integration
1
The site is relatively flat, with no significant changes in ground elevation. The surrounding buildings are industrial, rectangular and designed with standards of efficiency and not architectural quality. All buildings are free from the sides and there is no no unison of building fronts. Given the fact that the central spaces of the building are water related, and large volumes of water are heavy, we chose to have such spaces at the lowest elevation. Therefore where there are water spaces, there is no main space underneath, but only spaces where water can be contained, filtered, cleaned and recycled. This factor, combined with the observations about the area, made us pre-suppose that our building should be flat and of simple and clear geometry. It would also use most of the available building space and cover the lot, as the total surface needed for all the spaces in the program is quite large and a lot of that has to be taken by the acqua zones. The passer-by can distinguish between the extroverted and the introverted places, as he can see the solid volumes with stone surfaces and the glass surfaces with the transparent spaces. This also shows in the roof.
Plan
1:1000
Site
Plan -4.00
1. Meditation Space 2. Day Spa 2.a. Solarium 2.b. Sauna 2.c. Turkish Baths (Hamam) 2.d Massage Area 2.e. Bath Tubs 2.f. Multi-Sensory Showers 3. Acqua Zone 3.a. Hot 3.b. Medium Temperature 3.c. Cold Water 3.d. Swimming Pool 4. Reception 5. Offices 6. Locker Rooms and WC 7. Private Suite Day-Spa 8. Gym 9. Coffee Shop, Shop 10. Free Area 11. Storage Room- Launderette 12. Water Treatment
2 Level +3.20
Level 0.00
Plan +0.00 Level -4.00
movement
Plan +3.20
The seperation between the greeting and food space, which is mostly related to FICO, and the more private wellness services, was fundamental for the design concept. People enjoying the food services, normally dressed, take different routes than those relaxing and enjoying the spa and water spaces, in bathrobes and swimsuits. There is no crossing between the two activity groups, which would have some issues if intersecting. There is also seperate rooms, where needed, for men and women, as well as common spaces. The connecting space between the two are the lockers, that also connect them with the in-between activities of the gym and the meditation space, where someone is dressed casually but doesn’t have to be as exposed.
3
The underground acqua zone receives indirect lighting from above, where the foiller is. Apart from its function as a water zone which also communicates with the massage area and the turkish baths, there can also be projections there relative to wellness and/or FICO.
4
const r uction The building’s structural elements are based on a regular, rectangular grid. The grid’s dimension is 2 meters, and it also serves as a functional grid, as it sets the limit for the boxed spaces. The structure is clearly displayed in the roof, which also serves as the platform from which the building is created. The visitor has a clear sense of place wherever they may be, as the roof covers the whole lot and provides a human scale measurement. The roof is supported by rectangular spaces, whose walls are load-bearing and seem to be springing downwards from the roof. Those boxes only have openings to create entrances. They are otherwise closed in order to keep them private and also maintain the desired temperature more easily.
susta i nabi l it y The main material used for the boxed spaces is Barytes (also known as Bologna stone), which is a local material plentiful in the area. Barytes is naturally found in hot spring deposits, especially when it is mixed in its concentration with granite. Therefore it is ideal for thermal water pools, and its dark color draws sunlight and helps warm the material. The building is oriented towards the southwest, giving one of the most ideal directions for the solar panels that are situated on the roof, to provide energy autonomy in order to heat the water.