Water Therapy Spa

The processes and activities of inhabitants preparing for swimming led diagrams and explorative layouts for the spa. Various arrangements were tested, the final room divisions align with the roof beams, creating continuity and highlighting their sculptural forms.

Moving the reception created a more inviting entry. The addition of a walking platform to the Northern area of pool took away too much of the water and was removed.

Ensuring the accessibility of every space was a challenge, accommodating wheelchair spacing within the angular forms required careful planning and reference of suitable dimensions for disabled friendly swimming pools. The initial ramp design had to be lengthened to accommodate the correct gradient, creating a graduated journey into the water.

Testing the creation of a dividing threshold between the changing area and pool. The 3D model gave a sense of standing in the corridor, at the intersection of undulating roof beams, drawing people towards the water. The long narrow glimpses through the spaces increased the sense of privacy, dramatising the movement between zones.

The depth of the pool was originally higher than in the final proposal, with views only to the sky through the existing sash windows.

Initial considerations of the pools construction, taking inspiration from the 'sky pool' at the Embassy Gardens flats in London. The structure is supported by steel beams spanning the existing walls, keeping the pool separate from the lade as it flows underneath.