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exclusive land in kyoto for sale!

A friend (land surveyor) offered me this exclusive information that I have the pleasure to share with the Bartok design community.

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If you have been to Kyoto, you probably know Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka: the picturesque area that leads to the Kyo-mizu-dera temple.
A pedestrian area, made of slopes and stairs is filled with shops and cafes and is flocked with tourists 365 days a year.
It is in this area, on a site also accessible by car there is a property available for sale! (110.98 m2 land with 188 m2 building)

At present a timber frame western style 2 story house + basement (built in 1984) occupies the lot.
Unfortunately the building is not a nice traditional japanese house but the location is extremely rare and valuable.

Considering that this type of properties are not available on the public real estate market, this is a unique opportunity for somebody wanting a second house in Japan.

Most of the neighboring buildings are used as high-end Air BnB and are always fully booked so it can be used as a profitable investment when not occupied. Of course it can be remodeled japanese style or can be rebuilt (being an architect I can help here…)

The total floor area is about 188 m2 and the asking price (land + building) is 200 million yen (about USD 1.8 million)

For any inquiries, please contact me by email -> japan@bartokdesign.com
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hinoki shower floor gratings!

Duckboards Master BR 1“Hi!
The duckboards arrived and are gorgeous!   Plus, they smell delicious!   See some iPad pics below.  
We wondered what the little black pads are for.  Also, the 4 extra pieces of wood?
Thanks again!”

J.A. from Manhattan

(more…)

tub stained and cleaned up!

Here below is the mail correspondence with a client who purchased a tub in 2014.
He kindly agreed to have it published here as it may be of help to other fellow ofuro owners.
1)
Dear Iacopo,
I hope this note finds you and your family very well.
I look forward to a time of leisure where I can see you again.
In the meantime, due to my laziness at not wiping the tub down and its position next to the shower, it has taken on the less than ideal character shown in these photos.
Is there anything I can do to restore the surface at this point?
Thanks kindest X.
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sawara blossom… – outlet tub – sold out –

sorry, sold out!

IMGP0671There is one characteristic in common among out last three outlet tubs: they are all made with sawara wood.
In this period (of course it is not the season, is more of a market trend) there is a lot of sawara on the market. Some of our suppliers offer nice and cheap lots of sawara. Some other lumberyards in our network decide to put the world “end” to their secular business and get rid (slowly but constantly) of their stock. Again more and more premium sawara wood lining up in our warehouse. (more…)

miracle for two – outlet tub – sold out –

sorry, sold out!

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Sawara is becoming a very popular material also among the japan lover expats community because of its warm cherry like color and reasonable price.

This outlet tub is round (there is a small eccentricity of 10mm) and is suitable for 2 …intimate… people.
The outlet tub is unbranded at the moment and you can indicate if you want us to apply the bartok design iron brand and the preferred location.

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(↑ photo of the back side: note the end of the metal straps is hooked into the wood. This is the same traditional detail as the kadomaru tubs.)

Here are the specs:
dimensions: Dia 900mm (+/- 5mm) x H740mm (external dimensions) 630mm(depth)
material: knotless natural Sawara wood
drawing: outlet180215-sketch

quotation:
1) AB grade tub (quatersawn) : 295,000. JPY
2) Packaging: 110x110x94cm plywood box: 36,000. JPY
3) transportation: to be quoted (please let us know your exact address: we will provide a quotation before you purchase the tub)

Please contact us at japan *at* bartokdesign.com with any question you may have + indication of your address.

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waiting for the spring…

This year we are experiencing a cold and long winter with meters of snow on the traditionally snowy west coast.
Even the major cities such as Tokyo or Kyoto were coated in white several times.

But spring will come.
In the TV news they started to show the first sakura buds from Okinawa, to reassure the people sensitive to cold (like me…) that indeed spring will come sometime soon!
While waiting for the spring, I recommend the 3 following actions:

1) warm up in hot water! If you have an ofuro, you know what I am talking about.

2) enjoy the last spurt of winter lethargy on the SU~ day bed!
You can check the video on how it is built here:

or just jump to the indiegogo page to order one while the 25% OFF conditions last -> https://igg.me/at/SU-DAY-BED

3) prepare for a fresh start with new fragrant hinoki business cards!
more information at -> https://mokumei.com/
mokumei-home

With the 3 tips above, I am sure you will be able to cut thru the last icicles and fully enjoy the coming spring!
In any case, if you still feel cold or cannot sleep because of a creative idea, or a craving for a bowl of miso soup, please write me!
I am looking forward to do something together!

All the Best//
iacopo torrini

new branding for the day-bed project. SUU SUU …

As you probably know, I am running a crowd funding campaign on indiegogo to produce at lower cost the wood and leather bed I designed for an English client (of course with his approval and encouragement!)

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The prototype came out really nicely: the balance between the materials, sizes, colors is very stylish and above the expectations. I uploaded the photos into the crowdfunding page, but when I tried to change the status from “concept” to “prototype”, the system did not allow me to.

As a coincidence in that very timing, a friend contacted me with the greeting: “I have to pull your ears…!”

He told me he just found the campaign through the link on the bartok design blog.

