Bain-douche des Haies, Public bath in 20th arrondissement, France.
The Bain-douche des Haies is a public bathhouse in the twentieth arrondissement of Paris, built in Art Deco style. The structure displays typical features of this architectural period with geometric forms, clean lines, and functional spaces designed for personal hygiene.
The building was constructed in the interwar period, when Paris was building public bathhouses to improve hygiene and health in densely populated neighborhoods. The Art Deco design reflects the modern optimism of that era, as new technological standards were integrated into everyday urban infrastructure.
The building takes its name from the nearby street and reflects the social role that public baths played for city neighborhoods in the early twentieth century. It was a place where neighbors gathered and where hygiene was accessible to all, a purpose still visible in how people regard it today.
The site is located in an accessible area of the twentieth arrondissement with good public transport connections through several bus lines and nearby metro stations. Visitors should note that building access may be restricted, so it is advisable to check beforehand whether it is open for exterior viewing or any guided tours.
Lesser known is that such bathhouses played an important role in Parisian working-class culture, as many apartments had no bathrooms at that time. The building demonstrates how the city created practical solutions for everyday problems, which are often overlooked when viewing the architecture today.
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