In the early 80s, one of the largest medical and health-improving bath complexes, Arasan, was built in Almaty. It became one of the last projects of the brilliant “Kunaev” period of Kazakh architecture. Vox Populi found out how this beautiful original building was built.
The design of the Arasan complex began in 1979. At that time, there was a shortage of public baths in Alma-Ata - according to Soviet standards, there should have been 3 bath places per 1000 inhabitants, but in reality there were only 1.6. Initially, the option of building three separate baths was considered. After the experience of building and operating such structures both in the USSR and abroad was studied, the designers came to the conclusion that building three separate baths is not very efficient. A more promising option was proposed - the construction of a whole complex of structures with various types of baths, medical institutions and consumer service premises. According to the plan, the complex was supposed to intervene 350 people at a time and have throughput 3200 people per day. The total cost of such ambitious project amounted to 9 million rubles.
One of the architects of the project, director of the design institute "Almatygiprogor-1" Tulebaev Kopsekbay Ratkulovich tells the story of the construction of the Arasan complex: -At that time, there was competition between Tashkent and Alma-Ata in everything. When a large-scale complex of oriental baths was built in Tashkent in 1974, it became clear that something similar would soon appear in our country. And so it happened. In 1979, the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of the Kazakh SSR and the City Executive Committee of Alma-Ata decided to build a bathhouse. We were given a plot at the intersection of Tulebaev, Karl Marx (Kunaev) and Oktyabrskaya (Aiteke bi) streets, where there were wooden Russian baths. The site was chosen taking into account the convenient location of the building, its equivalent accessibility for residents of various districts of the city. The Arasan complex was supposed to complete the development of the city center and organically fit into the surrounding space. The shape of the building was determined taking into account the terrain, the functional features of the various pavilions and the presence of a district substation on this site, which could not be demolished. As a result, the building consists of three pavilions adjacent to each other and forming the letter "P".
National baths in Tashkent. Demolished in 2010.
A group of Giprogor architects worked on the project. Main architector- talented architect Vadim Khvan became chief engineer Viktor Chechelev, a Kopsekbai Tulebaev acted as chief designer. In addition to them, M.K. worked on the baths. Ospanov and V.A. Ishchenko. - In those years, there were simply no clear requirements for such structures. Building codes were prescribed only for Russian and Finnish baths, but not for eastern ones. We had to study the experience of previous generations. We went to the library of the Academy of Sciences and read everything that was there in the baths. Architects went on business trips to Baku, Yerevan, Leningrad. We visited the famous Sandunovsky baths in Moscow and the world-famous Gellert Baths in Budapest. To plan and develop the technology, we had to delve into history. We studied models of medieval structures discovered during excavations in Turkestan and Otrar, measured the air temperature in ancient baths operating in Uzbekistan. As a result, the Arasan bath united the experience of many peoples and generations.
The appearance of "Arasan" successfully combines the national style and modern forms. In the image of "Arasan" features characteristic of traditional oriental architecture can be traced. The main feature is a clear contrast between rectangular structures and domed rooms. The idea of the unity of opposites is emphasized by the contrast between the ascetic design of the facade and the richly decorated, well-lit interior space.
During the construction and decoration, no expense was spared and materials for interior decor. Some materials were ordered abroad - tiles, the famous metlakh tiles, were delivered from Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. The walls of the washing rooms were decorated with elegant ceramic mosaics. The floors and sufas in the oriental baths were finished with marble because of its hygienic properties and the ability to store heat.
During the construction of the complex, the most modern materials were used. Seismic stability was provided by reinforced concrete stiffening cores. The frost-resistant brick of the outer walls was made specially for Arasan at the Burundai plant using Bulgarian equipment. When erecting structures in rooms with high humidity, high-density concrete was used. Actively used materials that provide vapor and moisture insulation.
The outer walls of the bathing complex are made of red brick, which retains heat, and lined with shell rock slabs. To protect the buildings from moisture accumulation in winter and ensure the walls dry in summer, an unusual technology of “breathing walls” was applied - ventilation channels were provided behind the cladding layer.
Of particular interest is the design of the domes. There are five of them in total, and they cover the washing departments of oriental and children's baths, as well as pools in combined baths. The domes consist of two reinforced concrete elements - an internal monolithic dome and an external prefabricated one. For the first time in the seismic zone, dome structures of such a height were built - 16, 13 and 8 meters. Openings are provided in the dome to drain the moist air that accumulates under the arches.
The curvature of the dome is designed in such a way that the condensate does not drip onto visitors, but flows evenly over the surface of the dome and along the inner walls.
