Hyperwell: Physical and Hydrotherapy Center in Desert Hot Springs, California

HYPERWELL the eighth and final design studio:

Physical and Hydrotherapy Center in Desert Hot Springs, California Kevin Kolden ASU Spring 2016 Prof. Claudio Vekstein

Response to Žižek and Morton

The idea of a hyperobject is complex and requires a shift in our philosophy about ‘nature’.

Hyperobjects are not infinite but they occupy space and time at a scale that is beyond our immediate comprehension. The Styrofoam cup you used during lunch will outlive you by 400 years. The fallout from the atomic bombs detonated over Japan persists. (Uranium-235’s half-life is 700 million years). The radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can never be discarded. In a horrible version of the ‘away’ that Žižek illustrates using the image of solid waste from a toilet, the more you try to get rid of the waste you realize it can never be destroyed.

We can feel the phenomena relating to global warming but we can’t feel global warming.

HYPERWELL explores the metaphysical theories of objectoriented ontology (ooo). Specifically hyperobjects, which are so massively distributed in time and space as to transcend spatiotemporal specificity, such as global warming, styrofoam, and radioactive plutonium. The ‘Giant Rock’ in Landers, CA is abstracted with a series of geometric operations to create a center for healing in the Coachella Valley.

Giant Rock - Landers, California

Skull Rock - Joshua Tree National Park, California

CONCEPT DESIGN Desert Hot Springs, California Physical Rehabilitation Center

CONTEXT SECTION - SCALE 1” = 500’

MIRACLE HILL RD.

MANOR MIRACLE

CABOT’S MEUSEUM

SITE

(+250’ FROM ROAD)

Life after Nature: Desert Drought and Glut Kevin Kolden Spring 2016 Prof. Vekstein

PERSPECTIVE SITE PLAN

LEVEL 1 1. staff area (front desk/conference/offices) 2. physical therapy gym 3. restroom/locker rooms 4. yoga studio 5. group meeting rooms 6. physician offices 7. auditorium

2 3

3

4

7 5 6

1

LEVEL 0 1. hydrotherapy pools 2. sauna 3. restroom 4. storage 5. mechanical room 6. pool pump room

4 3 5

4 2

3 6

1

LEVEL 2 1. resident kitchen/lounge 2. physical therapy gum 3. healing garden 4. residences 5. group therapy room 6. drug rehabilitation 7. mental health

2

1 4

3

7

5

6

LEVEL 3 1. physical therapy gym 2. residences 3. community lounge 4. meeting rooms

1

2

4

3

WEST ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

B

A

B A

KEY PLAN

SECTION AA

SECTION BB

SECTION AAv2