Year 3 Project- The Lawn Health Spa

Design Brief

Everyday life can become a very stressful environment and a release can sometimes seem bleak. 428,000 cases of stress were reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the year 2011/12.

The aim of the design project is to create and inner city retreat where individuals or groups are able to break away and relieve some daily stress.

There being no similar facility in the city of Lincoln the proposal is to build a health spa situated on The Lawn site in the cities historical quarter. Visiting the health spa can be a day experience however it is recommended that you stay for three days. The spa is situated next to Charlotte House Hotel making a three day visit simple.

Site choice:

The Lawn Lincoln: This site has beautiful tall trees and large green spaces located in a dense urban environment. Located on the site you can find the John Dawber garden, The Lawn (ex mental asylum), Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory, Charlotte House Hotel, Dr Edward Park Memorial and a childrens play area. Most of which are largely unused through the majority of the year. Building the health spa in this location is not only perfect for an escape from city life with its green spaces but will also bring life back into the site throughout the year.

Located in a dense urban environment

Views of plot

Surrounding context

Vegetation on site

Vehicular and pedestrian access

Existing site attractions

1- The Lawn

2- Charlotte House Hotel

3- Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory

4- John Dawber Garden

5- Dr Edward Parker memorial

6- Play area

7- Unused entrance

Existing site materials

Design Inspirations

Visiting and researching health spas and styles of architecture which suit my preferences aided the design decisions. "Good artists borrow, Great artists steal"- Pablo Picasso.

Montjuic Pavilion. FondaRUIS architecture. Barcelona, Spain

Thermal Baths. Peter Zumthor. Vals, Switzerland

Thermae Bath Spa. Grimshaw Architects. Bath, United Kingdom

Historical Inspirations

A traditional style of bathing for the Romans was to sweat by exposing themselves to hotter temperatures. To achieve this, all Roman bath houses had a series of rooms which gradually get hotter.

Firstly the bathers would enter the Apodyterium (changing room) and remove their clothes. Next they would progress into the Frigidarium (cold room) then the Tepidarium (warm room) and finally enter the Caldarium (hot room).

This is where the modern day spas originate having a swimming pool (frigidarium), steam room (tepidarium) and sauna (caldarium).

Example Frigidarium

Example Tepidarium

Example Caldarium

Design concept:

Everyday we wake up and what the day has in store for us is unknown. In this case the individual starts off on their straight path and as the day passes it strays more and more until an "explosion" occurs. This is common in every day life and going home can sometimes just make things worse. The idea is to create a health spa where the individual can make his way back onto the straight path.

A rough representation of the early material considerations and design philosophy for the project.

Spatial requirements:

In addition to the amenities you would expect in a health spa, the building includes a reformed Sir Joseph Banks conservatory and a lecture space. This lecture space can be used for educational lectures which can inspire guests to make those all important life changes.