A small Bathhouse in Izu
In opposition to the rigid geometries of exposed concrete that dominated architecture at the time, the so-called “sacred houses,” I challenged the conventions with a contemporary shack made of wood, corrugated metal sheets, and particle board, the cheapest board created from compressed wood scraps. It was based on random and free geometry. This was my debut work.
In my book Jutaku-ron (1986), I fiercely criticized the exposed concrete houses that were in fashion at the time, the self-righteousness of architects behind such designs, and the obsession with private houses. In this project, based on the ideology, I deliberately rejected names like ○○ Residence or ○○ House and instead boldly gave it the decidedly non-residential name A Bathhouse. The name reflects the client, who loved baths and lived a free-spirited lifestyle.
