The project takes place at the very heart of Tunis, capital city of Tunisia. Located just in front of the traditional core of the Medina, serves as a connection between the old city and the recent expansion and opening to the mediterranean sea. The building is situated below ground on the famous Liberty Square, just opposite the French Gate and looking towards Bourguiba Avenue, the main one in the city.
The piece itself creates a new urban space and environment for the area, giving the square a sense of freshness and domesticity imported from the essence of the hammam. The steam created on the bottom level of the building goes all the way up to the street level. This fact and the glass roof-floor generates a strong relation between what is happening below and how people crosses the building at the top.
The program is divided into three areas which are visually connected. The restaurant area has an independent entrance and consists of a big dining room and three smaller private rooms whose privacy is determined by the height of the platforms that hold the spaces. The main entrance leads to a massive arm that hold the multi-purpose platforms whose topography configures the use of the space, being able to organize up to 3 independent events at the same time. From the big arm, there is a platform which hangs and goes to the bottom level, where the administrative and direction area is located. This piece is thought so the program itself is developed on the topography, being all the same area but leaving a certain hierarchy between them.
GLASS ROOF
STEEL STRUCTURE + SUBSTRUCTURE FOR GLAZING
SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR TILES PANELS
TILES PANELS + BUILDING SLABS
HOT WATER SHEET + WATER REUSE FACILITIES