Open Collections

LaFrance, Daniel Palmer

Water, and how we interact with water is innately human. It is essential, it is nourishing to the body and soul. Cold plunging is not a new element of the human experience, yet it is underrepresented in architecture as a distinct activity. Cold water, and its opportune richness, is often used in contrast to or as relief from intense heat. There is space in the cold water, space to discover oneself and to find reprieve. Cold water has the incredible ability to bring us closer to ourselves. Analysing the elements of cold plunging, and developing an understanding of the rich historical bathing rituals from the Pacific Northwest will reveal guiding principles of optimal water exposure. The work seeks to facilitate cold water exposure by bridging the threshold from shoreline to submersion. Through a controlled descent into naturally frigid water, one experiences the glorious convective threshold of still, cold water, and the benefits of bathing in the landscape. By using our bodies as the drivers of warmth, we can isolate cold plunging from various practices within the broad world of bathing. Sensation, community, and fun have guided this work, elevating the cold water experience by designing and building a floating plunge pool. The Dipping Point was influenced by the landscape of the west coast, its resilient materials and traditional methods of bathing. The formal sensibility came from the dimensions of cedar boards, and recycled food safe floatation barrels. Intuitive modular building, human scale, and considerate detailing have not only resulted in an enhanced plunge, but a newfound appreciation for architecture in a coastal context. This project will move to its final home, facilitating the cold plunging journey of a small community, on a little lake, somewhere in BC.

British Columbia

Text

University of British Columbia. ARCH 549

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0442331

Applied Science, Faculty of; Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/