EroWave

Bathhouse of Erosion

EroWave explores the relationship between water, landscape, and architecture through the design of a contemporary bathhouse inspired by the buried Waihorotiu Stream of Tāmaki Makaurau. Once a defining natural feature of Auckland, the stream now exists largely beneath the city, its presence hidden yet still deeply embedded within the site's history. This project sought to reveal that forgotten landscape by translating the natural process of erosion into spatial experience.

Rather than treating erosion as an act of destruction, I approached it as a process of continual transformation. Just as water slowly shapes rock over time, the architecture is carved through movement, creating a sequence of spaces that gradually unfold from moments of enclosure into openness. Curved forms, softened thresholds, and fluid circulation encourage visitors to move intuitively through the bathhouse, mirroring the rhythm and direction of flowing water.

Materiality became an extension of this narrative. Weathering corten steel references the gradual passage of time, celebrating natural ageing rather than resisting it, while walnut and oak introduce warmth and tactility throughout the interior. Stone anchors the experience, reinforcing a sense of permanence and grounding. At the heart of the building, a cascading water installation acts as both a sensory focal point and a reminder of water's enduring ability to shape both landscape and memory.

The bathhouse is conceived as a place of restoration, where architecture encourages visitors to disconnect from the surrounding urban environment and reconnect with natural processes. Rather than recreating the lost stream, EroWave reinterprets its presence through atmosphere, movement, and material expression, demonstrating how architecture can preserve forgotten histories while creating meaningful contemporary experiences.