Work submitted for the competition
"Best Diploma Architecture".
The proposed city baths are designed to encourage stopping and reflection. They are a response to the search for intimate bathing spaces in a 21st century city. The concept assumes a reference to the tradition of ancient baths, but not through form, but referring to their deeper meaning - as a kind of temple for the body and spirit, a place of contemplation and tranquility.
Visualization of the city baths in Pole Mokotowskie in Warsaw.
© Julia Szuniewicz
The starting point for the project was the two ephemeral materials of architecture - light and water, the combination of which emphasizes the spiritual character of the place.
The designed premise consists of a main bathhouse building (functioning year-round) and a changing room building, which serves the park area, and an outdoor bathing area (functioning seasonally). The buildings are connected by an underground floor, which contains a garage and a technical section with pool technology.
ambient axonometry
© Julia Szuniewicz
cross-section A-A
© Julia Szuniewicz
The exterior of the building appears massive, closed to the outside world, and the bathhouse building is further sunk into the ground. This creates a feeling of seclusion and tranquility, and offers an intimate atmosphere. A ramp leads to the building, which, thanks to the play of light, gradually introduces visitors to the heterotopic space of the bathhouse. The descent represents the first stage of tranquility, inviting visitors to be "here and now."
The slope next to the building and the descent ramp
© Julia Szuniewicz
The interior of the bathhouse is semi-darkness, interrupted locally by bright light, which sharpens the senses and gives the space a mystical dimension. "Labyrinthine" layout of the building, based on the composition of "blocks" (of golden ratio), gives the opportunity to explore the interior. The spaces between the blocks open up to the garden, visually bringing greenery and bright light into the interior.
plan diagrams and projection
© Julia Szuniewicz
As the visitor walks through each room of the bathhouse, his emotions and sensory impressions change. Each room has a different expression, and the light emphasizes their individual character and atmosphere. Through the changing lighting, the space can be experienced in a multi-sensory way, engaging the eye through the play of light and shadow, and the sense of touch through the texture of the materials.
bathhouse corridor
© Julia Szuniewicz
Light constantly accompanies the visitor in the exploration of the interior, and is a kind of guide through the building. In the music pool room, light becomes an art in itself, introducing movement and dynamics - imitating sound. Light enters there from above, through perforated panels, which, combined with the water, creates an ever-changing chiaroscuro. In the pool room with chess stations, the light emphasizes the sense of community.
music pool
© Julia Szuniewicz
pool with chess stations
© Julia Szuniewicz
A central circular skylight creates the feeling of being together in an illuminated space, partially immersed in twilight. In the leisure pool room, the light becomes an element that builds the impression of being in a grotto, while in the meditation rooms the variation of light harmonizes with the temperature - the colder the water in the room, the brighter the lighting.
hammam and meditation pool
© Julia Szuniewicz
The site of the former pool complex of the RKS Skra sports club, near the Pole Mokotowskie park in Warsaw, was chosen as the location for the project. Respecting the history of the site, the project involves restoring the function of an outdoor swimming pool, while redefining its role in the context of the challenges of life in the 21st century. The former entertainment venue is transformed into a space for rest and relaxation amidst greenery.
site development plan
© Julia Szuniewicz
The project integrates with the surroundings and landscape of Pole Mokotowskie, drawing inspiration from its character as an urban asylum. Respecting the principles of sustainability and fitting into the site's landscape context, the elevations were designed with slabs of rammed earth. The concept involves the use of soil harvested from the site. The area around the facility is a compositional extension of Pole Mokotowskie park. The external bathing spaces are designed with the technology of an ecological bathing pond, in which the water purification process is based on the intensification of natural self-purification processes.
Julia SZUNIEWICZ
Illustrations: © Author
