M.Arch Bath House Project Portfolio - Harry Michael Smith

Design Concept - Inital Concept

I - Initial design concept utilises the existing site entrance for the car park. From there visitors would move through the main entrance located in a large atrium design. Pedestrian movement from the north and south should be accommodated by various entrances and paths through carefully designed gardens. The main pool is recessed into the ground and a footbridge would carry people across into the main circulation space which serves the remaining wings. The gym block is visualised with large full height glazing, taking advantage of views out over the gardens to the north. The main bath house aspect is visualised as a dark space with slot windows allowing views out into the garden to the north and south. The main change block would house various other misc accommodations such as storage, refuse etc.

II - Following discussion with the tutors the gym wing of the building should take advantage of the river views. Additionally, the atrium should become a more central feature which could be accessed both externally and internally. A space which could be used as a point of entry or a point of stop-and-rest of a user’s journey through the building. The various accommodations will stem from this atrium so that ease of accessibility and wayfinding is maximised. The central atrium is visualised as the largest aspect of the site, incorporating various trees and landscaping with rest spaces for the users.

III - The introduction of a spa wing which will house an independent spa with the various spa themed facilities stated in the brief. At this stage the spa is pictured as a series of dark, enclosed spaces, therefore the northern wing is most suitable for this. Additionally, this design concept incorporates the gym wing cantilevering out over the riverbank. The building now responds much better to the river. This provides users with panoramic views across south Glasgow and the building will appear to sit elegantly in amongst the existing treetops. The main bathhouse wing now extends south creating a large courtyard between itself and the gym block. This creates more internal space within the bath house and provides shelter from the busy main road (A728) to the east of the southern courtyard.

IV - Car parking should be drastically reduced from 50 to 20. This should be reserved for staff and disabled customer parking and free more space for landscaping. The driveway should also be used for a taxi pickup/drop off zone. This scheme is intended for use by the people of Bridgeton and the surrounding communities and therefore there is no need to come to site by car. Bridgeton train station is the furthest point from site within this community and is only 0.5 miles/11mins walk. As part of the healing process, we should encourage people to walk or cycle as much as possible. This developed concept incorporates an exterior terrace, visualised with an infinity pool, hovering above the river bank.

Design Concept - Central Atrium The central atrium will serve as a central space which the building ‘wings’ with various accommodations will stem off. It should be used as space for visitors to meet and rest at whilst serving the accessibility needs of the four connecting wings. It will house gardens and large trees to make the experience of the space more pleasant.

The issue also raised was the connectivity of the wet areas. The initial solution was the potential to incorporate a tunnel under the atrium enabling swimmers to connect to the different pools on site. As the idea progressed the solution expanded into a full lower ground section which will house a rest space for the swimmers within the central atrium.

Design Concept - Massing + Form