Thursday, March 5, 2009


Aqueous Mobility

Water Aiding Mobile Liberation

a place to bathe


Inspiration for this project was the Japanese bathing rituals, which in ancient times would be done at the base of a natural waterfall. In this situation the waterfall has the hierarchy. So for these disabled people I decided that they should have the hierarchy over the water causing changes upon it. The Japanese in present time enjoy individual baths within their home. The water temperature is hot to a point that the individual is able to manage. An important aspect of the Japanese bathing ritual is that the bath is for spiritual and mental cleansing only. Before entering the bath one physically cleans themselves in a different body of water.

This spa is a daytime spa, taking advantage of the natural sunlight as the lighting source and the elevation at which it sits. It can be found embedded into a mountain overlooking many surrounding mountains. This place to bathe and cleanse oneself mentally and physically caters to disabled people who are wheelchair bound. It serves those who feel they are hindered from moving and living freely and normal. This spa is designed to provide the freedom of movement that people in wheelchairs typically don’t’ get to enjoy. The idea of movement is suggested through the fluidity of water. With the assistance of the water the people are capable of engaging the moving water and then causing a change in the waters movement, in turn providing themselves with movement that they have not had the opportunity for.








Reflected Ceiling Plan











A person would arrive and check in at the front desk and then they would proceed to one of the two changing areas. Here they would change their attire and switch into a waterproof, spa owned, reclining wheelchair. Upon exiting the changing room they would then make their way up the ramp and onto the upper level of the space. In order to enter into one of the individual pools they would have to first pass under the falling water. This symbolizes as physically cleansing the body before entering the relaxation pool. After passing under the water they would roll onto the lifted platform, on the pool, and then be lowered into the body of water. The lowering of the lift would cause water to overflow the front end of the pool and flow out of the space creating a waterfall down the mountain. While in the pool water would continuously be overflowing because the water that they passed under is dispersed to each of the three pools. Each person would have a thirty-minute session enjoying the personal view and the warm water. At the end of the session the platform would lift them out and they would roll back down the ramp and into the changing room where they would retrieve their items.

Materials found in the space are representative of the natural materials found in nature and around the scene of a waterfall. Materials included are wood, concrete, stone, glass and water.


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