Wellness Centre in Bologna
HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTRE COMPETITION
Location: Bologna Italy
Status: Design Proposal
Area: 5,000 sq.m.
Year: 2015
Team: S. Zerefos, C. Tessas, Th. Poziou
“In balance with nature” is a fitting title for the proposed project. Our main goal in designing the Food & Wellness Club is to create a relaxing atmosphere where the visitors can connect both with their body and nature. The site –being in a post-industrial setting – is treated as a nature hub, where greenery and building intertwine to create spaces that focus on the sensory experience of the users and the enhancement of their stimuli through natural elements. The materials used, the layout of the area and the way natural light penetrates the building, diffused by greenery, create a unique rejuvenating environment. The use of terracotta bricks form a reference to one of the most traditional materials used in Bologna and generally in Emilia Romagna, while their connection with natural elements and exposed concrete offer a sense of serenity.
The internal garden in conjunction with the green roof creates a pleasant microclimate that forms a boundary from daily urban activities. It also protects the building from any developmental transformation of the area, since all spaces for relaxation have visual connection only with the garden and not with the road or neighboring plots. Another benefit of having the garden is that, according to the climate of the area, many activities, such as meditation and yoga, can take place in a fully natural habitat, such as the green roof. In addition, several parts of it can serve as an extension of the shop or the cafe, so that events such as an open market can take place.
Furthermore, the sloping roofline creates different ways to enjoy the building both internally and externally. On the inside it provides a sentiment of spaciousness in the wet areas and of comfort in the day spa, whereas on the outside it forms natural paths that can lead to activities and the café at the top floor, that offers spectacular views of the garden and the immediate area.
Moreover, the shape of the building makes it easy to separate public from private areas, in both plan and section. For example the shop, café, offices and gym are located at the multilevel part in the western section. The private suites are placed on the second floor of the eastern section and have the potential of a private veranda overlooking a small external garden. On the contrary the aqua zone and the day spa, that modulate populous areas are interconnected and have immediate access to every interior space and the central garden.