HOT POOLING

/Reimagining Wermsdorf's Waterscape

The Horstsee and other lakes around Wermsdorf have a rich, five-hundred-year-old tradition of fish farming. When the railway connection to Dresden and Leipzig was established at the beginning of the last century, tourist interest in the region grew. The Horstsee Bath, opened in 1910, flourished until the 1970s. However, the rapid expansion of fish farming from the 1950s onwards more than doubled the water area used, jeopardizing the popular bathing activities. By the mid-1980s, swimming was banned completely. Now, we can only imagine swimming in the Horstsee, reminiscing through old postcards and local stories.

In various cultures, we find the ritual act of coming together, sharing a confined space for a limited time in close contact with the element of water.The bathing ritual not only offers fun, relaxation and rejuvenation, but is also an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with water in general and on the fundamental concept of water as a precious common good.

"Hot Pooling" combines the ideas of "hot tubbing" and "pooling" (sharing a common resource), referring to the communal use of a heated, shared space.  During the five-day workshop, participants will plan and build a wood-fired hot tub, search for the right location, consider the origins of building materials and firewood, and contemplate the use of ashes afterward. This experiment could lead to a prototype for a short-lived installation, raising questions about its long-term use.

Should the hot tub be dismantled and transformed into something else, leaving only the memory of the ritual? Can the prototype be adopted by the local community as a lasting facility? Can we envision a sustainable future where fish farming and bathing coexist in Wermsdorf?   

The workshop is ideal for individuals with an undergraduate degree in design, art, or architecture, who possess a passion for building and a basic proficiency in using power tools. It welcomes anyone willing to engage in outdoor work for five days, even in unfavorable weather. With a capacity for up to 10 participants, it offers a collaborative environment for hands-on learning and creative exploration.