Research by design in the architecture of spa-s

In this contribution we are looking into architecture with water - the architecture of spa-s. In a student work of Grace Dubon she is looking into a complex design project of combining a spa, a restaurant and a hotel. The programme is not new, a similar historical approach we looked to is the Gellert Hotel and Spa in Budapest, for which we did research on field and in the archives, a building from the time of Art Nouveau. The approach for a design project is however different. Several steps are followed, from looking to predecesors (building with water like in this one, and waterfront analysis), analysis of the building typology and the site, analysis of function (in diagrams, using time savers such as Neufert etc.), and working with the volume, in model and in digital parametric design. The issue of lighting, as we see it important for spa-s is kept in account. Looking for precedents we looked also at Turkish bathes, and also to other types of functional combinations, such as a healing bath in a hospital. There is such an example in Budapest (Veli Bej), and Ned'ar and Doczy designed such one in the city of Kiskunfelegyhaza. The options in such alternatives will be discussed.