ISSUE 6: NATURE PODS
TL;DR
→ Back in the day, women would utilize bathing sheds to take a dip in the ocean discreetly
→ Modern-day bathing shacks still exist but lost their wheels
→ How might we adapt micro shacks (or tourism Pods) for future use cases?
Little mobile shacks used to transport Victorian bathers into the ocean. This issue takes a look at the history of bathing machines and their modern-day counterparts to imagine a future for novel tourism pods.
A
What Was
In an age of modesty, women were carried in small, horse-drawn privacy shacks down into the waves of the ocean. These stylish little mobiles were fully equipped to make a Victorian lady’s beachside experience respectable and enjoyable. Designed especially for women in the Georgian and Victorian period (18-19th century), these bathing machines were mobile caravans designed to provide a quick access point for women wishing to conserve their modesty while swimming.
Popular throughout Europe, these machines allowed women to change into their bathing attire, take a dip in the ocean, and return to the privacy of their mobile cabin all without attracting the male gaze.
King Alfonso XIII’s bathing machine in Spain, 1908.
Originally the bathing machines were invented out of necessity. Early on, people would swim in the ocean in the nude or in robes that would cling and reveal more than would be desired. In an age where modesty was the norm, contraptions to provide privacy while swimming became necessary. In 1832 there was even a law in place that mandated that 60 feet were to be maintained between men and women while at the beach. In a short period of time, the bathing machines took hold in sunbathing European countries, as well as in Mexico and the United States (sorry Canada).
The bathing machines were operated by an assistant (a Dipper) that would help Victorian women safely enter the ocean. In some cases, they would even tie a rope around the swimmer’s waist so as to prevent them from accidentally getting dragged out to sea. These Dippers were essential as for one the robes in which Victorian women swam in were excessively heavy and secondly, not many Victorian women were great swimmers.
Gradually the machines became more elaborate, as did the swimwear. The bathing machines became statement pieces for the aristocrats and royalty, as can be seen in the example of King Alfonso XIII’s bathing machine (seen here in 1908).
Sadly, not all wacky contraptions can last forever. The bathing machine’s decline was due to changing gender norms that saw the abolishment of segregated bathing in 1901. By the 1920s most of the bathing machines had disappeared from the waterfronts. It is rumored that some of the retired bathing machines had their wheels knocked off and served as the original forefathers of little sea-side huts. Now small changing huts are not an uncommon sight on beaches.
B
What Is
Haeckel’s modern bathing machine | Via Dezeen
Unfortunately, today you won’t be seeing any proper bathing machines that wander into the water… but you can still find some modern interpretations of the mobile room. For example, in 2019 Haeckel (a skincare brand) designed a modern bathing machine to roll out on the beaches of Margate, in the south of Britain. Their bathing machine features contemporary materials and finishes and more importantly houses a sauna for beach goers in which to warm up. The skincare company hopes that by reviving an icon of the shores, it can help coastal cities boost their economies through wellness tourism, encourage a winter bathing culture, and help people rediscover the benefits of ocean bathing.
C
What Next
When thinking about what could be next for bathing machines and sea-side mobile shacks you have to think of a couple of key trends: the rise of tourism (and over-tourism of key locations), advances in technology enabling autonomous structures and more room-like vehicles, and the overall advances in amphibious craft. Of course, there’s much more to consider but for now - just keep those three in mind and let’s jump into the next section!
D
What If
Amphibious Architecture
Perhaps the future of bathing machines lies in floating or amphibious structures. Buildings that are equally comfortable on land or floating on the water?
Autonomous RVs
Now, take the experience of an RV, and automate it. Your RV is paired to your adventure preferences and drives you to a mystery location it knows you will love. It provides you with your home base for exploring and is augmented through an AI algorithm to ensure relentless soul-quenching experiences.
Hymer has actually mocked up a concept autonomous RV that is composed of a skateboard-like base and an RV pod. This concept allows the travelers to be able to relax in between locations, instead of having to stress about driving, wayfinding, or parking.
Tourism pods
Might we imagine a future where mobile shacks roll out to scenic locations to accommodate crowds of tourists? For example, what if in the future you head to a National Park and get assigned a mobile unit to cart you through the landscape?
Gyrosphere from Jurassic World
This would utterly defeat the purpose of hiking in nature, but perhaps it accommodates those looking for majestic views without physical effort. Just imagine a little caravan that would shuttle you along a route, making a provincial park feel more like a theme park (hello Jurassic Park). Maybe it lets you get out, parking itself in certain approved locations to provide you a home base from which to explore.
In the future, this mode of transportation through National Parks may become mandatory as more tourists flock to desirable (and ecologically sensitive) destinations. This may lead to tourists needing to be contained in makeshift travel bubbles to safeguard fauna and flora. Tourism pods might even help all tourists receive a more equitable experience, with each pod stopping in front of certain locations for a predetermined amount of time, thereby avoiding the crowds of tourists congregating at the same viewpoints for the same shot.
E
SO WHAT
Now that we’ve explored some potential future scenarios, we’re left with the “so what.” What can we learn from this exercise and what can we bring forth into our future work. Here are some considerations, both positive and negative, as well as some further food for thought.
Positives
World Tour
Sit back, relax, and see the world from the comfort of your (autonomous) mobile home.
Tourist Pod
Tourists would still be able to visit high risk environments from the safety of a tourist pod. This would also help keep tourists from polluting or damaging the environment while providing equal access to space (no one’s hogging the prime viewpoint for their selfies).
Negatives
Energy Consumption
Having a bunch of mobile dwellings moving around will require a high energy expenditure. Is this really the best way to use our resources?
Voyeuristic Travel
Encapsulated in a little travel pod, tourists would not get to interact with locals and the environment in the same way. This could lead to a certain level of detachment and “otherness” when viewing a culture/space from behind a glass divider.
Potential Pollution & Environmental Damage
Having mobile pods entering fragile ecosystems could inadvertently cause more pollution or damage to the environment. Think for example of the wheels crushing underwater ecosystems.
Other Considerations
Elitist Travel
There’s a high probability that this type of travel would only be accessible to those of means.
And just like that, we’ve reached the end of this quick research into the potential futures of bathing machines. As always, let us know in the comments if you think we’ve missed talking about anything particularly relevant or exciting.