Notomachi Public Bath
Sitting high on a hill between the mountains and the rice fields, this public bath overlooks a picturesque fishing village surrounding a south-facing bay. The site of ancient Jomon settlements, these rice fields are now being prepared for excavation. The Jomon dwellings, large roofs covering shallow pits dug into the ground, provided a useful and inspiring way of thinking about the bath: as landscape form covered by roofs.
The intention of making the men's bath formally, experientially, and symbolically different from the women's bath served as the starting point.
The men's bath.
The women's bath. Designing as the building went up, Tina was able to make on site decisions such as how to perforate the roofs and let light into the large bath spaces.
The project was seen as separate buildings gathered around a common outdoor terrace open to the rice fields and sea beyond.