“Where the waters do agree, it is quite wonderful the relief they give” – Jane Austen

This quote seemed entirely well-suited to my project. My chosen Atelier is to create a civic bath – a place for people to gather and meet, to discuss political events as well as family affairs, as well as to relax and recharge.

My chosen site is located by the River Trent so that a connection could be created between free-flowing water, and the enclosed spaces of water I have designed. My concept for the project stems from research into the wider site. The area is home to a higher number of People of Colour than the UK average, yet also has a higher number of racist attacks by the public and police officers than average. This turned into my concept of freedom vs oppression. A narrative developed through each pool that I designed of how society is perceived by the unaware, the reality of society, and how society could be.

I focused on establishing a physical sensory experience that is accessible to everyone despite ability, which is emphasised by details that are not solely visual. I decided all should be able to perceive the spaces in the same way – centralising equality. The focus on phenomenology is evident in the heavy contrast between light and shadow used throughout. Different lighting methods are used in each space to reflect the narrative of the individual pools.

To conclude, I want to say thank you to all my coursemates and tutors for making these three years extraordinarily unforgettable.