Re-designing the bathroom_Iteration 2

 Beginning to create the progressive bathroom based on the Bathroom Diary and duration spent within the bathroom. Shows how design would have to penetrate existing structure.

 Plan view of new intervention - progression from sink to shower to bath - only diagrammatic at present.

Perspective view of proposed design in diagram form.

Ideas I have had which will follow on from this:

Duration dictates size of sink, bath, shower etc. Bath smallest, sink largest.

Create a ribbon.

WQould like it to be a progression - walk through the sink to the shower and further to the bath etc. 

Thinking about Dornbracht - Balance Modules...

Once more this chapter/sub-chapter needs to be more detailed and refined. A lot of grammar and words to be changed/altered.

BALANCE MODULES

            "The Dornbracht BALANCE MODULES also make the individual, with his or her habits and rituals, the focal point. They expand the purely functional and technical aspects of the bathroom to include the dimension of human rituals, actions and habits. This is not principally a matter of formal considerations. The modules are rather a new interface between the user and his rituals." TAKEN FROM BALANCE MODULES SECTION OF DORNBRACHT WEBSITE - CITE

This demonstrates that Dornbracht has similar principals to me in regards to bathroom design. Dornbracht seek to make visible the habits or rituals one performs in the bathroom setting - I also seek to do this. However, Dornbracht are still more product focused which is where we are different. I intend to design a room that makes visible the individual rituals and routines of a specific user - the method for which could be applied to any user theoretically - but make a whole room, not a product. 

RAINSKY, one of Dornbrachts products (or non-products), is described as "the first product to dissolve the boundary between fittings and architecture". It's other fittings not being visible on the walls of the bathroom; they are embedded onto the ceiling and highly technological. I'm not sure how I feel about this, although I need to think about this in terms of my own design. 

Thinking about Dornbracht - Statements...

Dornbracht is a German company specializing in 'ritual based architecture'. They are one of my most valuable precedents and so I have a few examples of their work to discuss in my Thesis. Potentially more...

STATEMENTS

Dornbracht is a company in Germany. In Hebel & Stollmann's Bathroom Unplugged: Architecture and Intimacy, Andreas Dornbracht discussed the Dornbracht brand, particulary their "Statements" Culture Project series, which aims to create pieces of "art to represent the "cleaning rituals" theme."

"We have finally reached a point where our collected findings are again able to influence the design of standard shapes. And for once, the product is not the only focus of attention." Dornbracht, 2005, P. 21

"What does a space look like that makes room for our rituals, regardless of whether conscious or unconscious, important or irrelevant, large or small?" Dornbracht, 2005, P. 21

 

The Statements series reflect what the bathroom is/means to the artists, designers etc chosen. Dornbracht states that,

"...If we want to find ourselves, we must enjoy ourselves. In an individually personalized environment. In our own personal bathroom. A bathroom that, in its entirety, is a kind of interface for our physical and spiritual needs and which also reflects them." PAGE NUMBER - SEE ARCHITECTURE UNPLUGGED

This emphasizes, through the Statements series at least, an shift from product-driven to design to user-central design - a "role" described by Dornbract a s "changing from that of "bathroom user" to "bathroom occupier"" - the bathroom has become more than a place to perform certain rituals, but a room to occupy through ritual.

"The discovery here is that it is not just a matter of rendering taste or style, but in particular it is the event, the experience that is paramount." Dornbracht, 2005, P. 23

Event vs. Experience - event being the ritual one has to perform, or one does perform. The experience being what the occupier feels whilst performing the rituals. For me, the design should be more event based - what one does - as opposed to how one feels whilst doing. The experience should be a consequence of event, and if the design is for the event it should subsequently be a better, more enjoyable experience.

My notebook.

 SUPERVISION NOTES + IDEAS AFTER...

 Rough modelling - boxes, or pieces of paper which can be assembled and reassembled in a variety of configurations for design exploration.

 More time analysis of the diary. Using each day in 24hour table showing different types of information. 

The top one (above) is Time/Product - so dividing the use of a particular product (mentioned in the diary) into time slots according to when it was used. This will aid the positioning and reconfiguration of objects in the bathroom. 

The second (above again) is Time/Action and is dividing the actions performed within the bathroom into 24hour time slots. The bathroom could be redesigned through actions, what occurs most regularly and rarely etc. 

The last (below) is Time/Body Part, which looks at particular body parts and how often they are paid attention to in the bathroom.

Film_31st August_Shower

This film is of the action/movement of showering through the lens of the shower's glass partition.

