The BathHouse derived from the study of transformation amongst abandoned buildings within an urban fabric. The phenomenon of reuse has lost its “willing- ness to proceed 1 ” and has culminated in the blighted areas of industrial waste- land. However, the brownfields are a palimpsest of stories, etched with past build- ing footprints and discarded building fragments. Each abandoned building holds a unique history within its empty shell. It is through this history that one can decipher an intrinsic, underlying substance and use it to transform old into new. How do we use history as a tool to determine new use for an abandoned build- ing? Upon this transformation, does the essence of the building remain? Heidegger calls this intrinsic quality “thingness. 2 ” Kahn calls it “the spirit of its making. 1 ” No matter its name, the spirit, essence, thingness must be trans- lated through the vessel of an existing structure. We find this thingness at the intersection of past and present. This intersection dictates what fills the vessel of Laclede Power Co. The building (used 1902-1978), is situated along the Mississippi River, due north of the St. Louis Arch Grounds. It generated the first light of the city and shone as a sign of power and promise during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. This fair particularly celebrated technology in the Industrial Age—man gaining control over nature. Directly across from the site is a 2,200 foot artesian well, the result of an intentioned sugar refinery’s conversion into a public bath in the 1920s. because Today, the site of the building is the trailhead for the Confluence Greenway, be- ginning 12 miles of new path along the riverfront. The path has a constant flow of bikers and runners. This focus on physical exercise just outside the city center displays a clear desire for both holistic health and urban escape. Even through economic recession, the spa industry has risen 10% in the last ten years, steadily showing the importance of health in times of stress. Through examination of ancient rituals, the bathing experience can be broken down into two parts: looking outward and looking inward. The Roman bath- house was the cetner of social life, a place for culture and conversation. Simolta- neously, it was a place for rest and reflection. In response to this duplicity, the buildling will become a combination a community pool and high end spa in a museum-like experience--light and water displaying the beauty of human form. 1 Cook, John W., Heinrich Klotz, and Philip Johnson. Conversations with Architects: Louis Kahn (and Others). London: Lund Humphries, 1973. Print. 2 Heidegger, Martin. Poetry, Language, Thought. New York: Harper & Row, 1971. “Your proposition, like you, is simple, of interest only to the human soul: vast reach of all that is not, and still something is.” -Jane Hirshfield, To Spareness annie robinson studio condia 2.3.12 1 HISTORY TELLS US. THE PRESENT REQUIRES IT. IT’S A BATHHOUSE IN A POWERHOUSE. BATH HOUSE POWER HOUSE cloudfiles.rac/zumthor harry steinberg, smokestacks
Annie Robinson_The Bath House.
Mar 13, 2016
The study of placing a bathhouse in an abandoned powerhouse, a graduate thesis project by Annie Robinson.
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
The BathHouse derived from the study of transformation amongst abandoned buildings within an urban fabric. The phenomenon of reuse has lost its “willing-ness to proceed1” and has culminated in the blighted areas of industrial waste-land. However, the brownfields are a palimpsest of stories, etched with past build-ing footprints and discarded building fragments. Each abandoned building holds a unique history within its empty shell. It is through this history that one can decipher an intrinsic, underlying substance and use it to transform old into new.
How do we use history as a tool to determine new use for an abandoned build-ing? Upon this transformation, does the essence of the building remain? Heidegger calls this intrinsic quality “thingness.2” Kahn calls it “the spirit of its making.1” No matter its name, the spirit, essence, thingness must be trans-lated through the vessel of an existing structure. We find this thingness at the intersection of past and present. This intersection dictates what fills the vessel of Laclede Power Co.
