champs-dc

[champs-dc]

Here is my final pin up.

[champs-dc]

Here is my finished model

[champs-dc]

How I got to my final concept:

[champs-dc]

Here is my explanation of why I chose a minimalistic design approach for my bathhouse. 

[champs-dc]

Float Tanks Target Audience:

I initially was only targeting pregnant women for the float pods and tanks. However, I can widen my target audience to people who are mentally exhausted and that have anxiety. This is because floatation therapy works on anybody. 

[champs-dc]

This is my final design for the main parts of my spa house.

[champs-dc]

Float sizes experiment:

For my final design I decided to go with the oval float pod and the square float tank. This is because the oval float pod fits better around a single person and the square float tank has more room for a couple.

[champs-dc]

[champs-dc]

The theme for my bath house will be dark but relaxing, kind of imitating night time. The materials will be black, grey, cream, and a marbled accent wall on each room. The furniture will be a dark wooden colour.

The lights will be dimmed in the massage rooms and float tanks -not too dark and not too light. This is to initiate a down-time effect on the costumer.

The float tanks and float pods will have LED lighting. The costumer can choose whether they want it on or off.

The reception, therapy rooms, and toilets will be bright because they don’t need to fully relax there. In the therapy rooms, the light is bright to wake them up from the float tanks so they can reflect and journal down their thoughts.

[champs-dc]

Here are different experimental floor plans.

[champs-dc]

Sensory Deprivation Tanks

Float Tanks are also known as Sensory Deprivation Tank or Floatation Therapy. R.E.S.T is an abbreviation for a medicated technique related to water-filled sensory deprivation tanks. R.E.S.T stands for Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy. 

The main idea behind float therapy is to ease the body and mind. This is because the soundproofing and buoyancy allow for a silent and meditative floating experience. The salt concentration in the tank relieves the stress and muscle aches in the body. It also includes health benefits such as the relief of migraines, stress, and anxiety and detoxifying the body. The buoyancy of the salt in the tank is similar to experiencing zero gravity. This enhances the dissociation from reality decreasing mental anxiety and relaxing the muscles when floating, relieving strain. The magnesium in the salt also detoxifies the harsh substances in the body that damage the cells and create inflammation. 

https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-are-the-benefits-of-float-tanks

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/float-therapy-benefits/

[champs-dc]

[champs-dc]

[champs-dc]

FINAL BATH HOUSE CONCEPT

History of the WW building was a hospital and a care facility for disabled children. 

Taking this idea and recreating it as a float house and spa specialised for pregnant women. 

Research: Going to spas can be a stress reliever when pregnant. However, you must not go into saunas when pregnant as that can raise your body temperature and can put the baby at risk for spinal cord and brain defects. 

https://www.thebump.com/a/spa-safety-while-pregnant

What to have in the spa:

Massage rooms - only for second and third trimesters and not first as that can cause a miscarriage and do not want to take that risk. 

Facials. Make sure that there are no harsh chemicals like BHA’s and chemical peels and microdermabrasion as that can harm the baby. Gentle exfoliants, masks, and hydrating facials are safe.

Gentle sugar body scrubs are good for circulation. An increase in circulation is key for the health of the mother and baby as it carries vital oxygen and nutrients which are the building blocks for its cellular makeup. 

Manicure and pedicure section - make sure that the polish is toxin free. Acrylics and gel are okay as long as the section is ventilated. 

Hair removal - waxing and threading, no laser hair removal.

Float Baths.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Float baths are good to reduce stress and anxiety, muscle pain, healthy sleep, and depression, and it increases mental clarity. Good for pregnant women to bond with their babies and even hear them kick or their heartbeat. 

The tank is filled with body temperature water and lots of Epsom salt for buoyancy. 

Soundproofing for mental awareness and thinking.

Can have the lights on or off. LED lights preferably. 

The float baths are not limited to pregnant women. Men and women alike can visit the float baths as well.

https://www.float.clinic/what-to-expect/

[champs-dc]

WEEK 5 - FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Here is my set up for the formative assessment.

[champs-dc]

Deciding on the shape of the bath

Because my idea is rebirth, I wanted to create a shape that incorporates that idea. I drew a basic square just to get me going. Then I drew a womb shape because that is where all babies develop. A seed because when watered it becomes a beautiful plant. And a flower because when watered it blooms which kind of implicates rebirth. At the end I decided to go with the womb idea as it also looks aesthetic and it also implies the idea of rebirth more than the others.

[champs-dc]

Reflections:

Throughout experimenting with different concepts of my bath house, I decided to finally come up with my final conclusion. The concept of re-birth. I’ve got a solid design, but it may change through more iterations.

About my model:

All four baths have different temperatures that each serves its purpose. The first bath is at 32℃, the second bath is at 38℃, the third bath is at 40℃, and the last bath is at 45℃. To advance to the next bath, you must go through a tunnel that squirts lukewarm water at your body, preparing you for the next bath. Like being in the womb, there are different stages of development that prepare the baby for birth. The first stages are basic, gradually getting complicated and harder for the mother. Subsequently, the temperature of the last bath replicates this hardship as only a few can last bathing at 45℃. When ready, you emerge from the last bath feeling relief, just like the mother and baby.

This isn’t the final model. This is what I’ll be presenting on Monday.