Images_my bathroom as a result of my body

 A series of images taken today after having a shower. The images are mainly of the glass structure - the shower - and the stream/drips/watermarks left on it after my presence in the shower - after me using the shower to shower. The steam/drips/watermarks are a unintentional drawing on the relationship between my body and the shower during the act of showering. The splashes made by myself during showering/washing/combing/shampooing/conditioning/scratching/turning on/turning off/adjusting/shaving/lifting/bending hit the steamed up glass partition and create a drawing of the consequence of movement - the consequence of using the shower for it's intended purpose.

The actions and movements I do when I shower very depending on what I enter the bathroom to do. If I have a bath, chances are I won't leave any marks on the shower. If I shower, wash myself and not my hair, I will leave washing/scrubbing/rinsing marks on the shower cubicle - visible from the inside and out. If I shower myself and wash my hair, I will leave completely different marks - or traces that my body has been there - on the shower. In fact, every time I shower the markings I create will be completely different - as unique to me as my fingerprints - and created as a consequence of movement, ritual, routine and actions within the shower.

Outside of shower, just after having a shower. 

My reflection in the shower door - reflected on steamed, splashed glass

  The shower from outside of the shower looking in at the mechanics of it. My drawing exposes or hides parts of the shower - this is a consequence of me using the shower - a result of inhabitation. A result of body does action uses product meets material.

 And again.

Inside the shower, just after having a shower.

 Looking out at the bathroom through the splatter/splash/watermarks on the shower glass.

 And again.

 The drips on the soap holder are a result of my presence in the shower.

 The splatter marks created by my body - a visual of the body and product colliding.

 And again.

 Towards the top of the shower glass less splashes are visible - would a taller person splash the whole shower? Would an even smaller person splash even less? The splash marks are unique to my body.

 

The floor outside the shower, after stepping out of the shower.

 Stepping out of the shower door and onto the bathmat, the transition between shower and floor is splattered with drips from my body as it moves through the door way and places each foot on the floor outside before reaching the bathmat. Then closing the door behind me.

Tuesday_Sketchup model

 Starting to construct the sink with drawer underneath

 Side view of construction and handle (adjusted later on)

 Tap, mirror and drain hole

 Over all plan of my bathroom from Sketchup today

 Closer view of my bathroom

Perspective view of the bathroom showing over all layout. Includes towel rail and improved drawer and door handles. Yet to add individual tiles and lighting.

Plan of my bathroom.

Shower also needs shower head, hose and shelving. 

Sketchup model cont...

 Over all above view of my bathroom

 Detailing up the bath

 Beginning on the shower

Playing with curving the shower floor

Bathroom photos

Film_21st August_1.36pm_Hair washing

Film_18th August_3.24pm

 

Once again documenting the drying, moisturizing process. This was straight after my bath.

Film_Pre-shower

This is the first film I made trying to capture my personal movements, actions and routines when preparing to get in the shower. I have been playing around with camera angles, as you can see, and have covered part of the camera lens. The visual image you can see as the viewer is myself reflected in the bathroom's floor tiles. I think it's quite beautiful reflected - remaining ambiguous or foreign to the viewer, yet familiar in terms of sound perhaps.

Materiality_copper??_"water changes it's surroundings"

Ritual-Architecture - pure naturalness from Dornbracht by Sophia Muckle, 2007 for Stylepark.

Once again Dornbracht have taken center-stage when it comes to ritual architecture. Having a wee Google search I came across this article for Stylepark by Sophia Muckle (11.4.07) and the images in particular caught my eye and got my brain buzzing.

"The contemporary interpretation is produced by the exciting interaction between clear, reduced design language and a mix of old-fashioned and modern materials. Corten steel, copper and olivewood surfaces, on which water leaves its mark, contrasts with the contemporary look of marble, Corian and reflective glass."_Muckle 07

The product description for the Elemental Spa series is as follows:

"The theme of Elemental Spa is the archaic and the original: the element water changes its surroundings. It can make a place unique. That is why Elemental Spa makes water the centre of attention. It becomes the starting point for personal and shared rituals in physical and mental cleansing, and makes the bathroom a refuge for the soul."

I love the idea that water - the thing that rules the bathroom - can change the bathroom. The material choices here are amazing. The use of copper in the bathroom allows one to see where the water and the architecture touch - this could be a measure/a way of making visible the re-occurring bodily contact with space, or the splashes made by the body using the bathroom.
_this materiality is something to consider in my final design.