Yasha Mehta

My project, Peek, reinterprets conventional bathing rituals in bath houses by creating a space that integrates different cultural bathing etiquettes. The program enforces a net-zero system by preserving yet mixing culturally specific bathing acts. This programmatic net-zero system will both maintain the sequence of bathing (such as cleansing, steaming, massaging, etc.) while educating users on bathing rituals found throughout the world. The space’s flexibility allows the user to choose which baths to enter, as well as the sequence in which they are entered, thereby affording the user the unique opportunity to design his/her own personal bathhouse experience. In addition, the human gaze plays a vital role in their personal navigation through the space, as the program is laid out to encourage a constant play between voyeurism and exhibitionism.