René Hesse
Thermal spring at the Elisenbrunnen Aachen. FH Aachen (Germany)
A thermal springs bath is a place to relax and to forget all about ones every day routine for a while. In this context, the bath near the historical springs “Elisenbrunnen” is to be a place of tranquillity in the heart of the city of Aachen. This way, the Elisenbrunnen and the surrounding park will be revitalised and put into an urban concept.
An exhibition about the bathing and drinking tradition is planned to reach a broad audience and to bridge the gap between the springs and the park landscape, which is also being redesigned. To underline this concept, “an abstract form of one of the springs streamlet will flow directly from the thermal springs to the Elisenbrunnen.
The bath house itself lies at the top end of the Elisen gardens and represents a solitary unit equal to the surrounding buildings, the Cathedral and the Elisenbrunnen. This positioning of the building creates a courtyard in the shape of a triangle, similar to those yards that already exist in the immediate vicinity. To amplify the unique, solitary character of the building, it is virtually lifted off the surrounding ground, seeming to float on the water that seems to run through this monolith.
The architecture is designed to create a unique special experience, making the bathing pools and rooms on the inside seem like a large caved out sculpture, where each room has an individual character. This series of rooms and water pools resembles the ancient roman tradition, but it is enriched by new experiences such as the blossom bath, the bath of light, and the bath of sound.
During his stay, the visitor is engulfed in a new world of sensory experiences and impressions, so that he will leave feeling refreshed and revitalised.
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