Exercise #2: Analysis of case study Aylin Aşır - Şeyma Akcan

Faaborg Harbour Bath and Blue Base / JDS Architects + KLAR + CREO ARKITEKTER

Before the construction

It is a waterfront Project that opened for bathing and public activities that has relation with water. The site is close the industrial area and because of its unattractive appearance and missing definition of use, it had no purpose. The area transmitted by adding new dimensions to open public space with relation water. The aim is to encourage local residents and visitors to participate in a variety of water and other outdoor recreational activities and change the environment of the area. 

I general concept it is designed by taking reference from “finger plan” idea. According to this idea, several fingers(branches) connected with the palm and every branch has a different function. It found a spatial response from this Project. 

When the idea meets with the sea, between four different functioned branches create open basins for multiple activities. The concept of the bath is based on the idea of creating an open sea bathing area with piers branching out seawards creating swimming areas between them and each pool has a specific use.

The open sea bathing area offers multiple ways to approach the water, and each pier has different functions with different design elements. The big pavilion has an information center as well as facilities for storing, maintaining, and renting kayaks. Integrated into the ramped façade of the pavilions are stepped seats to accommodate resting where people can overlook the fjord, the city, or the swimming area. The ramped smooth section can be used as a slide and the pavilion in the middle of the bath park consists of changing rooms and a sauna beneath a viewing platform. At the widest of the piers, there is a water playground that features rectangular openings, which serve as sheltered swimming and paddling areas for children. On the middle rack, the pier lifts above the water culminating at a raised diving platform and swimmers can sit and dry off on a terraced section. The third pier slopes gently into the water and can be used for kayaks and other water sports and provide facilities for launching and docking boats. Between the piers, there are open swimming areas surrounded by the three piers with many ways of entering the water. Ladders at the piers allow the swimmers to climb in and out of the water.

As a result, the Harbor Bath was developed with the objective of allowing all kinds of activities to coexist and to create several possibilities to experience and approach the water. Visitors can take a bath, go on a kayak tour, take a walk, or simply enjoy the sun. It offers changing rooms, a sauna, facilities for rowers, a diving platform, and a water playground. Many sport and age groups meet and share the outdoor facilities including families, sport enthusiasts, teenagers, seniors, and others.