contemporary asian
BATHROOMS
Chami Jotisalikorn and Karina Zabihi
photos by Luca lnvernizzi Tettoni
Published by Periplus Editions with editorial offices at 61 Tai Seng #02-12 Singapore 534167
Copyright © 2004 Periplus Editions Photos © 2004 Luca lnvernizzi Tettoni
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0654-3 (ebook)
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the new asian bathroom out of the closet
Not that long ago, the bathroom was but a utilitarian space, hidden from view within the inner recesses of the home. Part and parcel of western domestic architecture for several centuries, the general practice across Asia was to keep bathrooms a distance away from the living quarters. The concept of sitting in a tub, a common practice in the west and in the colder north Asian countries like Japan, was largely unknown and unnecessary in tropical Asia. The traditional Asian shower required only two items-a large urn and a scoop-and consisted of splashing bowls of rainwater over the body. Bathing took place outdoors where a breeze quickly dried the body after the bath.
The communal aspect of bathing in Asia is well rooted in ancient times, when the communal bath, like the Roman bath in Europe, was a place to congregate and socialize. Ancient Indian civilizations built capacious public bathing tan ks that resembled enormous square or rectangular pools with steps leading down to wide landings where people performed their daily ablutions. These tanks were generally built into Hindu temple complexes, and were used in cleansing rites. These types of public bathing tanks were transported along with Hinduism to Bali, where similar baths can be seen today. In other parts of the Asian region, bathing and washing along the rivers and waterways were other forms of outdoor communal bathing.
The concept of an indoor bathroom that was part of the main house entered the tropical home only in the past century as Asians turned toward western living standards. Initially, scant attention was given to the design or comfort of the bathroom, since it was considered a functional space rather than an aesthetic one. Now, not only has contemporary Asian design embraced the concept of the bathroom as an art form, young designers in Asia are rapidly taking the lowly lavatory to a new level, with a creativity that continues to raise the bar.
Originating in Southeast Asia, tropical resort bathrooms came to the fore along with the tropical resort villa, thanks to the pioneering vision of Australian architect Peter Muller, whose design for the Oberoi Bali in the mid '70s represented a radical new concept in hotel design. Breaking away from the idea of a standard high-rise hotel room, he designed the hotel in the manner of a traditional Balinese village, with guests housed in traditional villas that offered bathrooms opening onto the outdoors as they would in a Balinese home. Considered sensational at the time, his concept has since then set the standard in tropical resort design. His designs for many of Bali's top luxury resorts, including the Amandari with its stunning pool, have influenced a stream of followers who have adopted the ethnic architecture approach and have taken it to new levels, as seen in the Four Seasons resorts and the Begawan Giri Estate in Bali. Over the decades, the concept of tropical resort villas, along with their exotic outdoor bathrooms has spread among resorts and spas, and to private homes around Asia and as far as the US.
Another key inspiration driving the new wave in bathroom design is the global spa movement that has gripped the new millennium. With the western world discarding their conventional pain-is-gain spa treatments for the holistic rejuvenation rituals long practiced in the east, the Asian-style spa has now become immensely popular.
Both homeowners and designers are currently strongly influenced by the luxury and beauty embodied in spa design, and its celebration of bathtubs, hot tubs, steam rooms, changing rooms, and all manner of state-of-the-art facilities for cleansing and cosseting the body.
The warm tones of the counter top complement the vibrant color scheme in the bathroom. The frameless mirror and large windows and doors enhance the sense of a fluid, borderless space.
With buzzwords such as "wellness" and "pampering" echoing in our ears, the new approach to washing transforms the act of bathing from function to ritual. Likewise the humble bathroom has transcended from the utilitarian water closet to become something like a temple dedicated to body worship. Architects began to focus their attention on the bathroom's design, creating a space of beauty, style and atmosphere to relax the mind and delight the senses.
Some distinctively Asian-style spas have impressed upon people that a bathroom need not be the humdrum white-tile construction. Noteworthy examples include the Lanna Spa at the Four Seasons Chiangmai, designed to resemble a Thai temple, the Oriental Spa in Bangkok and the Aman Spa in Phuket, designed in the manner of classic Thai teak homes-these spas affirm the powerful use of interior design concepts and exotic materials in transforming the ordinary bathroom into luxurious fantasy worlds of style and sensuality.
With many of the world's most popular and exotic spas located in Southeast Asia, travelers and spa aficionados have been inspired to recreate the luxurious ambience of the Asian spa back in their homes. In Thailand, a new development that continues to fuel the spa bathroom craze is the trend for day spas located in renovated old houses; spa-goers who see the charming ways in which tubs and steam rooms have been installed in these old houses realize that similar renovations can be achieved in their own homes.
Two directions in contemporary Asian bathroom design are currently emerging: the tropical garden bathroom and the sophisticated urban bathroom. Bathrooms following the tropical garden direction have taken inspiration from the many resorts and spas in Bali and Thailand that offer idyllic outdoor bathroom suites. These emphasize the connection to nature, and rely on natural,