Distinguished: Thermal Spa by Steven Christensen Architecture

The design of this thermal spa in the Latvian town of Liepāja is based on the formal association of the dome with the history of architecture, and particularly its role in the typology of public baths. The dome has been used as a representative element here; in fact, it played a central role in the innovative Roman bathhouses and was often used as a model in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. In Fascist times, the prestige of the dome was abused as a symbol of power, which has led to an unpleasant aftertaste concerning these monumental structures. The Steven Christensen Architecture studio, located in Santa Monica, has now given the shape of the dome, which is actually a friendly one – a completely new association with this prize-winning building, which features a multiplicity of round projections and recesses distributed over the entire structure. The design won the studio the renowned AAP American Architectural Prize in silver for the category Recreational Architecture. Congratulations!