●PROBLEM #1: Looking at the banner and title, his first impression was that the campaign was a charity! (to buy a daybed for Michael…)

After reading the description the scope and the story behind the naming becomes evident, but here comes another pulling of ears…

●PROBLEM #２: The branding as it is now is too personalized. The person buying it doesn`t want Michael`s bed: he/she wants it to be his/her daybed, not somebody else`s.

●PROBLEM #3: Additionally, being a daybed, it is too easy to associate it with the image of “your friend Michael” asking to stay over for a couple of days sleeping on the sofa (and eventually ending up staying for months eating popcorn and camping in your living room…!!)

These are the reasons behind my decision to re-launch the campaign, with the same product
but with a different branding.

While I still have to add some photos and description, the new campaign page is live!
Please take a look at the link below to see the video of the completed prototype.
https://igg.me/at/SU-DAY-BED

Thanking you in advance for any advice you may have, please find here my Best regards!

Kihada ichiban water repellent

Where can I get Kihada Ichiban?
You can purchase from us.
It comes in 3 sizes:(prices inclusive of packaging, EMS shipping charges and paypal transfer fee – updated as of June 25th,2022)
(please inquire as for some countries EMS is still suspended and we will have to use Fedex or DHL with extra cost)

For Canada, Oceania, Europe, Middle East:
a) 7,800. JPY / 1kg + 6,900. JPY (Packaging + EMS) = 14,700 JPY
b) 29,000. JPY / 4kg + 16,300. JPY (Packaging + EMS) = 45,300 JPY
c) 110,000. JPY / 16kg + 50,400. JPY (Packaging + EMS)= 160,400 JPY

for Asia
a) 7,800. JPY / 1kg + 4,800. JPY (Packaging + EMS) = 12,600 JPY
b) 29,000. JPY / 4kg + 10,200. JPY (Packaging + EMS) = 39,200 JPY
c) 110,000. JPY / 16kg + 26,700. JPY (Packaging + EMS)= 136,700 JPY

for the U.S.A.
a) 7,800. JPY / 1kg + 8,300. JPY (Packaging + EMS) = 16,100 JPY
b) 29,000. JPY / 4kg + 18,900. JPY (Packaging + EMS) = 47,900 JPY
c) 110,000. JPY / 16kg + 57,900. JPY (Packaging + EMS)= 167,900 JPY

for South America and Africa
a) 7,800. JPY / 1kg + 8,300. JPY (Packaging + EMS) = 16,100 JPY
b) 29,000. JPY / 4kg + 21,400. JPY (Packaging + EMS) = 50,400 JPY
c) 110,000. JPY / 16kg + 61,100. JPY (Packaging + EMS)= 171,100 JPY

If you let me know your preference, I can send you a paypal payment request.

After sanding, apply in 2 coats before the first one is completely dry (otherwise the second coat will not be absorbed).

NOTE:
(sorry, prices have been updated on june 4th 2021 after EMS has been finally resumed from Japan to USA but with hefty price increments)
(updated again on 9/17 for options b and c)
(prices updated on feb 16, 2022)
(country categories updated on aug 5, 2024)

difference between shapes

Can you tell me the advantages and disadvantages of using an oval shape vs. a rectangle shape, in terms of comfort? And how many people could comfortably fit? Also wondering about the various heights of the different tub options you sent, If I used a seat, it doesn’t seem like the water would cover my body up to my neck. How does one do that?
Many questions I know! If I keep the water in the tub and just heat it up, how is that done? do you provide a water heater?
The weight when full of water…can you give me an approximate figure? Will my construction framer need to make the floor extra support to hold it?

I wish there was an ofuro I could try in my area! If you know of any public ones in the pacific northwestern area of USA, please let me know!

Japanese bathtubs originate from the technology of boat building. (which are actually build to keep the water outside and not inside!)
About the shape, the rectangular tubs evolved from the method of building boxes.
The round and ingot shape tubs from the manufacturing of buckets.
Therefore the shapes are different in their origin not only in the design but also in their functionality and purpose.
Ofuros have not been designed. They have been shaped by everyday use.
I think this is a splendid example of the expression “the form follows the function” expressed by the architectural modernist movement.

Said that, here I will mention some DEMERITS of the two shapes:
1) round, ingot shape: as the planks are orientated vertically and have their cross section (which is more porous) facing up: they are more prone in becoming stained on the section by black mold (but this is not always true out of the extra humid japan)

2) rectangular tubs: the corners unnecessarily hold some a larger amount of water..!
I am not sure I answered your question…

What is your budget? If you want to use it in 2 people you need at least 1500 of length.
But if you make it deeper and add internal seats… it becomes quite expensive.

Therefore I recommend to use it without seats – which enables to have a shallower tub and also use less water.

For the weight, consider that water weights 1000 Kg per cubic meter.
Therefore it depends on the sizes but a 1500x750xD600mm will hold 670 liters (670 Kg) when filled to the rim.
This translates in 120 p/sf so I think you would need some reinforcing if the bathroom is on the 2nd floor.

Sorry, we do not know of any public ofuro in the US (we supplied ofuros to Singapore and Hong Kong spas.)
For the question about re-heating the water, please check FAQ 71.

All the Best//

iacopo

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