Barking Bathhouse
Installation (2012-…)
Cultural Olympia, Create
London, UK

Bathhouse’s were a common sight across the UK up until the 1970’s when they were slowly taken out of use due to bathrooms becoming a standard feature in houses and the break up of unions who would use them. Barking, an area in London, had a bathhouse up until the 1980’s which was used by local people for bathing but also meetings and other events were they would board over the baths to make into a large space. These bathhouse’s were low cost, communal spaces that brought people together. In the UK spa’s are considered a luxury that you treat yourself to once in a while, where you are pampered and preened. The Barking Bathhouse is in response to these issues, it combines the communal nature of the old bathhouse’s and a back to basic architecture with a high end experience but a low cost entry, making spas accessible to all.

The project involved creating purpose designed architecture, interiors, spa experiences, a specialist team of beauty therapists, a long term business plan and became licensed spa holders to be able to achieve the project and allow it to be a legitimate public spa. The architecture consisted of 12 black timber structures based around a central long corridor – an overgrown relaxation room, gravel bay, wood fired sauna, industrial freezer unit, treatment rooms and bar.