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BLU: Bathhouse

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Bee Breeders architecture competition 

Team: Kristina Azarić, Danica Jovanović

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Bathhouse is floating, moving free inside the lake, contributing to the calming effect of nature on the human mind, as water helps amplify nature’s soothing, healing qualities. Project for BLUE bathouse is riviving sauna culture in authentic natural Latvian environment.
Placing the bathhouse inside the lake represents important sustainability notion since the lake becomes essential habitat for wild life and regeneration (non-swimming area). Balanced eco system is provided by biofiltration system composed of plants that are harsh frost conditions resistant, they include winter hardly lilies, winter hardly marginals and winter hardy submerged plants. By observing the wisdom of the bath ritual of ourancestors, one can escape the cares and troubles of everyday life, get free of stress, and revive the spirit.

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The object is composed of timber frames, that are occupying space of 400 cm in general plan. The basic baring construction are 16 timber frames in combination with timber arched beams for strengthening the complete circular system. Local available materials sustainability contribution is in timber frame structure of the pavilion, flooring system and roof timber cladding. Furthermore form of the roof contributes to water management considering the rainwater harvesting, where water shortages are collecting precipitation transfering it to utility rooms, where it is being storaged for further multiple usage. Entire pavilion is  constructed of negative carbon footprint materials. Using recycled polycarbonate as a main facade and partitional material reflects the functions and their privacy levels (transparency). Movable walls from polycarbonate are providing flexibility of the space and different modes of the bathhouse regarding the season, controling the closure of the object. Particular design and location of the pavilion required floating construction of 4mm thick ponton tubes with diametar of 100cm to ensure the safe floating of the pavilion.

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