The Architecture Foundation presents the Southwark Public Baths as part of London Festival of Architecture 2008
An exciting temporary lido, created by acclaimed French architecture collective EXYZT. Following in the tradition of Roman baths and Turkish hammams, which provided a setting for social gathering, ritual cleansing and uninhibited political discussions, the Southwark Public Baths hosted a variety of activities in an unusual, architecturally innovative environment.
Within a futuristic low-tech complex, visitors of all ages enjoy the refreshing spray of the water deck, or sweat it out in a mobile sauna. The all project include a paddling pool for children; beach huts doubling as changing rooms and living pods for staff; a sun deck; and a bar operated by east London restaurant Bistrotheque. A colourful mobile garden was after created on-site in collaboration with Bankside Open Spaces Trust.
The Southwark Lido is an expression of EXYZT’s strategy of urban renewal, based on the idea that the emergence of a community of users taking active part in creating and inhabiting their urban environment is key to generating a vibrant city. This project explores the potential of using a site in transition to create a vibrant node of community and cultural engagement during it’s transformation from empty lot to new residential and office buildings. The installation will see than the organisers forming links with the local community and specific groups, and provide those networks with a new place to hold events and share their work.
During this summer the collective EXYZT is going to build another project there, The reUNION Public House London 2012.
Stay tuned!
Cantiere Barca
The intent of the workshop “Cantiere Barca” by raumlaborberlin was to establish a space of communication, common activity and discussion with young people from Barca and Bertolla in their neighborhood.
Barca today is a modern suburb of Torino without any significant attractions for the young people living there. The project aims at promoting youth creativity in a place where the conditions of young people are difficult. The goal was to develop with the community a process of re-appropriation and exploitation of urban space.
Starting from the old social centre, with its very questionable qualities, we developed and build different objects (benches, a stage, a soccer field , hiding-places) to turn this common space into a meeting point for the neighborhood. In the building process the youngsters will learned step by step how to handle woodworking tools. Through the process of realising a collective idea the participants experienced that it is possible to make changes in their living environment.
text and pics (c) raumlaborberlin
“Cantiere Barca”‘s next step will take place next week (18th – 23th June) in Torino. See you there!