Shower room (female

Escape from stress

Time: 10.2020-01.2021 Type: Individual work Function: Public bathhouse Location: Bootle, Merseyside, UK

This design project was undertaken in the context of 'housing the ritual activity of bathing'. In its specific context, its relationship to and enclosure of the public realm is explored; Bootle was once a seaside resort and the city had many public baths, which many people have fond memories of as they did not have bathrooms in their homes in the past. Nowadays, due to the failure of the industrial revolution, Bootle has lost its appeal and jobs have been reduced, with a domino effect on buildings, houses, and the community. The atmosphere in the whole community is depressed. This project hopes to add a touch of vibrancy to the community and bring the residents back to the feeling of bathing, where people can let go of the stressful things in their lives for a while and feel the joy and peace of bathing.

Greek & Rome

In pr-ehistoric times, the sea and rivers served as the most raw and original form of a bath. Constructed large purpose-built thermal baths. Bathing became a part of life and for people to socialize.

16th18th

MEDI -EVAL

Only rich people had private bath houses.Bathing took place in public houses which become Havens for porstitution Increase in private bathrooms and decrease in public bathrooms.The number of bathing is reduced, and people wear linen clothes instead, which cause the arrival of various diseases

19th20th

The advancement of medicine has made people aware of the importance of cleanliness. Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, the invention of the water heater made bathing easy.

ANCIENT MEDIVEAL MODERN

Ancient Egyptians placed high importance on the rituals of washing, bathing, and applying cosmetics, as it was believed that the cleaner and well-oiled the person was, the closer they were to the gods.

300 -500 B.C. 476 A.D.

A lot of showers, public bathhouses, and private bathing facilities disappeared, ushering in a new era of uncleanliness throughout Europe.

Gymnasiums had to provide athletes with a place to bathe after their exer cises, so showers and indoor plumbing appeared in gymnasiums first.

700 A.D. 1340s -1350s

Public bathhouses

carried on as centers of socialization and relaxation. Some bathhouses gained a reputation for being similar to brothels. The Bubonic Plague changed the way a large chunk of Europeans viewed bathhouses.

1829

Public baths

began to reopen in the 1800s. The first modern public baths were opened in Liverpool, England, in 1829.

1767

The first modern

mechanical shower

was invented by William Feetham in England.

Bathing has developed over thousands of years from ancient times to the present day, with different countries having different bathing cultures. For thousands of years, it has been a common ritual - a way of building community and relationships. Today, we see bathing as a private affair and a long soak in the bath is the perfect way to end the day and bring people into a state of great relaxation.

Site Section

Safe regeneration Residential area Site Canal

SITE

Site Mapping

The site is on Safe’s Bootlenestled alongside the historic Leeds Liverpool canal with abundant greenery and railway runs through the middle of the site. The small site to the east and the large site to the west are connected by tunnels under the bridge. The site is surrounded by residential and commercial areas. Safe Regeneration is included on the site. The overall atmosphere of the site is quiet and peaceful.