The extraordinary design hotel Twelve Senses Retreat in Encinitas in southern California offers its guests the ultimate in relaxation for body and soul. Encinitas is located close to San Diego and is regarded as one of the world’s top surfing spots. The atmosphere of the coastal town is imbued with a love of surfing, yoga, health, and getting close to nature.
The guests of Anke Bodack can also experience this special ambience. With the Twelve Senses Retreat the designer has realized her life’s dream of a minimalist micro-hotel. Its name refers to the twelve human senses found in the teachings of Rudolf Steiner. The Austrian philosopher divides the senses into physical, environmental, and cognitive senses. At the Twelve Senses Retreat, these are stimulated through a combination of quality accommodation, a sense of well-being, and sustainability.

Anke Bodack was supported by Offset Design and Drafting during the design and development stage of the micro-hotel, which was then was realized by Alliance Green Builders. The building, originally constructed in 1958, was converted using recycled and natural materials in line with sustainable principles. For example, the tiles in the roof-terrace bar were made from plastic reclaimed from the ocean.
From the roof terrace guests look out on to a lush garden, while the bar offers a view of the Pacific. The ocean is just a short walk away. Visitors can enjoy moments of peace and relaxation in the hotel’s library or around the fireplace in the “Fire” room.

At the Twelve Senses Retreat, luxurious minimalism is not a contradiction in terms: its rooms are warm and inviting despite their understated design. The four rooms are uniquely designed and each reflects one of the four natural elements – “Air”, “Earth”, “Fire”, and “Water”.
How to fit a luxurious bathroom into an open room with limited space posed the greatest challenge. Designer Anke Bodack discovered a photo of a Stonetto shower tray in Duravit’s bathroom magazine, and this came to influence the design and the interior decoration. Flush-mounted shower trays create a sense of space in the room. Three of the four rooms were fitted with an open shower. ME by Starck toilets, Luv washbasins, and L-Cube bathroom furniture can also be found in the Twelve Senses Retreat. Additionally, a free-standing Luv bathtub with its Nordic purism blends perfectly into the minimalistic, soothing atmosphere in the “Earth” room.