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Ritual Architecture

The

architectural

amplifier

From MEM to DEQUE, from 2003 to the present day.

An interview with Mike Meiré about the development of

the Dornbracht ritual architecture.

Da MEM a DEQUE, dal 2003 a oggi. Una conversazione

con Mike Meiré sull’evoluzione delle architetture rituali

di Dornbracht.

Desde MEM hasta DEQUE, desde 2003 hasta la

actualidad. Una entrevista con Mike Meiré acerca de la

evolución de las arquitecturas rituales de Dornbracht.

EN

Mr Meiré, based on the MEM fittings

series, a few years ago you established the

concept of “Ritual architecture in the bath­

room”. What provided the trigger?

It was a question of a qualification. We had

recognised that, in principle, a bathroom is

not just useful for specific cleansing functions,

but can do so much more. It is a genuine

living space. There is the shower or the

bathtub, a washbasin, perhaps a toilet and

a bidet. In principle, these are all zones

with a specific function. These zones in

turn lead to certain procedures, to rituals.

I asked myself: can these rituals be extended

to include a rather more mental component?

The bathroom as a space in which not only

physical cleansing takes place. Rather a

place where you can wash away the events

of the day. A kind of cleansing of the mind.

A place to find yourself, your own temple.

In the past, bathrooms did not even have a

window as a general rule. What happens then

if this room adjoins a garden, or a patio? If

light is used to create a new complementary

type of cleansing and regeneration? What

happens if the bathroom is given qualities

that invite us to linger a while? As a form of

energy tank.

Since MEM, you have designed a wide variety

of ritual architectures with very different

priorities. MEM was rather contemplative –

as you have already touched upon. TARA

LOGIC, however, was very physical and

The Temple, 2003

The Gym, 2006