Diba Behshad

This project explores the context of a Bathhouse through the underlying program of a Brothel, depicting the issues and power struggles that arise in Diplomacy through corruption (especially sexual exploitation). The Bath House/Brothel complex aims to reduce sexual stigma, in doing so equalizing those who use the a space and diminishing the unbalanced stances between its parties.

View looking down the void which cuts through the whole building. This image depicts the multi-tiered bathing facilities of the complex, with it gradually increasing in heat through ascension, starting with the cold water level, then warm level and finally hot level, as bath houses traditionally use this method to build up users to the temperature, so their bodies will not be shocked by the heat of the final baths.

In terms of the façade, an organic form is used that depicts female anatomy, thus making the building’s typology visible to the public and making it known what is occurring within by increasing its transparency through an eye-catching Art Nouveau inspired style. This design in combination with lighting and the sensual ‘lifting’ up of the facades skin in parts, translates the spaces use outwards through a first glance. Viewers can guess that something erotic takes place internally and with its shameless existence, it in turn begins talks on what occurs behind doors.

The bathing facilities are complemented by a perforated façade system, where holes pierce the original façade and continue on through the new cladding. The purpose of this double perforation is to allow for natural light entry to reach the building’s edges, as although the central void provides most of the light entry into the building, this could be obstructed at certain times of day and so surrounding light entry is needed.

The final floor houses the private rooms of the structure. These rooms are to allow for intimate activities between workers and clients of the facility, with them being the main space where anything is exchanged. They make use of heavy insulation in order to maximize privacy between the said parties within such spaces.

This detail section depicts the water recycling system to cool the façade of the building. It uses a prefabricated ceramic cladding that pumps each level's bathwater outwards, misting onto the exterior and thus bringing the temperature down. This mist then drops down to the base of the building, where constructed wetlands are in place to catch the water, which will then go through a filtration cycle by the use of plants, soils and associated microorganisms to treat the wastewater, allowing it to be pumped back through the baths and outward from the skin again.