The village of Shamen, China lacks running water, and scarcity has created a lack of awareness of water health issues. A complex new bathhouse aims to curb health problems and create a gathering place in the process.
Beijing-based BaO Architects designed the project:
"Working with a lean budget and limited resources, the Split Bathhouse manages to create a colorful, dignified bathing experience with the most basic materials -- most of the structure is made up of concrete, brick, and wood. A wide central corridor welcomes bathers into the space and functions as a greenhouse to keep bathers warm in cool weather, but can be opened at either end to allow for circulation as it heats up from the sun."
Alissa Walker reports that the health of Shamen's citizens has improved and they have embraced the new space.
Read the full story: How An Innovative Bathhouse Keeps Rural China Healthy
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City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
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The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello