Custom tubs

This ofuro in asnaro wood is going to be installed in place of a shower box in a renovation project in Switzerland.

The client carefully planned the layout so you can look out from the window while sitting in the tub.

It is difficult to understand just by seeing the picture, but the “feet” of the tub are on the short side instead of the long side (as usual). Being the tub is a long and narrow niche, the short side will be the front so it makes sense to use this detail both aesthetically and maintenance wise.

This point deserves a clarification.

Basically, the feet (sleepers) also have a structural function in stiffening the bottom plank so usually we cannot place them on the short sides. There are 2 exceptions:

• We use thicker wood for the planks so that the bottom does not need additional framing. Here is an example. This detail can add considerably to the cost, especially if combined with a 90 degrees corners detail. As opposed to the standard T shaped corner.
• The tub is reasonably small. Which is the case in this Zurich example. In this case there is no extra cost involved.

View of the mesmerizing interior of the ofuro!

Here are the specs:

material: natural Japanese Asnaro AB grade bathtub (quarter sawn)

size: L900mm x W700 x H690mm (ext. dim.) – depth 600mm

details: copper apron,  wood dowels. Iron brand at front side top-left