Concept Statement & Research

Nature is an important part.  Natural colors of wood and creams are important.  An outside space is not possible so there are “inside outdoors” spaces to give a similar feel while staying in the building.  The locker rooms are equipped with showers, toilets, foot washing stations, and lockers because cleanliness before entering the pools is important.  The saunas are individual because while they are shared spaces in Japan, individualized ones are more private and secluded for Americans who are not as comfortable with nudity.  The lounge area is meant to provide an outdoor feel to an indoor space with the greenery and the skylight.  The massage rooms are warm and intimate spaces for customers to receive massages and treatments to aid in their relaxation.  The pool room is equipped with four pools- one hot pool to relax, a cold pool to wake the body, a green tea pool to energize, and a volcanic pool.

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Japanese bath houses were originally meant for bathing communities because they did not have access to water in their homes.  Usually featuring showers, cold and hot pools, and an outside space.  Nature incorporation is a large part.  Similar to spas in the us.  some include pools with more than just water inside.  Was meant for bathing, is now more so used for relaxation and spa-like reasons.