Wechselbad

RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen)

Abstract

The work examines the still only partially explored potential of Aachen’s thermal water as a spatial, infrastructural and cultural resource. It focuses on geological conditions and deep structures, historical practices of thermal water use and its current applications, including legal frameworks and existing constraints in the context of water law, the energy transition and Aachen’s tradition as a spa town. Through five design proposals, the study investigates what a contemporary thermal water practice might look like—one that goes beyond purely technical applications and interrelates different scales. Today, access to thermal water is highly restricted, primarily due to legal and technical conditions. At the same time, its energetic use is gaining importance in the course of expanding district and local heating networks. In this context, however, thermal water is predominantly understood as an energy source, while its spatial, atmospheric and social qualities have so far received little attention. This is where the work positions itself, conceiving thermal water as a connective medium between infrastructure, urban space and everyday practices. Within the framework of a climate-resilient city, water is understood as part of a larger urban system that interlinks deep geological structures, technical networks and social practices. This perspective also incorporates Aachen’s streams, the existing building stock, open spaces, as well as questions of energy generation and distribution. The aim is to think these systems together and to derive new spatial strategies for the sustainable and resilient development of Aachen.

Authors 1

1. Hannah Sophia Nowak corresponding Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen