It’s a study towards light and shade and socializing behavior within a space. Where a different way of looking at each other happens during the act of washing. (using a bathhouse). With the floor as a surface that gives opportunity for this act and creating an extra universal dimension. 

It’s a study towards light and shade and socializing behavior within a space. Where a different way of looking at each other happens during the act of washing. (using a bathhouse). With the floor as a surface that gives opportunity for this act and creating an extra universal dimension. 

It all started with the floor study. What does the floor mean, what is the floor, where does it come from and what does it mean to me and others. Trying to understand the essence of the floor. It’s a place where we stand off natures ground and step into a space what can be owned physically and spiritually. The floor you can own, The floor you can share,The floor as an area marked by its maker, in a specific grid, layout or boundary.

One of these spaces what caught my attention was the bathhouse. It’s a place where different ages, gender, class come together to do the same thing, washing/cleaning. 

But there is more than that. The bathhouse is a place where there is no taboo. You are literally there as your naked self. A space where there is room for thinking, reflection, socializing etc. 

Within this space very interesting things happen on a social level. People use it in different ways, privately or together. You can withdraw, but you can certainly also open up. 

By researching the bathhouse, I have discovered that there are many ways in which people behave there. During the research I’ve done I came across a painting by Vladimir Alexandrovich Plotnikov, called “In The Bath House”.

It fascinated me on the things that happend in this captured moment. You can see people help each other, talk, wash or just siting in the dark or light area’s. The water that floats over surface of the floor. That creates an extra universal dimension by the reflexion of our naked body. You can see each other and you’re self, in a way you normally aren’t capable of. 

The ritual of going to a bathhouse, take off your cloths and step into a different world than outside. Feeling the cold, hard surface. And then wash yourself with warm water. After analyzing this painting. I wanted to capture the moments that could happen in this space. By creating a space where all this social moments are possible. And people can use it in a way as they want too. 

By showing you in the first picture the first step of this bathhouse ritual. Taking off your cloths. And moving towards the bathhouse. Stepping in and breaking down the boundaries there normally are in the outside “not so naked” world. There is no clear indication of age, wealth or background. This you in your most cleanest way of being you. There is an opportunity to wash, help each other, socialize, think and reflect.

The design gives opportunity to use it in the way you wish to use it. On your own or together. By editing levels into this space, people can use it in different ways. With different sizes and heights. To create a landscape of different moments for social interaction. As you can see in my posters. But besides the water giving a new perspective to each other. Height also adds a different perspective and way of using this space. 

The bathhouse is a space for everyone to do they’re own thing together or alone.