Original Basement Plan

Original Basement Plan

Northumbria Baths City Pool Turkish Baths Sauna Steam Corridor Showers Steam Room

Fig 19 | Original Basement Plan of Newcastle City Pool (Newcastle City Council, 2017)

Fig 20 | Newcastle Turkish Baths (BBC, 2013)

Fig 21 | Newcastle Turkish Baths (BBC, 2013)

Before the regeneration took place, the original building consisted of three main elements: the city pool, Northumbria Baths and the Turkish Baths. It can be identified from the original floor plans that Turkish Baths are located in the basement of the building. Perhaps this is due to the immersive experience being hidden away from the hive of activity of the city so that the water and architectural design can interact with the senses with no distraction which allows the body to feel refreshed, calm and full-filled, away from the rush of the city.

In addition, through the different elements within the basement, as can been seen from both the literature and figure 19, the change in temperature and space plays a major role when the body moves through the experience, rejuvenating the individual. When moving from the sauna to the steam corridor, to the steam room and showers, the body and skin will undergo a series of sensations and temperature changes. The change in the environment allows for insightful thinking and relaxation. The diverse temperature change enhances the sense of touch, which is experienced through the skin, where as the change in spaces magnifies the sense of vision, exciting the body and mind. This can be identified in figure 22.

As it can be seen in figure 20 and 21, the baths were used a social gathering. ‘This group of old soldiers come down from Cramlington every month to relax together’ (BBC, 2013). This implies that the baths are a key community space but they also bring benefits to health and keep elderly people fit. ‘I feel 10 times younger leaving this place’ (BBC, 2013).