The exhibition illustrates the variety of leisure spas and thermal baths realized by the architectural practice 4a Architekten from Stuttgart, Germany. Accessible for visitors from viewpoints resembling starting blocks, the room installation is made up of models and platforms suspended over a water pool. Enhancing the experience of visiting an actual swimming pool, in-depth information to each project is provided in a row of lockers. Via projections on the walls and on the water surface, visitors also become emotionally involved in the bathing activities and the architectural diversity of 4a Architekten.
The inspiration for the design of the projects did not derive from ideas of southern seas, palm trees or beaches but from the actual landscape surrounding each bath. With its literally flowing transitions from interior to exterior, the bathing landscape of the Spreewald Therme in Burg perpetuates the cultivated landscape of the Spreewald. No Mediterranean azure but an interplay of several shades of green alludes to the surrounding nature. Inclined steel columns are reminiscent of the original forest trees; thatched roofs and brick walls refer to the local building tradition. The Bodenseetherme in Konstanz, in comparison, orchestrates the lake and the view of the impressive panorama of the Alps. Painted with large colour trapezoids, the roof of the swimming pool reminds one of the colourful sails and spinnacker of the passing boats. Employing such associative elements contributes to establish a distinctive and authentic atmosphere for each of the individual projects. Another spectacular project of the exhibition currently in construction is the wellness club Else in Moscow as well as thermal baths in Vienna, Mondorf-Les-Bain / Luxembourg and Niederanven / Luxembourg.
While the Halle at Aedes am Pfefferberg is dedicated to the theme of the baths, the Studio shows other works of the practice. Their latest projects are, amongst others, the Wilhelm-Maybach-Schule in Stuttgart and the protestant grammar school in Bad Marienberg.
4a - four architects, Matthias Burkart, Eberhard Pritzer, Alexander von Salmuth and Ernst Ulrich Tillmanns, founded the architectural office 4a in 1990. Intense discussion of the emotional effect of spaces is today one of the main priorities of the architectural concept of 4a. The core of the practice is formed by the three partners Matthias Burkart, Alexander von Salmuth and Ernst Ulrich Tillmanns. An additional 30 staff and interns are involved in the development, planning and management of various projects at home and abroad.
Catalogue
An Aedes catalogue was published.
With texts by Prof. Falk Jaeger and Bart Goldhoorn
ISBN 978-3-937093-78-9
German/English/Russian
Price € 10,-
