The Bathroom, Reawakened: Contemporary Design Concepts for a Sensory Experience

Water is a catalyst for sensory experiences: it manifests through direct contact when touched, through its presence when heard or seen reflected, and through its transformations—whether by temperature, from cold to heat, or by state, from liquid to vapor. It is a key element in designing for the senses, capable of evoking physically and emotionally perceived atmospheres. As Juhani Pallasmaa suggests, architecture does not address the eye alone but involves the whole body and sensory memory. The bathroom, in particular, concentrates much of the physical and emotional experience associated with water, opening up possibilities for creating environments that intensify that sensory connection. Consequently, the question arises: what elements or concepts should shape this space so that the shower experience escapes the ordinary?

Shenzhen Middle School Guangming Science City School / Atelier Global

A 'Knowledge Oasis' Brimming with Vitality—Shenzhen Middle School Guangming Science City School by Atelier Global. In the holistic design of Shenzhen Middle School Guangming Science City School, we prioritized the student experience, envisioning an urban forest transformed into a vibrant "Knowledge Oasis "—a future-oriented, international campus that harmonizes ecology, openness, humanity, and innovation through layered terraces. Guided by green and humanistic design principles, the campus layout fosters environmental awareness, communication, and interaction, cultivating well-rounded talents while providing a sustainable space for the future of education.

Mudgee Arts Precinct / BKA Architecture

The Mudgee Art Gallery is at the heart of art and culture in north-western New South Wales. The new building stems from the long-awaited refurbishment and expansion of the former Cudgegong Shire facility, which features office spaces, workshops, and seminar areas across two levels. Meanwhile, the gallery attachment contains exhibition space for visiting collections, a tourism office, and a sculpture garden.

MM33 Apartment / buno

MM33 Apartment rethinks a typical domestic milieu, a commercialized urban housing unit where room sizes are predominantly determined more by the logic of sales and marketing data rather than the dynamics of life. To create more space for flexible usages and for a sense of spaciousness, the rigid sense of room making is challenged, and the assumed standard dimensions are discarded for more meticulously compact scales.

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