- When choosing types of baths and additional services the demographics of the population of our city and the preferences of various national groups were taken into account. As a result, the complex included: baths of the Russian, Finnish and combined types for 306 people, swimming pools, oriental baths for 90 people, shower rooms for 28 people, a hydropathic bath for 18 people, a children's department for 62 people, a cafe for 75 people, an office personal services, hairdressing salons with beauty salons, laundry, recreation facilities. All the premises of the complex are divided into two symmetrical zones - male and female halves - says Kopsekbai Ratkulovich.
The department of Russian baths consists of a dressing and washing room, steam rooms of the Russian type, a swimming pool with an area of 118 square meters. In the locker room there are rooms for medical and cosmetic massage, rooms for pedicure and callus removal. The washing room is equipped with three heated massage beds. Steam rooms are equipped with gas-fired heaters. The total capacity of the premises is 140 seats. In approximately the same way, the department of combined baths was organized.
The Finnish sauna consists of five rooms (three for 6 beds and two for 4 beds). Each room includes a rest room, a dressing room, a washing room, a Finnish sauna, a swimming pool, a contrast shower. In the pool of each room you can take an underwater massage, in the relaxation room there is an area for cosmetic massage.
The most complex in its design is the oriental bath. It implements traditional national technologies, including a unique system air heating floors and suf. Special channels were laid in the floor structure, through which hot air from the basement heaters circulated. The temperature of the system was controlled automatically.
Baths consist of paired rooms with different temperatures of marble sufas and benches. The center of the whole pavilion is a round washing space topped with the highest dome. In its center is a large sufa. The air temperature here is 30 degrees, and the surface temperature of the sufa is 32 degrees. Washing benches are placed along the walls. Adjacent to the central room are two cold steam rooms (air temperature 55-60 degrees, sufa temperature 45 degrees) and a hot steam room (air temperature 80 degrees, sufa temperature 51 degrees).
In addition, according to the plan of the architects, rooms for oriental power massage with heated beds, rest rooms and a teahouse were equipped in the pavilion.
Of all the premises of Arasan, the oriental baths are the most richly decorated and decorated. Ceramic mosaics, decorative tiles, the shape of arches and other details give the premises a unique national flavor.
One of the innovations in the structure of the bath complexes, which was provided by the creators of "Arasan", were children's baths. The architects designed two sections - for children with mothers and a separate, numbered, for children with fathers. The mother and child department has a children's play area, a dressing room and one common washing room. In its center is a paddling pool with a depth of only 30 centimeters. Room department "father and child" consists of 2 rooms for 6 people with a traditional Finnish sauna.
In a separate pavilion there is a hydropathic clinic and a shower room for 28 people. The clinic includes rooms for treatment baths, medical massage, doctors' offices, a gym and a relaxation room. To the right of the lobby there was a men's and women's hairdresser's, beauty parlors, manicure and pedicure rooms.
- We designed the various pavilions of the bathhouse in such a way as to exclude the intersection of the flows of visitors and staff from different departments of the complex.
The building was built from 1980 to 1982. The work was carried out in parallel with the design of the complex. A group of architects worked right on the site.
The photo belongs to the Central State Archive of Film and Photo Documents and Sound Recordings of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Bath complex "Arasan" was put into operation in August 1983. Almost immediately after that, in 1984, it was included in the register of monuments of republican significance. The authors of the project Vadim Khvan, Kopsekbay Tulebaev, as well as the Minister of Construction K.N. Musin was awarded the State Prize of the Kazakh SSR. Ch. Valikhanov.
At the cost of visiting the baths were quite affordable for the majority of the population. Most cheap ticket sold to the children's department - 1.20 rubles. Steaming in oriental baths would cost 2.5 rubles, in combined and Russian baths - 2 rubles. Individual rooms were built for 3 rubles. Bath attendant services cost 0.50 rubles. The work of a massage therapist was more expensive - from 5 rubles.
The complex has gained great popularity among Almaty residents, visitors from all over the country, as well as foreign tourists. During the first year of operation, the complex was visited by half a million people.
Photo from the website of the Arasan bath complex.
The Arasan complex continues its work at the present time. In 2012, the renovation was carried out. The historical elements of internal and external design were preserved, Russian bath stoves were restored, the bath rooms themselves were repaired with a complete replacement of furniture and interior items, the marble hall was restored, a lobby bar was opened, cash desks were equipped, new luxury rooms with ThaiSPA wellness programs were launched. "Arasan" still remains one of the brightest and most original architectural monuments of Kazakhstan.
