The sauna and the exterior pool are located in the cliff void created for the water channel. Away from the central terrace of the site, the gap provides a secluded space for a meditative experience merged into the nature. The sauna is constructed with three horizontal concrete slabs extended out from the rock façade of the cliff. Vertical partitions are then added to define each program within the space created by the slabs. Openings are designed to either frame a specific view or to allow light into certain space.
The structure is narrow and linear, which forces one to enter the space individually, creating a spiritual sensation for meditation and contemplation. Views are strictly controlled, revealing more and more of the surrounding nature as one walks from the first floor to the second. The cliff façade on the other side of the gap can be viewed yet never touched. And not until one enters the second level can the general landscape be viewed and discovered, which draws one to continue walking towards the cliff edge and into the exterior pool. The pool floats between the cliff edges, providing visual access down into the Gorge and allowing one to truly become a part of the landscape.
Cornell AAP | ARCH 1102 | Fall 2017 | Professor: Katharina Kral