Balneriumfrom Interior Design Capstone with Prof. Loukia Tsafoulia
The Bathing Place A Vertical Totem of Water for a Modern Day Society
People of contemporary societies, specifically working individuals, have made productivity more important than their mental and physical health. Balnerium is designed based on a hybrid of bath and spa principles to provide holistic psychological and physical care with a balanced environment, a pause from daily stress, and a re-connection with one’s inner self and others around them. Baths of ancient times were an intrinsic part of life. Designed for social interaction and the healing powers of water, the user would process along with a horizontal typology of various temperature patterns, treatment, rest, and fitness amenities. These methods shaped my methods moving forward in my design. As a response to the particularities of the modern vertical city, Balnerium redefines the traditionally horizontal, grounded experience of bathing into a vertical ritual of circulation paths and stacked water experiences. Water is explored in all its states – solid, liquid, and vaporized- and various temperatures. In addition to its verticality, the project is also driven by the connection of the body to water as physical space. The circulation of human and water influences programmatic and experiential decisions such as temperature and light. |
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Abigail Kern
B.S. Interior Design '20 Listening to Pierre by Ryn Weaver People inspire me and travel inspire me. Studying abroad was the best experience in my life. With my senior capstone, I had no plans of it being anything but a typical spa. However, with the proper guidance I found myself getting excited and looking to the ancient Roman baths I saw abroad as inspiration and motivation. |
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"A space is the reflection of those who inhabit it..." |
How is your voice shown through you work?
It's interesting because I don't know if I would say that my voice is reflected in my designs. My voice represents the voice of whoever/whatever I'm designing for. Regardless of the project, the space reflects those who inhabit, utilize it every day, find comfort in it, etc. It would be silly to implement my own voice when the voice that needs to be present is those of the users, the community it sits in, etc. |
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How did your Study Abroad experience influence your design? Study Abroad opened my eyes to different ways of living. (ie., walkable cities, slow dinners, historical importance) It's created a level of empathy in me which wasn't previously refined. Study abroad also sparked an interest in me of how long a design will last. Being in Rome specifically, those buildings have stood the test of time...how can we do that in our modern designs as well? My senior capstone project was greatly influenced by the Roman and Grecian culture of bathing which drew from my fascination with the buildings of Rome and their lifestyle. Study abroad overall widened my lens of the world. That might seem obvious, but I feel if you never leave your comfort bubble, that's all you will know. Especially now, it is important to know more and seek more so we can always be aware.. for reasons of justice, equity, and even just personal happiness. |
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