Health Spa

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Health Spa

Taking my previous masterplan exercise, I looked at developing a Spa for the community, helping to educate them about hygiene and wellbeing, by creating an exciting and sensual experience.

Key elements of design

Visual - Kids Play Area

The 'Bathing Level' of the Spa is situated on the ground floor. It is bright and airy, welcoming the visitors to relax and have some fun.

Spas often are not necessarily child friendly. I incorporated an open yet protective area for the children to explore and have fun, whilst still under the close supervision of their parents.

Visual - Spa Pool

Situated underground, the 'Spa Level' lays host to a traditional process of cleansing, going through a variety of different pool sizes and temperatures, helping to exfoliate, nourish and cleanse the body.

Visual - View of Quiet Area

Through the processes of travelling through the many levels of the spa, there are plenty of spaces to pause, stop and reflect. This is one such place on the 'Treatment Level'.

Visual - View of End Point of Journey

Starting from the Bathing Level, through to the Spa Level, the visitors finish here in a open relaxing roof garden.

Concept Development

The process

Plans + Sections

Macro to Micro

Three sites were chosen to be developed by the group. I was developing the middle site highlighted in blue.

The site I chose to develop is highlighted by a dashed blue line.

I identified a few key points of relationships between the spa and context:

The landscaping around the building is very important as it offers a playful exploration of heights, sounds and the use of water. Small waterfalls offer a sensual sound experience, the strips of water act as an extension of the language of the building and the areas of water fountains allow children and adults to play under the fountains, eagerly awaiting the sudden burst of water.

The Bathing Level is an open, light and airy area for families, couples and individuals to experience in a relaxed informal manner. It has two main pools, one indoor and one outdoor along with a series of smaller bathing pools and jacuzzis.

The Spa Level is a predefined route, based on a traditional means of cleansing where you go through a series of pools. Starting with a moderate temperature pool (25°C), visitors go through a series of hot pools (35°C and 45°C), before entering the Sauna and Steam Room. Then the visitors cool down once more in a moderate temperature pool (25°C), then they move through a series of cold (15°C and 2°C), before finishing in an open area to relax with Jacuzzis and Bathing Pools.

Throughout this journey of cleansing, there are rest points after each section, where visitors can quickly shower off, by travelling through a water wall and sit and take a moment to reflect before moving onto the next section.