Healing Ritual

The thesis project "Healing Ritual: a thermal bathing experience in Pozar" concerns the creation of a healing path in Pozar thermal baths, an outlying area in the northern part of Greece. The path includes five stages, 1. Preparation, 2. Catharsis, 3. Egoimesis, 4. Healing and 5. Rebirth

This typology is derived from the Asclepias. The Asclepias of the wider Mediterranean region were sanctuaries and places of worship of the healing god Asclepius. Similarly in the project, the visitor initially enters the preparation stage, which is the starting point of the healing ritual. The preparation stage is divided into five parts. Our intention was for the visitor to have a first contact with the thermal water and to get informed about the history of this border village, which housed the local baths and was destroyed. After he enters the stage of Catharis. The spaces that are found here are the stone bath, the cold water pool, the sauna, the cold water baths, the hot water pools, the aromatherapy room and the sun bath. Then comes the Egoimesis stage, during which the visitor can enjoy treatments with herbs collected from the aromatic gardens or relax in the individual thermal pools. Then comes the healing stage, which is the most social space of the ritual experience. In the centre of the structure, there is a shallow circular-shaped tank which communicates with two other rectangular water pools. Alongside the pools, there are the observatory and a planted grid. Finally, the visitor follows a natural path leading to the starting point.. In the center of the building there is the tower, which provides the sense of uplift, rejuvenation and overall well-being. At this stage, the bathing experience is "completed" and the visitor can leave refreshed and rejuvenated or he could repeat parts of the route, if he wants so.