Kelvinbridge ermae Neal Whitaker Unit 2
Mar 23, 2016
Kelvinbridge ThermaeNeal Whitaker
Unit 2
South Woodside Mills. Ordnance Survey map. 1861
Site History: South Woodside Mills. Ordnance Survey map. 1861
Kelvinbridge Thermae
Design Statement.
The area around Kelvinbridge subway station is both promi-nent and disappointing, its current configuration a weakened,
compromised iteration of a historic piece of Glasgow. Until the mid 19th century, a paper mill stood there, and the waters of
the Kelvin were diverted down a channel to power its machin-ery. My proposal reestablishes this channel, using it to provide power for the bathhouse, and creating an island, on which the
building stands.
Tree planting establishes the island as a true extension of Kel-vingrove Park and screens the building from overlooking. The channel establishes a definite ‘front’ for the scheme in a previ-ously confused space. The linear form of the building follows
this channel, and culminates in a taller element, addressing Gibson Street, which juts like the prow of a ship into the waters
of the river. Drama abounds.
Organisationally, the building is straightforward, a processional celebration of the ritual of bathing. In section and detailing it
comes alive – draped in a delicate fabric of brick, treated care-fully to admit enchanting slivers of light, which animate the
play of water within.
A public footpath meanders across the island - thus, a break in the green corridor between the Botanic Gardens and Kelvin-
grove Park is healed, and memories of a sliver of industrial her-itage are transfigured into an exemplar of ecological brownfield
regeneration for the city.
Aims:
- To re-establish the channel that formerly powered the paper mill on site and use it to generate energy for the
bath house.
- To thereby reconnect with an important part of early-in-dustrial Glasgow history.
- To use the site as an exemplar of ecological design
- To use the ‘island’ created by the channel as a literal and metaphorical island of relaxaaon and healing.
- To extend Kelvingrove Park northwards. Heavy tree plant-ing around the site shoudl give it the same level of en-
gagement with nature as the main part of Kelvingrove to the south.
- Redesigned tube staaon acts as transport hub, restaurant and library.
- Bath house presents a public ‘front’ across the channel to the tenements beyond. Trees screen it from Great
Western Road and the backlands behind Otago Street, and it rears up to address Gibson Street in the south.
Concept Diagram
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Kelvinbridge ThermaeKey
1:Musical pool2: Fire pool3: Ice pool
4: Indoor pool5: Hydrotherapy, massage5: Hydrotherapy, massage
6: Outdoor pool7: Swimming; power
generating water channel8: Changing rooms
9: Saunarium; tepidarium10: Saunas; caldarium
11: Steam rooms; frigidariums11: Steam rooms; frigidariums12: Void
13: Terraces14:Restaurant
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1 2 5 10
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Kelvinbridge ThermaeKey
1:Musical pool2: Fire pool3: Ice pool
4: Indoor pool5: Hydrotherapy, massage5: Hydrotherapy, massage
6: Outdoor pool7: Swimming; power
generating water channel8: Changing rooms
9: Saunarium; tepidarium10: Saunas; caldarium
11: Steam rooms; frigidariums11: Steam rooms; frigidariums12: Void
13: Terraces14:Restaurant
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1F Plan
Roof Plan
Long Section
Schematic Programme Diagrams
Dry Spa Area
Wet Spa Area
Changing, Showers
Restaurant
Gymnasium
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1 2 5 10
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A
B B
Kelvinbridge Thermae: Schematic Sections
Above: Section A-ABelow: Section B-B
NealWhitaker
Bath house
precedents
ZumthorKolumba Musueum
Architecture WHill House 2
Aires Meteus: Centro Scuola
SANAA De Kunstline Theatre
Thomas PhiferVarious Projects.
1. Restaurant2. Entrance, salon, gift shop, waiting area
3. Changing area/ showers4. ‘Swimming’ pool
5. Wet spa area6. Dry spa area
L-R
Massing Model 1Massing Model 2
In/Out/InHot/Cold/Hot
Design Aims:
- Exemplar brownfield redevelopment
-Refer to site history: re-establish in previous form channel that powered
paper mill formerly on site
- Extend Kelvingrove Park . Reinforce - Extend Kelvingrove Park . Reinforce Kelvingrove-Botanic Gardens green
corridor
- Design Strategy
- Building as abstract composition
- Pure forms correspond to otherworldly ritual of bathing
- Linear composition as urban response: - Linear composition as urban response: defines a public front and a free rear
elevation, engaging with ‘wellness island’ 6 5 3 2 14
Materiality:
Brick. Patterned, perforated, layeredJuxtaposed with sandstone ‘city’
context. A different material for an abstracted ‘park’ building
Botanics-Kelvingrove route passes through building
Neal WhitakerBath house