thinned trees from japanese forest compose barrel-shaped sauna with stepped ceiling

kairi eguchi studio’s private sauna bathes in light and shade

Based on the classic structure of a barrel, Kairi Eguchi Studio’s YOKI SAUNA sits on the site of an abandoned elementary school in Hyogo, Japan, as a rejuvenating experience rooted in nature and local heritage. Its wooden form is shaped by thinning trees collected from the engulfing forest, and is marked by a long, slender window crowned by a stepped ceiling. This distinct feature welcomes an interplay of light and shade into the space, immersing visitors in an ethereal, tranquil ambiance.

a tranquil experience rooted in nature

Located in Aogaki, Tamba City, the facility fosters a symbiotic relationship with the surrounding environment, with the water used in the sauna’s baths being drawn from the headwaters of the Kakogawa River. Further, extending its scope of the project beyond architectural design, Osaka-based Kairi Eguchi Studio’s branding of YOKI SAUNA pays homage to the backdrop of the nearby mountains. The project is shaped from thinning trees felled in the mountains — an operation initiated by the facility’s management company Ki-ei — which informs the sauna’s logo depicting four interconnected trees.

project info:

name: YOKI SAUNA
architecture: Kairi Eguchi Studio

location: Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

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