The client come to japan to search and collect construction materials for her new house.
We were glad also to introduce her a tatami maker and bamboo weaver in Kyoto.
It is a pleasure to deal with lovers of beutiful things and to help traditional craftsmen at the same time!
We were commissioned this generously sized tub for two to be mounted free standing in the center of a bathroom which also includes a shower box.
Here is how we are building the 100% natural tub in the traditional way.
The shape most suitable is the “TARU” which is assembled like a barrell with vertical planks of hinoki. The water pressure distributes uniformly on the perimeter and is collected by the stainless steel bands hammered from the bottom up.
The hinoki planks are cut with variable angles so to match eachother seamlessly. Between these we used a natural bond made of rice starch called “SOKOI”. This is 100% natural and does not contain anything but rice and water!
Of course all our tubs are natural: we only use wood and do not treat it with any chemical or coating agent. How can you make a tub which is more natural than a wood tub?
Actually we do use some bond inside the joints of our tubs. We prefer epoxy bond instead of urea based products because it is long lasting and safe for the health.
Anyway this time we received an interesting challenge.
We were required to build a 100% natural tub (actually 2 tubs), without the use of any synthetic material. We had to resort to the knowledge and wisdom of our carpenter`s father who dedicated great passion and almost 3 weeks of work for this project. It was really a great chance for passing down the ancient tecnique (and art) to the younger generations. It was more than 50 years since he last used the this construction method!
Read some more details in the next entry.
More than being just a tub these project was about building prefinished asnaro parts for a masterly conceived bathroom in wood and marble. Everything was designed with care for the detail while aiming at the balance of the composition.
When good design and quality craft meet, something wonderful sees the light.
There is a bench with marble base and a asnaro wood grate for the seat.
Then there is a step in asnaro to integrate in front of the alcove containing the tub.
Two doors close the tub alcove and as they open insidewards, you will be surrounded by wood while you enjoy the soak…
The tub is a roomy L2082mm x W1041mm x H965mm with two inner seats.(see photo below!). It is built to integrate in a niche and to create a ledge flush with the two asnaro doors. We evaluated different options, finally decided to build the tub and the ledge in one piece. In this way it is solid and there is no worry about assembly on site. Dimensions were checked accurately; then should an adjustment should be necessary, it is easy to shorten the ledge on the back or the side. If you can use a circular saw, you can do it.
Here it is! the mellow, peaceful, relaxing, feeling of being inside an asnaro tub… I wish we could start filling it up with hot water!
This tub is in quarter-sawn knotless grade and has one internal removable bench.
size:L1200mm x H700mm x W700mm (external dimensions)
Our client is a very nice and enthusiastic person and could not wait to see the tub, so he removed the protective plastic wrap… Not too bad, just put back the wrap and be sure to keep the tub wrapped until installed in order to prevent damage caused by dryness.
Other accessories include a lid (tub cover) with handles.
It is split in 2 halves so it is easy to lift and move. By using a lid you can prevent the water to cool down thus enjoy longer and more ecologic baths…
The client also requested a bench of the same width of the tub which can be used as a step or a seat for relaxing or getting dressed. We just had the some nice material in the exact quantity and lenght for making one bench of this size, so we could charge only the craftsmanship for this item!
Here it is, our tub installed in a landmark attic in the bellybottom of Paris.
The creative decoration of the bathroom with a revisitation of the stone garden theme show how a natural wooden bath can go well both in traditional or contemporary settings.
The floor in iron-wood wraps up to finish the ledge of the tub which is built-in type.
In the large bath area there is also a shower-box and extra long vanity counter.
It looks like I could spend hours in this oasis before ever thinking of getting back to the outside world…
Interior design and realization by:
Espaces Parisiens Planning
37, rue Galilee
75116 Paris – France
tel. 01 40 70 08 47
Here are twin oval-barrel shaped hinoki tubs – 1520 x 670 x H710mm (ext. dimensions).
We used stainless steel bands to contain the water pressure. The client at first required copper bands, but it would be too weak so we proposed stainless braided wire which is solid and not too difficult to assemble. We reached the compromise with stainless steel bands: the look is very nice, but – boy – they had to be slowly hammered one by one from the bottom up and it took forever!
Another peculiarity of these tubs is that the bond for laminating vertical planks was replaced with 100% natural rice starch. See the blog for more details ->
https://www.bartokdesign.com//0-blog_news/natural-tub-oregon-2.php
Let me report the wise comment of our client (and friend):
“I am confirmed in the belief that Japanese were thousands of years ahead of us westerners: in the age when we were using perfumes to hide our odors and (in the rare occasions we were washing), we were using underwears and busts to hide our body, japanese were…
…bathing.
Naked. Alone or in good company. Clean in the mind and in the body.”
Also in this case, I cannot but agree…!
These pictures seem to have been taken from Kyoto or Nara…
(It is actually from a rural stone-masonry lovely house in the beautiful Appennine mountains.) I will skip any comment, it would fade anyway in the emotions that come out from the images…
This tub (size:L1000mm x W1040mm x H985mm) is in quarter-sawn hinoki-knotless grade and has one internal seat.
The bathtub is also equipped with a spout which will be mounted recessed in the wall.
The area of installation did not allow a longer tub, so it was opted for a short but wide and roomy shape. In this conditions, it is comfortable to take a bath from a sitting position, hence the internal bench. Additionally, the tub is deeper than standard, so it is possible to enjoy the hot water up to your shoulders even while sitting on the bench.
(Be aware that you will need over 200 gallons to fill up the tub…!)
At last, note the custom bench/step outside of the tub matching the width. This can be used as a step to enter the deep tub at ease. Also, we recommend to use it as a bench for relaxing before and after the bath.
