Seeking to explore power as crucial factor in the design of the built environment, we will look at energy systems and related objects, from sites of generation to spaces of consumption, from distribution networks to control rooms.

Tutors: Filip Geerts and Sanne van den Breemer
Director of Studies: Salomon Frausto

Contributors: Santiago Ardila, Juan Benavides, Daniella Camarena, Stef Dingen, Marco Fusco, Jack Garay Arauzo, Theodora Gelali, Shaiwanti Gupta, Hao Hsu, Marianthi Papangelopoulou, Felipe Quintero, Gent Shehu, Siyuan Wang


@theberlage.nl






Yunitto Basu

Concrete objectHousing, Consumption, Object, Construction, Culture, Lifestyle, Drawing

Yunitto basu, or The unit bath. Prefab bathrooms where various components are assembled on site. It consists of a Bathtub and a separate area with a tap and shower head, and a control panel that is used to send instructions for the water to heat and fill the bath. Floor, walls and ceiling are made of continuous material where leakages are not a concern. In terms of installation its dry system without cement, concrete or plaster makes it easier to assemble on site. Its design allows practical installation and access to future maintenance, its elevated floor and lower ceiling permits the plumbing system to connect  with the house installation without previous work.
    The unit bath was created for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic games where the increasing demand for accomodation plans needed to achieve express developments, reducing drastically the construction time. Factories made all the parts of this box units, from ceiling, bathtub, floor and walls to be assembled on site. It is considered to be a ground making method.
    The shower and toilet cabin became of high popularity in Japan as a solution for new developments as well as for adapting traditional houses with the new ideas for living in western society. The practice to take a bath in their home was introduced in the 20th century, where the way people used the water in their homes became modern.
    Its high popularity relates with the japanese conception of 26 years of lifespan for houses, renovations and changes were benefit from the practicality of an easy and accessible toilet and shower installation, permitting the constant renovations that Tokyo aims. New lifestyle expectations, the perfect fit for the new families. 80% of japan's houses have a unit bath. Bathrooms in the home have evolved independently, having a modern life with traditions from the past.


Japanology plus, “Bathrooms” October 2019 https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7nnhrv