For much of human history, bathing has served as a collective act. In modern history, the practice has become virtually extinct with the exception of a few countries—Japan, Turkey, and Sweden notably. It has served as a great equalizer for people from all walks of like to come together and wash side-by-side.
Even the emperor of Rome, albeit accompanied by bodyguards and slaves, would bathe with the people. Today, many people associate bathhouses with negative connotations of salacious gay encounters in metropolitan areas or with the luxe of spas and salons that can only be afforded by those in a higher tax bracket. Bathhouses can be reintroduced to the public but as exactly that: an accessible space that will let people wash themselves, exercise, socialize, and come together.
There is no greater place for this unification than the disparate neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Woodlawn in Chicago. The former is affluent and insular, wrapping itself around The University of Chicago. The latter borders on decrepit, its unkempt brownstones contrasting with the shiny new construction of its sprawling neighbor. Introducing a bathhouse on the Midway Plaisance Park, or Midway, which is located directly on the borderline would help to alleviate the perceived differences between these two neighborhoods. The intimate and long-lost ritual of bathing would strip away any socioeconomic or aesthetic differences between these neighbors and help bring them together.
This bathhouse is based loosely on the concept of a Roman bathhouse. It’s built on (or rather underneath) a public park, includes a wine bar, an exercise room, showers, and pools of various temperatures. Entrances on the north and south sides of the building lead to the more communal spaces first—wine bar, exercise room, restrooms—before letting visitors choose their own path. Families can choose to use open changing rooms, showers, and pools as a means to socialize with other families. Individuals can also check into a different part of the bathhouse for a more intimate and personal experience, where the aforementioned salacious encounters can take place but one can also choose to intertwine with the general public.
Location
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Instructors
Omar Ali, Nimet Anwar, Johanna Faust
Semester
Spring 2021 [M. Arch]
Program
Leisure, Publicspace
Type
Individual Project
Size
22000 ft² / 2044 m²
Related
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