Spa in the Raw...

In researching spas, places to bathe, and the different implications of bathing, a few things continued to repeat themselves. Bathing was a socially accepted public occurrence in most cultures. The bathhouse or baths were places for socialization and equality; everyone could take part no matter color, free or slave, and male or female. It was a time for relaxation and enjoying oneself. The cleansing that took part at the baths was looked at by most as an opportunity to clean and renew the body. Water was looked at as a source of healing. Many would soak in the water for 10-11 hours at a time in "special" springs or anointed baths because those water had been deemed worthy of certain healing powers.

Place to Dine: Transitions

The concept behind this dining space was Transitions or Transitioning. I started with the table. It is a 20' wood table, with inlaid wood triangles and as you progress down the table to the buffet the triangles get bigger and push up from the table to create a buffet or place to serve food from. The chair I chose to put with this table is a modernized version of the Rietveld Z chair in a white leather with chrome legs. The room reflects the reactions of the triangles pushing out. The walls tilt in and out creating a dynamic space. Due to the tilting of the walls, the ceiling intersects itself and creates breaks to allow natural light in the room. The ceiling at its highest is 13'. There are hanging lights from the ceiling casting light only on the table. The East elevation depicts the ay window created by the tilted walls. The walls and ceiling are concrete substrate with sheet rock applied and finished with paint. The floor is polished concrete.

Prelim Shelter Bus Sketch Up