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Writer's pictureDale Evans ARPS Ba(Hons)

Darkroom Research

In addition to my own visual research I have compiled a selection of photographs from Saunas and Darkrooms from google image search in order to get a feel for overall visual aesthetic and style of darkrooms from various different venues. These images will mostly have been used as advertising images for the venues.


Many of these spaces make use of deep red and blue lighting. alongside exposed brickwork and stone, and other industrial style architecture, such as the rubber anti-slip floor (Which I would imagine swerves a dual purpose), and further down exposed beams and scaffolding like structures. The effect is of a space that is hyper-masculine, and also somewhat obscured, adding to sense of mystery.





Some of these spaces have had a great deal of though put into the design, for example the space above witch uses strong textures, stone and metal, along with an extended colour pallet of deep blues, reds and greens, witch deviates slightly from the established visual aesthetic of many other darkrooms, while staying in keeping with the very hyper masculine atmosphere.



Many of these spaces are located in basements and underground venues where low ceilings are very common, because of that many of these spaces can feel cramped and enclosed.

The screens displaying porn are very common in these spaces, many of the private rooms will have screens within them, while open spaces may have larger screens. Some saunas and darkrooms have dedicated "Cinema" rooms.


Black leather and rubber are used throughout for various furnishings in many of these spaces and is a clear visual link to fetish attire.


Chains, bars and cages are often used to create the feeling of a dungeon, allowing patrons live it out particular sexual fantasies. The layout of these spaces is also often maze like, with arbitrary walls and rooms made up to fill the space.




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