P.S We would like to sincerely thank the staff of the design institute "Almatygiprogor-1" for their help in preparing the material. We would like to express our special gratitude for the interesting story and the materials provided to the head of the institute, Kopsekbai Ratkulovich Tulebaev, as well as to the staff of the Central state archive film, photographic documents and sound recordings of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
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Journalist, editor of the HISTORY section
The renovated bath complex Arasan Wellness & SPA keeps the classic traditions of the best bath in the country. The building of the bath complex embodied the unsurpassed talent of architects and centuries-old world experience in the construction and operation of baths - everything here is thought out to the smallest detail. The bath complex consists of two departments - men's and women's, each of which has three types of baths. At your service: a Russian bath, a Finnish sauna and a Turkish bath (hammam), as well as a pool with crystal clear water from our own artesian well. The water in the pools is changed regularly. Every hour, water is sampled and analyzed for hardness and chlorine content, and the best disinfectants are used.
The spacious premises of the women's section of the bath complex are able to provide simultaneous comfortable rest for 230 connoisseurs of hot steam and the healing power of water.
The men's section is even more spacious, it is designed for the simultaneous stay of 270 male guests.
During your stay in the bath complex, you can take advantage of additional SPA-care services, such as: steaming with brooms, peelings, body wraps, massages, cosmetologist services. A list of these services can be found in the "Prices" section.
If you want to relax with your family, friends, colleagues or celebrate a solemn event - the Arasan Wellness & SPA complex has lux bath rooms, each of which is able to satisfy the needs of even the most demanding customers. You can choose a number bath according to your preferences. Your choice is presented:
Russian number bath;
Finnish number bath;
combined bath (dry or wet steam at the guest's choice);
Turkish number bath;
Japanese number bath.
|
room |
Air temperature, o C |
Relative humidity, % |
|
Russian steam room |
no more than 80% |
|
|
Finnish steam room |
no more than 120 |
no more than 15% |
|
Turkish steam room |
not less than 80% |
Russian sauna
All kinds of baths are needed, all kinds of baths are important! Every connoisseur of the bath loves something different. Russian bath - hot and humid steam. It is quite difficult to spend a lot of time in a Russian sauna - it is very hot there: there are even endurance competitions among Russian sauna lovers. But in ordinary life, you should not conduct such experiments - be sure to focus on the capabilities and needs of your body so as not to harm your health. Under the conditions of temperature and humidity of the Russian bath, the pores of the skin open and cleanse, there is an active renewal of fluid in the body.
The use of bath brooms is very popular. Pre-dried brooms from medicinal plants (birch, linden, juniper, etc.) are steamed in hot water and patted on the body heated in the steam room. At the same time, along with mechanical massage, the healing power of plants penetrates into the body through open pores.
There are various techniques for steaming with brooms, and for maximum benefit and comfort, we recommend using the services of professional bath attendants of the Arasan Wellness & SPA complex.
Bath brooms, as well as other bath accessories in a wide range are presented in the Arasan Wellness & SPA mini-market.
It is also very useful for the skin, well-being and mood, the contrasting alternation of exposure to temperatures. In the immediate vicinity of the steam rooms in Arasan Wellness & SPA, there are hanging tubs with cold water, which are convenient to use for lightning-fast cooling of the body after leaving the steam room.
The body warmed up in the Russian bath is able to get the maximum benefit from the massage. Professional masseurs of the Arasan Wellness & SPA complex will be happy to help you improve your body: in the list of additional services of the Arasan Wellness & SPA complex you will find a large number of types of massage.
The Russian bath is a great help in the treatment of various diseases.
Each stove of the Russian baths of the Arasan Wellness & SPA complex contains 9 tons of cast iron ingots, which are heated by gas burners to a temperature of 500 o C from 23:00 to 06:30. The physical properties of cast iron make it possible to keep the heat for a long time. All day after the night warming up, the stoves give off heat to our dear guests - lovers of the Russian bath. Unlike this method of heating, heating a Russian bath with wood is a less technological and less environmentally friendly method. The best Russian bath of the Arasan Wellness & SPA complex is waiting for guests every day except Monday from 07:00 to 23:30. Welcome to Arasan Wellness & SPA!
Finnish bath
The Finnish sauna is famous for its dry hot air. The dry heat of a Finnish sauna is usually easier on the body than the wet steam of a Russian bath, despite the higher temperature. You won’t be able to use a broom here - the leaves will crumble due to drying out.
If you find it difficult to tolerate a humid tropical climate, then choose a Finnish sauna.
Unlike the Russian banya, where the red-hot cast iron is hidden in the stove, the sauna fireplace allows you to see the stones that heat the air.
After leaving the steam room of the Finnish sauna, as in the case of the Russian bath, you can cool off in the cool water of the pool or douse yourself with cold water from special hanging tubs.
Contrast water procedures cause the vessels to narrow and expand, thereby positively affecting their tone, as well as the condition of the skin.
Turkish bath
If the conditions of the Russian bath and the Finnish sauna are too extreme for you, the Turkish hammam will suit you. High humidity and relatively low temperatures are the distinguishing features of the Turkish bath.
Thick white warm steam will gently wrap you up while you are in the hammam. The warmth of the sufa and the walls, warmed up to a comfortable temperature, relieves muscle tension, and you involuntarily plunge into a state of peace and tranquility.
The moist steam of the Turkish bath perfectly moisturizes the skin, while the heat relaxes and rejuvenates.
Swimming pool
The women's and men's sections of the Arasan Wellness & SPA bath complex are equipped with pools with crystal clear water from their own artesian well. The pools are equipped with a modern filtration and disinfection system. The content of chlorine in pool water and its hardness are analyzed every hour.
The depth of the pools is 160 cm.
Bath with a swimming pool is a real find among the many leisure options. Here you can combine relaxation with wellness treatments. Plunging into the cool water of the pool, steaming well in the bath is a real bliss! In addition, it allows you to keep the vessels in good shape. The skin also perceives the temperature contrast very gratefully - it tightens, its turgor improves.
The Arasan Wellness & SPA bath suites also have pools designed for a small company.
11.02.2013
The largest and most famous health-improving bath complex Arasan is located in Kazakhstan, the city of Alma-Ata. Translated from the Kazakh language - a warm source. Baths Arasan in one day are able to accept more than one and a half thousand people who want to take a steam bath. This is a grandiose building, a real bathing palace, striking in its splendor.
Stone sufa for full body warming
For more than thirty years, the unique complex has been a landmark of the city. Here the citizens and guests of Almaty rest, relax and benefit their health. The health-improving complex Arasan has been renovated to meet the needs of today and welcomes visitors with cordiality.
If you look at the building of the complex, then domes attract attention, this is not only an architectural decoration, but also an element that provides. But ventilation is provided not only by domes, the walls here are also breathable. The floors are made of heated marble.
It takes into account all world technologies and provides everything that a person needs for bath procedures. Health complex Arasan, in addition to bath rooms, includes a gym and a gym for physiotherapy exercises. There is also a relaxation room and a huge swimming pool with an area of 120 square meters. The pool water is level with the floor.
It is available for hire and there is a laundry and cleaning service. The instructor is always at the service of beginners, and the loudspeaker announces the start of certain procedures.
There are several types of baths at the service of bathers: Eastern, Russian and Finnish. But the pearl of this place is the oriental bath, where in a soft cloud of steam the body is in the desired bliss, gets rid of accumulated fatigue and gains vitality.
Guests from different countries who visit Arasan baths for the first time, enter the eastern branch with great pleasure. Following the oriental bathing traditions of hammams, several rooms have been built here, in which you can gradually move from low to higher temperatures, when taking steam procedures.
In the first room, the air temperature does not exceed 30 degrees, in the center great hall there is a huge, round, stone bed for the complete warming up of the human body, which in the east is called sufa. It warmed up to 40 degrees. They warm up on it lying on their stomach. And then in a circle there are special marble tables, which are also used to warm the body or as massage tables.
The height of the sufa is half a meter. It warms up for 20 minutes, periodically turning over. After the end of the session on a large sufa, visitors go to niches where they take a shower, washing off sweat. Then you can go to the next hall, where the temperature of the sufa is 50 degrees.
The pool water is level with the floor
The warm-up time here is no more than 15 minutes. After water procedures and rest, you can go to the next room, where the temperature of the sufa is even higher - 80 degrees. There is also a recommended stay time of 15 minutes. After water procedures and rest, you can repeat the transition through the three halls.
Arasan baths have an excellent massage department. Therefore, after taking steam procedures in three rooms and relaxing, when the body is already prepared, . The temperature of the massage marble bed is 45 degrees. You will get a massage, which the East is famous for. The tradition of hard massage is accepted here.
Sometimes it will seem that your bones are being twisted, but you should not worry, the bones will remain intact, and the joints will regain their former flexibility. After massage procedures, the body is doused alternately with warm, hot and cold water.
