Gravity is not assumed in this utopian reimagining of the Ancient Greek definition of the gymnasia—a place for athletics, leisure, and discourse amongst patrons.
In an interplay of contrasting, gestural planes, patrons find here a respite, a place to bathe, exercise, relax, and enjoy the presence of others.
The utopian gym filters water in from the shore it sits on, allowing for bathers to transition for open water to the pool; a seamless transition from inside to out.
The section (right) shows in closer detail the swirls of the gym. The construction is inherently delicate, mirroring its use as a pool in its design, with the dry passages (chipboard) grounding the structure and providing a transition space: movement from out to in, from locker room to pool, and from left to right within the pool. 4” x 6” model.
The plan shows the integrated whorls of the pool as well as the central passages (chipboard) and the main entrance and exit points. In abstracting further the original collages, the structure became the essence of its bicycle origins. 4” x 6” model.
The plan for the utopian gym shows pools connected by superfluous materials, allowing athletes to swim to other parts of the structure or walk along the linear and curvilinear passages. 4” x 6” model.
The section shows the two central axes of the gym, derived from the body structure of the original bicycle. The pool exists in the string and thin wood constructions, inspired by the spokes of the bicycle. This structure has multiple orientations, able to be flipped around while maintaining its shape. 4” x 6” model.
In the section pictured here, the clash between open water and human-controlled lidos is evident. Bathers interact with each, enjoying the boundaries—and the lack thereof—by swimming from section to section.