Studio 304: the combination of Western architecture and Japanese decoration aesthetics

Studio 304’s Sunken Bath project adds a new kitchen, dining area, toilet and bathroom to a ground floor apartment within a terraced period property. Central to the brief was to separate the toilet and shower room in order to create a standalone bathroom that would facilitate ritual bathing.

The existing layout of the apartment was inefficient and had a poor relationship with the shared south-facing rear garden. In addition, the bathroom made the rear of the property feel gloomy and unwelcoming. Prior to work commencing, the client negotiated with the neighbouring property to split the shared garden creating two small private gardens to the south and east.

The functions of the new bathroom are separated and placed against the east facade, allowing each area to have a view of the garden and benefit from natural light. Outside, the east facade is partly clad with larch slats, to maximise the garden aspect while also ensuring privacy. Incorporating a sunken bath, the glass- walled bath enclosure extends out into the garden, allowing light into the adjacent bedroom window. A slatted larch screen covers the bathroom’s glass roof, again ensuring privacy from neighbouring windows. Granite gravel, polished concrete and bamboo complete the garden, creating a concealed, peaceful space.

Inside, a copper worktop and wall surround in the kitchen are intended to give a sense of warmth to the living space. Larch slats charred using the ancient Japanese Shou Sugi Ban method are used to conceal the extract system and appliance storage space. Polished concrete flooring runs from inside to outside at the rear of the apartment creating a new relationship with the garden.

The materials used on the project were chosen to age well over time and develop a patina of their own. Surfaces in the bathroom, shower room and toilet are coated with micro-cement ensuring seamless waterproof junctions and a Japanese-inspired aesthetic.

The starting point was the client’s brief which had a fascinating set of references from early 20th century concrete installations to Japanese theories on aesthetics, traditional bathing and materiality. A particular early condition was to separate the WC and shower in order to create a bath specifically designed for relaxation and warming which follows the principles of ritual bathing. Given the extremely tight nature of the site, the solution of sinking the bath below ground level to maintain light and views from the bedroom window allowed all of the requirements of the brief to be met.

Image Source: Studio 304