Other Works

06 Spring Meditation

Location: Bolar Springs in Highland County, Virginia

Instructor: Ines Martin Robles, Luis Pancorbo

Project type: A thermal bath complex of small size

20F Arch 6010

Axonmetric View

The site is located on the west of Charlottesville and the southwest of DC. It lies in a valley, between 3 mountains. The site is kind of like hiding itself in the nature, and the previous houses in the site are merging themselves into the site by using similar wooden structure. The spring is located inside the site after the bridge, surrounded by forest. There should be a inner relationship between the water, forest and the wood structure houses. The contour of the existing houses follow a potential grid, I decided to refine it and extend it to the mountain. After creating such a new building, a new courtyard unexpectedly come out.

Exploded View

Check-in office and changing rooms

Treatment rooms and cafe

Shop, Office and public swimming

Restaurant

The building is just like dwelling in the forest. People who get into the site are just like getting into the nature and get released step by step. When people stand inside this courtyard, they can either enjoy the view coming from the background, or have some interactions with people on the upper floor. The recreation area of the whole design, people can have meals, picnic, get treatments or just play with water here. The main part of the design, when people get dressed in the changing room, they will get to either of these three floors to get released and heal in cold, warm or hot water. For these three floors, the building is opening gradually, just like people are getting released step by step and free themselves into the true nature.

The building complex is a place for people to bath, have meal and meditation. It doesn't interfere too much of the previous site by coming along with the terrain, and separating into small boxes.

This design uses three main types of materials, which are wood, glass and concrete.