Previous state
In the city of Logroño, a fountain in the centre of a roundabout isolated by non-stop vehicular traffic was clearly visible but only as urban decoration as it was inaccessible to pedestrians. It was there to be seen but not used, a true reflection of the modern city where central spaces, surrendered to vehicles, lose their social meaning. The roundabout was nothing more than a void, a space surrounded by movement but disconnected from the everyday lives of the local residents.
Aim of the intervention
The Round About Baths project took advantage of an ephemeral architecture festival to recover a space that had been taken over by cars and to turn it into a haven of privacy and socialising. It aimed to question the predominant presence of vehicular traffic and to revive the old tradition of public baths as people’s gathering places. Drawing attention to the presence of the body, to caring for it, and to shared use, the intervention brought out the hidden potential of an overlooked urban asset. In doing so, it presented a public space alternative focused on the community and direct interaction, in striking contrast to mere movement and the logic of show.
Description
The intervention involved setting up a temporary public facility consisting of the roundabout fountain. Using its water, the project included changing rooms, steam rooms, and cold water basins to offer a complete spa experience in the centre of the city. High walls of a regular timber structure with uncut wooden panels were built to protect people’s privacy amid the constant traffic. All the materials used were temporary and reuseable, thus emphasising the reversible nature of the project. By “hacking” an element of the public domain and giving it a surprising use Round About Baths changed people’s perception of the roundabout. An impersonal traffic hub had been transformed into a welcoming community space.
Assessment
The intervention succeeded in changing both the meaning and use of the site. In the few days of its existence, the roundabout filled with life, bringing together newly acquainted people who shared water, time, and proximity. Although the structure was temporary and the fountain later went back to its former state, the project left a lasting memory and offered a new way of understanding urban space. Round About Baths demonstrated how simple, minimal, and demountable architecture can challenge the predominant urban logic, reveal opportunities in neglected corners, and invite reflection on wellbeing, privacy, and community life in the city.
[Last update: 15/09/2026]
