Core77

SexPlex: The future of the one-night-stand?

By Sam Dunne - July 29, 2011

in Social Impact

British tabloid the Sun (famed, of course, for the quality of its scandal reportage) published a short article last month covering what it describes as the "saucy set of blueprints" design student Ruth Bowie submitted to graduate from her Interior and Environmental Design studies in Dundee, Scotland.

Inciting torch burning and pitch-fork brandishing across the country, the piece helpfully goes on to describe the "orgy room, porn cinema, adult shop, fetish rooms, dungeons, pole-dancing bars and bedrooms" that would be contained within the unassuming grey box pictured above. Clearly needing some expert opinion the Sun quotes an, erm, art dealer—one Mr Alexander Knox, 67— who comments "I do not see what is elevating about designing a glorified bordello." Delighted as any student would be to get a bit of exposure, a post on Ruth's project blog linking to the article says cooly "I made the Sun...They say any press is good press! Even though they twisted everything..."

The motives for Ruth's work were, of course, far more noble than the gossip rags, and perhaps the concept title, would have you believe. Identifying trends and problems arising in a sexually liberated society (Dundee, interestingly, is widely regarded as the UK's, if not Europe's, teen pregnancy capital) the SexPlex takes a if-you-can't-beat-them-build-a-service-around-them approach to sexual promiscuity.Ruth envisages the SexPlex as an urban complex where socialising, sex and strangers can mix in a safe, controlled environment. Starting out in the provocatively named "Full Frontal" cocktail bar or "Orgy" dance club, the SexPlex users identify a potential mates with which they gradually progress through a number of "levels", through sexual health check-up clinics, towards the "HotelSex" at the top of the building where they can spend the night together—having already stocked up on essential amenities in the "Total Desire" store.

SexPlex will strike many as a dystopian vision of our society's wanton moral abandonment. With shifts in sexual practices, however, and not too disimilar things already happening in Tokyo's "Love Hotels" you have to wonder how far we are from seeing these kind of services sprouting up in urban capitals around the world— perhaps the diversification strategies of major condom brands or hotel chains. Ruth's SexPlex wil no doubt be criticized for its idealism and apparent naivety(believe me, we're the first to wonder what kind of clientele this place would attract on a Saturday night in central Dundee) but you have to credit the audacity and thoroughness of her vision. Perhaps its the old fuddyduddy in all of us that stopped us thinking of it first.

o

Favorite This
Q
13

Comment

Comments

chris

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Many major sexual related problems can be solved or at least minimized by addressing them openly and honesty. I see this as a great initial concept prescribing a very blunt and honest approach to basic human needs. Its not new or innovative just bold.
But as much as a amoral (safe)sex advocate as I am, as a designer I'm left unfulfilled... Looking at this as an environmental design project I guess it seems alright, but the design of the experience has so much more potential... really sitting in a waiting room? that wouldn't kill the mood, this is a place for sex not a doctors office. What could this be like if it were designed from an experiential and cognitive UX standpoint? What if instead of throwing aside all the constraints of social pressure and current popular beliefs the design facilitated these issues? Design doesn't happen in a vacuum and neither does sex... yet
!Report as spam
Suzie

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

@Julia: I don't see how consenting sex between adults in a safe and educated environment can possibly be categorised alongside Heroin addicts and paedophiles.

To those saying it is low on design value and quality, maybe you should find out more about it and see the whole project instead of basing opinions on the 2 minor samples above. It was a fantastic, well thought out project, and makes alot of sense IMO.

!Report as spam
eugmir

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

high on shock value, low on design value
!Report as spam
Dimitris

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

According to a Greece's former minister, accused to be involved in a country's major scandal "What's legal, is moral".

Make your own conclusions!
Greetings from sunny Greece.
!Report as spam
simon

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

i dont see a problem here.
sex is sex.
theres age limits on doors, just like a pub, but when you leave a pub its completely out of control.
this building supplies everything you need in a SAFE way.
those that oppose sex before marrage will always hate this, but the reality is, you must have your blinders on to not know that this is a very common happening.
!Report as spam
John

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Nice original cube design; really modern!

"I guess those who are morally opposed to sexual liberation & hedonism have a very powerful influence in our society."

Yeah, it's a big conspiracy. We should be having orgies in the street.
!Report as spam
Helen

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

@Duane Really? Sexual liberation? Why not shatter all the taboos for the sake of sexual liberation? Then along those grounds one could argue incestuous relationships are OK so long as no-one gets hurt and both parties involved are compliant. Same applies to say, an adult with a minor or bestiality.

Also, " I can't see why this hasn't been sooner" it has been done before, they're called love hotels.
!Report as spam
hoh

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Well, the "architecture people" image bank needs a bit of updating for these types of projects.

I don't imagine them stock up pictures of people mating.
!Report as spam
Luz Decker

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

This is forward thinking. This is something that is already happening. Though sex is lumped in with all kinds of superstition and misunderstanding, eventually that won't be the case. Those people who associate sex with shame and guilt are fewer and fewer. Conscious and educated approaches to satisfying our physical needs are better than keeping it all under wraps---this leads to pregnancy and stds in the uninformed. Eventually sex will be regarded very similar to eating a good meal. Diseases will eventually be less of a worry. One can get diseases from uninformed eating or breathing. Sex is another need we have just like eating and breathing. The superstitious love to plant fear in the place of reasoning. That is steadily becoming less important to those who educate themselves. Just as the earth centric view passed into oblivion, so will all the other things that confused us and incited fear that an invisible being will punish us for daring to enjoy a good thing, straight from nature.
!Report as spam
Joe

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Awesome. Uninhibited wanton self-indulgence and debauchery. What could go wrong?
!Report as spam
stephe

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

It would be nice to see how Jimmy Jane or an other company like that would deal with hourly rate hotels. Centralizing and making these services safe/clean is nice, it wold improve your community's appearance too, as it is discrete. I would think that in large college towns and very large cities something like this could do well. (places where adults have roommates, and small apartments)
!Report as spam
Duane

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Brilliant. I can't see why this hasn't been sooner. I guess those who are morally opposed to sexual liberation & hedonism have a very powerful influence in our society. Socially, this makes perfect sense. Great foresight from Ruth Bowie.
!Report as spam
Julia

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

This is sophmoric, wildly irresponsible, and sad. Bad design shouldn't get press just for being shocking. Maybe next she should design a better heroin delivery system or a kiddy trap for pedophiles. There's quite a market out there, don't see why not.
!Report as spam