bathhouse

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2015

Instructor: Nick Liadis     Coordinator: Jeremy Ficca

Carnegie Mellon University

program & site

This is a bathhouse located around the Saco Lake in White Mountain, New Hampshire. We have the freedom to choose the specific location for our design. The bathhouse should include three basins: Caldarium (hot), frigidarium (cold), and Tepidarium (warm).

bathhouse site.jpg

concept

The spirit of this design is the awe for nature. We want to approach nature yet we're also afraid to disturb the nature, this dilemma leads to the contrary personalities between the interior & exterior strategy: 


The exterior of the bathhouse is minimal, passively embedded within the mountain foot.

The interior is experiential and hosts a carnival of senses: The reflection of water, the sunlight shining through the thin gaps, the echos of the sound of water, and the smell of the steamed wood. Adding to the sense of awe, the canopy and steps are designed in a way that people need to slightly bend down to enter each basin. All these features create a place for individual reflection, and the sequential experience toward the frigidarium become a pilgrimage to the lake. 
 


experience

 

section


model

 

sunlight

Subtle change over time

 

assembly