How can a space in New York City provide a peaceful escape for those without access to water environments especially individuals seeking physical and mental healing?
Inspired by personal experiences in water and traditional bathhouses, this project emphasizes the importance of regular immersion in aquatic environments for physical and mental renewal within urban life, particularly in bustling cities like New York. Through pools enclosed by domes made of layered ETFE panels, the design utilizes controlled artificial lighting and water’s natural ability to influence movement, mood, and sensory experiences. Structured as a series of thresholds—varying temperatures, deliberate lighting conditions, and pleasing aromas—the space guides visitors from lively social interaction toward calm introspection and deep relaxation. Regular visits to this kind of space help ease physical tension, clear the mind, and lift emotional well-being, making it an important part of staying balanced in busy urban life.
Design Concept Abstract
The concept is rooted in the sensory and emotional transformation that occurs as the body gradually immerses into ocean water. Derived from direct experience, it explores how water mediates a shift in perception—blurring boundaries between body, space, and emotion. The project investigates this slow submersion as a temporal and spatial journey, where temperature, texture, light, and sound create a visceral dialogue between the self and the surrounding environment. Interior becomes a medium to reconstruct this progression—from approach to entry, from contact to full immersion—capturing the disorientation, release, and eventual harmony found within water.