The building (used 1902-1978), is situated along the Mississippi River, due north of the St. Louis Arch Grounds. It generated the first light of the city and shone as a sign of power and promise during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. This fair particularly celebrated technology in the Industrial Age—man gaining control over nature. Directly across from the site is a 2,200 foot artesian well, the result of an intentioned sugar refinery’s conversion into a public bath in the 1920s.
because
Today, the site of the building is the trailhead for the Confluence Greenway, be-ginning 12 miles of new path along the riverfront. The path has a constant flow of bikers and runners. This focus on physical exercise just outside the city center displays a clear desire for both holistic health and urban escape. Even through economic recession, the spa industry has risen 10% in the last ten years, steadily showing the importance of health in times of stress.
Through examination of ancient rituals, the bathing experience can be broken down into two parts: looking outward and looking inward. The Roman bath-house was the cetner of social life, a place for culture and conversation. Simolta-neously, it was a place for rest and reflection. In response to this duplicity, the buildling will become a combination a community pool and high end spa in a museum-like experience--light and water displaying the beauty of human form.
1 Cook, John W., Heinrich Klotz, and Philip Johnson. Conversations with Architects: Louis Kahn
(and Others). London: Lund Humphries, 1973. Print.
2 Heidegger, Martin. Poetry, Language, Thought. New York: Harper & Row, 1971.
“Your proposition, like you, is simple, of interest only to the human soul:vast reach of all that is not, and still something is.”-Jane Hirshfield, To Spareness
annie robinsonstudio condia2.3.12
1
history tells us.
the present requires it.
It’s a BatHHOUsE In a POWERHOUsE.
BATH HOUSE POWER HOUSE
cloudfiles.rac/zumthor
harry steinberg, smokestacks
Three Tasks presenT Themselves upon examining The siTe:
1246 leWis sTreeT sT.louis, mo
THE SITE.
The program in the building focuses specifically on preserving rituals—the pro-cessional ritual of an active power station, the ritual of every moving water, and the ritual of bathing-- as well as preserving the spatial and structural qualities.
The building being a part of the site, how can it remain cherished, as well as transformed?
Water is the key element within and without the structure. The visitor experi-ences water in two different perspectives: in a controlled, immersing environment as well as a powerful, natural entity. Connected to the self, and connected to the world surrounding. River water enters through the previous condenser of the powerhouse, causing a constant flux of water level in the five subfloors and the basement of the building. This relationship should be maintained in an observa-tional and interactive manner.
The history is expressed in the revitalization of the existing structure and sur-rounding area, paying special attention to former use and significance.
The river, like the land, was once a catalyst for city activity and transpor-tation. How can its past culture resonate and reconnect with the visitors of the bathhouse?
embracing the river.
embracing the building.
Can the historical essence remain through transformation?embracing history.
2
PREPARE
GATHER
THE PROGRAM:
SUPPORT People:AttendantsOfficeMain OfficeLaundry
Things:Sanitation PlantMechanicalWater Treatment (wastewater, freshwater)Storage
Circulation (30%)
Square Footage Available: (if all three floors were occupied)
Total Square Footage Necessary:
AtriumFront Desk CaféChanging Rooms (individual)Cloak RoomShowers (men, women)Restrooms (men, women, family)Waiting Area
Outward:Cold Plunge (52˚F)Steam Rooms (men, women)Warm Bath (78˚F)Hot Bath (102˚F)Indoor Pool (82˚F)Outdoor Pool (90˚F)Outdoor Grotto Outdoor TerraceSauna (men, women)
Inward:Rest Areas (x3)Massage (x3)Medicinal Baths (x3)
1000 sqft150 sqft650 sqft
1000 sqft500 sqft450 sqft500 sqft150 sqft
200 sqft600 sqft600 sqft200 sqft
1600 sqft2700 sqft
80 sqft600 sqft600 sqft
600 sqft360 sqft
300 sq ft
240 sqft150 sqft250 sqft100 sqft
1000 sqft700 sqft550 sqft200 sqft
4809 sqft
51,000 sqft
20,839 sq ft
bath360.uk.co
Harpers Dictionary of Classical
Antiquities
becker-architekten.net
3
Related Documents
