious choices. Wellness isn’t just something you provide, but something shared with your community. Through our commitment to creating The Other Space for our guests, we offer treatments that reflect holistic, uplifting and ethical practices. By integrating spiritual wellbeing and sustainability as a given, we ensure that every wellness experience our residents choose is underpinned by a positive impact on both people and planet.
Secondly, minimise operational impact. The Other House South Kensington operates entirely on 100% renewable electricity, with advanced environmental controls that optimise energy use. We’ve eliminated single-use plastics, introduced refillable water systems, and implemented robust recycling. In the kitchen, we source locally, seasonally, and from like-minded suppliers such as B Corp-certified Foodspeed and EcoSPIRITS.
Finally, design for longevity and circularity (where possible). We refurbish and repurpose where possible rather than building from scratch to provide a state-of-the-art wellness offering such as The Other Space. We conduct life-cycle assessments on all furniture, furnishings and equipment to ensure longevity, and source, wherever possible, from within the UK to minimise transport emissions and support the local economy. We partner with others who share your values to offer the most environmentally aware and life-enhancing treatments.
What role does nature play in your approach to sustainable wellness?
Although a little difficult when located in central London, nature still sits at the heart of many of our wellness offerings, one way or another. At The Other House, this starts with sourcing; our seasonal menus reflect the natural harvest calendar, reducing food miles and supporting local biodiversity. Treatments through Mamma Wellbeing often draw on nature’s own tools, whether from aromatherapy using pure essential oils to Ayurvedic rituals rooted in plant-based traditions. We have also always had an emphasis on biophilia with a wide variety of trees and shrubs in our public areas. A very significant element of our interior design uses inspirations from flora and fauna, developed in a fantastical fairy tale way to provide joy and elevate the spirits. By embedding natural elements into our operations, design, and guest experiences, we help residents slow down, reconnect with the environment, and understand their place within it.
How does your brand create meaningful experiences that reflect both wellness and sustainability?
For us, meaningful experiences begin with intention. Every element of a stay at The Other House is designed to make the guest feel in control, whether over their environment, their impact on the environment, or simply their personal experience. Our bespoke app is a central part of this experience, allowing residents to book treatments and plan activities, while making sustainability an active and engaging part of their stay. In line with our core brand pillar of making a positive social and environmental impact, our goals are also to enable people to feel at home, to do things as they want and when they want, and to enjoy great experiences. These goals are, of course, highly sustainable as well as being a true contributor to a sense of wellness. We also host talks, events, and showcase wellness and creative partnerships such as our collaborations with sustainable fashion pioneers VIN + OMI, who combine cultural engagement with environmental awareness in an off-the-wall way, and Lisa Franklin, a pioneering beauty specialist, seamlessly and innovatively combining wellbeing with skin health, truly epitomising The Other House’s spirit and intention.
This vital part of our ethos is prevalent at our flagship property, The Other House South Kensington, which opened in 2022, and will continue to play a large part in the group, with The Other House Covent Garden set to open in the coming months and Belgravia in the pipeline.
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