Textural wooden pods for Japanese spa

The organic wooden sauna “SAZAE” is built at the center of the glamping facility “SANA MANE” near the small inlet of Naoshima.

The biggest challenge was the wood masonry, made by stacking 150 layers of CNC-processed 28 mm thick plywood. The solid wood sauna has an average wall thickness of 450 mm to ensure the performance of heat insulation and heat retention.

GALLERY  

The exterior has countless folds like a shell, giving the surface an impressive shadow. Inside, the pleats are shaped gently to conform to the body and provide a comfortable sitting experience. Only the oculus lets light in, creating a meditative experience.

Although this spiral pleated geometry was complex using 1,500 plywood sheets, the design of the shape and the plywood paneling were controlled by 3D CAD and programming.

Unlike a general sauna, despite the high ceiling, the temperature and humidity are kept at an optimum level by making full use of environmental simulations and designing forced ventilation airflow.

Images by Keishin Horikoshi / SS Inc. via ArchDaily






Get our enews

Design and development news that comes to you

Subscribe
                 


Gallery House by Architecture Works

The Gallery House presents a refined example of how well-resolved architecture can bridge interior comfort with landscape integration. ...

St Germain Toorak Hits the Market with $200M Price Tag

A high-profile mixed-use building in Melbourne’s prestigious suburb of Toorak has officially hit the market, with expectations it ...

Wangun Amphitheatre Celebrates Gunaikurnai Culture through Self-Determined Design

In southeastern Victoria, a new performance space by Equity Office is forging a path for culturally safe design. Completed ...

HWKN uses AI to Shape the Future of Sharjah's Urban Fabric

In central Sharjah, a bold new precinct by New York-based architects HWKN is poised to redefine what a ...

Pastel Transformation at Berlin’s Locke at East Side Gallery

Grzywinski+Pons’ latest project, Locke at East Side Gallery, reimagines the Berlin Wall’s most iconic stretch not as a ...

  MORE  

Stay connected to the SPEC

Join our reader network by signing up to our weekly newsletter and receive design and development news straight to your inbox





Specifier Source is brought to you by the same company that publishes Home Design, Grand Designs Australia Magazine, Kitchens & Bathrooms Quarterly Magazine, Outdoor Design Source, Build Home, CompleteHome and many more.

© 2022 Universal Media Co. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Universal Media Co.