In’ei Style Spa Area
We visited the site even before meeting the client: a residence with a classical, almost palatial, European style, complemented by a French garden. The request to create a Japanese spa area was quite unexpected. As it turned out, the client—a Forbes list member—had built this residence a while ago and continued to enhance its aesthetics and ambiance. Having traveled to Japan numerous times and worked with Japanese architects, he developed a desire for a stylized Japanese space in his home.
When we began our project, the exterior structures were already in place, and zones for a hammam, a Russian bath, and a font were set. The Japanese architect suggested altering the room’s geometry, repositioning the entrance, and relocating bathrooms and showers to ensure a harmonious and functional space. Given the existing classic European style, a purely traditional Japanese interior would have seemed out of place, so our concept was “Japan in the elements.”
Accent walls feature decorative handmade tiles from Kenzan. The relaxation benches are crafted from kumiko panels, a traditional Japanese technique of creating wooden lattices by hand, with seat covers made from tatami.
One can’t miss the ceiling, adorned with a replica of the “Twin Dragons” painting from Kyoto’s Kennin-ji Temple. This artistic touch symbolizes the new in the traditional, as the original artwork was created for the temple’s 800th anniversary in 2002.
The thoughtful layout and elegant design details won the client’s approval. The spa area is now a cherished space for relaxing with friends and family.