Bodyful Spaces

In the documentary Will & Harper, the story unfolds through a cross-US road trip the two take together. Harper, a trans woman who transitioned at 61, is now confronted with a new reality in public space and the country she calls home.

Familiar places suddenly become unwelcoming or even dangerous. She experiences how many environments remain shaped by heteronormative and ability-based norms. Through her powerful way of sharing thoughts and emotions, we closely follow her personal journey.

Harper explores new experiences, like swimming in a public pool for the first time—despite loving to swim—or riding a unicycle in her hometown of Iowa, a skill from her youth. While Harper enjoys movement, she now sees how it has become partly inaccessible. This deeply personal journey shows that movement is not just about fitness—it is about connection, freedom, and care for oneself.

Studies consistently show that physical activity is beneficial not just for the body but also for the mind. It reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer while easing symptoms of depression and anxiety. For older individuals, it is a lifeline—supporting cognitive function, maintaining independence, and preventing injuries. But movement is not just a health measure; it is a profound way of connecting with oneself and others.

Architecture can play a crucial role in promoting this sense of comfort. It can encourage movement, not through rigid structures or prescriptive designs, but by creating environments where bodies of all kinds feel safe and welcomed.

Japanese architects Gins and Arakawa once envisioned architecture as an extension of the body, capable of promoting health and even challenging mortality. Their vision highlights a core truth: good design should foster mindfulness and "bodyfulness"—a term that, while perhaps unfamiliar, perfectly captures the importance of being present in one’s body. Their methodology is to design architecture that stimulates the body in many ways, like colours, topography, haptics etc.

Sihlquai Parking, with its prime location near Platzspitz Park, the riverside, and public baths, offers a perfect opportunity to extend this philosophy. Imagine a space that seamlessly blends living, leisure, and movement—where physical activity becomes as everyday as brushing your teeth. Because ultimately, every movement matters.

A place where movement is not about performance or achieving something but about experiencing joy, connection, and self-care. What would it mean for a space to truly support our well-being? What if architecture could help us feel at home in our own bodies?

Project by: Viviane Hug

Teaching team: Anna Puigjaner, Dafni Retzepi, Ethel Baraona Pohl, Pol Esteve Castelló, Lisa Maillard, He Shen, He Yufei. In collaboration with BUK

Master Thesis: Spring 2025