London’s Alex Clough, Architectural Assistant, has submitted his end-of-year design project to the University of Greenwich, where he is sitting his Masters in Architecture part-time whilst working with us at DLG. His project – Taking the Water of Bromley – proposes a spa in the grounds of Bromley Palace designed to improve the lives of the area’s aging demographic. His proposal uses water and light to create environments which stimulate dopamine production to delay the ageing effects of a dopamine deficiency. Within the spa a series of spaces lead patients on a journey, bars, beautifications rooms, swimming pools and a restaurant have all been designed to provide new experiences which will promote dopamine production.
Since joining us in 2018 Alex’s design and presentation talent have been invaluable to the practice and clients alike, and we can’t wait to see his current projects coming to fruition.
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Taking the Water of Bromley is a Spa situated in within the grounds of Bromley Palace, dating back to the 12th Century and the location of a chalybeate well, believed to have medicinal properties and “to dry an overmoist brain”. The theme of my unit was the Age of Longevity, designing to improve the lives of Bromley’s ageing demographic. As humans age the volume of our brain decreases by 5% every decade with the neurotransmitter dopamine which controls cognition, memory and movement decreasing in volume at 10% a decade. With the site’s historic connection to medicinal water my proposal uses water and light to create environments which stimulate dopamine production to delay the ageing effects of a dopamine deficiency. Within the spa a series of spaces lead patients on a journey, bars, beautifications rooms, swimming pools and a restaurant have all been designed to provide new and potentially uncomfortable experiences which will promote dopamine production.
— ALEX CLOUGH
