Urban SPA was built as a temporary amenity based on the recreational use of water. A series of wooden surfaces are built transforming the source’s base on a bathing deck, they are designed as resting areas, steps, sun-beds, small garden areas and a ramp to make the whole accesible for everyone. Scaffolding units are used as the structural base for a small coverage made of wood and textile mesh, these scaffoldings also serve to hold some hammocks, small viewpoints and resting platforms.
The water source vessel is then used as improvised pool; it transforms the whole place by means of the generation of a micro-climate resulting from the combination of created shaded areas and moving water pouring from the newly reactivated source. Urban SPA takes advantage of the privileged location of the water source, the big shadow casted by an existing huge tree, the circulation of people between the woodland area and the sports zone; on the other side it boosts the existent activities already practiced around it such as zumba and yoga classes in the afternoon and the small business such as a the kiosk and the elotes and paletas stalls.
Taller del Desierto, Parque Urueta, colonia Obrera, Chihuahua, México
Program: swimming pool
Developer: ISAD [Instituto de Arquitectura y Diseño de Chihuahua]
Workshop leaders: PKMN Architectures, Memela
Local advisors: Juan Castillo, Miguel Heredia, Miguel García
Workshop participants: Alejandra Álvarez, Raúl Barrio, José Pablo Bezunartea, Lucía Oppenheimer, Begoña Castañón, Ana Gaby Castro, Celina Chávez, Marigel Contreras, Marlene Esparza, Brissa López, Brenda Godínez, Karen Danae González, David González Bouche, Aldo Ibarra, Daniel López, Valeria Marrufo, Alicia Ortegón, Rodolfo Prieto, Mariana Ramírez, Erick Rentería, David Rico, Richo Rodríguez, Marce Rodríguez, Marión Rodríguez, Ana Cristina Simón, Jorge Téllez, Paco Vázquez, Yesselin Yáñez, Erick Benavides, Carla Daniela Martínez, Mike Rodríguez, Claudia Ávila, Steph Flores, Uriel Olivas, Xenia Carbajal, Gil Castro, Mariana Carrera, Iris Salgado, Cristina Aguayo, Rebeca Hinojos, Sara Sofía González, Daniela Puente
Supporting Associations: Impulsando Capacidades, Fundación Abien
Video: IMPLAN Carlos Reyes, Mauricio Rey, PKMN
Photos: Taller del Desierto, Bieno Jiménez, Nikola Anakabe
Completion: 2015