Safe Haven Bathhouse

View from the bathing-space. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

We love publishing valuable projects like this one. It is a part of the Safe Haven projects – building for the orphaned children in Thailand. Don’t forget to check out the Safe haven library, featured earlier.

Project by TYIN tegnestue Architects

Architects: Andreas Grontvedt Gjertsen, Yashar Hanstad
Photographer: Pasi Alto
Location: Ban Tha Song Yang, Thailand
Client: Safe Haven Orphanage
Project: Bathhouse
Cost: 22 500 NOK / 2 979 EUR
Building period: 12th – 29th January 2009
Area: 61 m2
Built by: TYIN tegnestue and local workers

The new sanitary building houses the basic needs of the orphanage; the toilets, personal hygiene facilities and laundry. The internal structure was already built and became the framework for the project.

A tilted facade of bamboo covers the front of the building

The most intimate functions are located within the two plastered concrete masses. The central zone contains concrete containers for bathing and opens out towards the vast teak plantation. The bathing area is only partly privatized, adapted to Karen culture. A tilted facade of bamboo covers the front of the building and creates a passageway, connecting the two functions together.

: South facade of Safe Haven Bathhouse with the teak plantation in the background. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

: South facade. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

: Urinals in the back made of old tyres and cheap plastic tubes. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

Gravel and wooden floors are easy to keep clean and dry

A huge challenge in this project was the sewage, which has to be dealt with on-site. The drainage system has to be able to cope with large amounts of water during the rainy season. The existing sanitary facilities at Safe Haven Orphanage were narrow, dark and have concrete flooring that accumulated water and dirt.

“With this bathhouse we have tried alternative solutions that hopefully will be an important asset in the future development in the district.”

Gravel and wooden floors are easy to keep clean and dry, using layers of stone and gravel drains all wet rooms. The waste from the toilets passes through pipes buried in the ground. The climate of northern Thailand makes good personal hygiene essential to prevent diseases, especially for small children. With this bathhouse TYIN wanted to create well functioning and dignified facility for personal hygiene.

: Bathing Ruby (3) is happy with the different heights of the water tanks. Easy to reach, easy to have fun with. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

: Ruby (3) gets a bath from Tasanee. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

: Backside of the Bathhouse. The library building in front of the the Burmese mountains in the background. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

: West facade. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

: The front-facade protects people from the hot sun. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

: Open space for bathing between the two brick structures. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

: Bamboo covers different parts of the facade giving a playful look and useful openings for both small and big people. | Photo © Pasi Aalto

: The new toilets are made from old tyres and readymade products from the local shops. The floor is drained with a 1 meter layer of gravel and stones. | Photo © Pasi Aalto