The Ritual of the bath. Norrtälje retreat

Sammanfattning

The Ritual of the bath This project has been an exploration of baths and bathing from different times and cultures. It has also been an exploration of the possibility to once more awaken forgotten traditions and rituals. The journey of thermal stimulation can have a social bonding effect and gives a neutral and equal place to come together. It can also offer a stronger connection to nature and the elements. In the sauna all the four elements come together. The transformation of stone, wood, earth and water brings the sauna to life and creates an uplifting multi‑sensory experience. For some a bathing ritual can be as simple as a cool plunge on a warm day. For others it is a cleansing ritual and an exploration of the senses. The sauna has a physical intensity, and it is about the extreme contrasts of ice and fire. The smoke sauna, or Savusauna, is to many still considered as the most important part of the bathing experience. The extreme heat can make you hallucinate and has been said to be able torearrange an unwell mind. During the 19th century bathers came from all over Europe came to Norrtälje to bathe in the magical clay from the harbor which was said to have curative and healing qualities. In the original bathhouse, the visitors could get mud baths with local mud, take a swim in the sulfur rich waters, bathe in local pine needle water for relaxation and enjoy salt water baths for different skin ailments. The warm bath house, offered different treatments ordered by physicians, and the cold bath house facilitated ocean swims connected to a wooden jumping tower. All the three buildings were torn down in the 1950s. Since the demolition the harbor has been without a public bathhouse, and for more than 70 years the traditions of bathing in what was once thought of as magical clay have long been forgotten. The proposal aims to once more awaken the lust of bathing. And create a node in the city that revives forgotten traditions from the past. The different parts of bathing aims to bring together many different bathing enthusiasts. The idea - Stepping into an experience of the senses, a journey and shock to the system. Going from hot to cold, from cold to hot and all the nuances in between.