Hotel les Thermes

Jean Nouvel – Emmanuel Cattani – Dax, Francia, 1990-1992

Once again, Nouvel has brought into play contrasting fields of vision. The treatment of the uniform exterior façades is straightforward: they are fully glazed yet discreetly concealed by wooden shutter-blinds, which are typical of the Landes region. The rooms, each commanding a fine view over the river or the town, are laid out around a central atrium. The surrounding landscape is framed in the open-ended galleries; even the swimming pool offers a panoramic view of the river and the opposite bank. Exotic vegetation invades the atrium, covering the glazed roof of the pool. The aquatic blue atmospheric effect created by the colored glazing is enhanced by the provision of neon strip-lighting along the galleries, each technical detail of which is highlighted. The same peaceful aquatic theme is reiterated in the simply decorated rooms with their blue or white bedcovers.
Olivier Boissière ( from the site http://www.jeannouvel.com/ )