Contemporary Asian Bathrooms. Chami Jotisalikorn

      the new asian bathroom out of the closet

      Not that long ago, the bathroom was but a utilitarian space, hidden from view within the inner recesses of the home. Part and parcel of western domestic architecture for several centuries, the general practice across Asia was to keep bathrooms a distance away from the living quarters. The concept of sitting in a tub, a common practice in the west and in the colder north Asian countries like Japan, was largely unknown and unnecessary in tropical Asia. The traditional Asian shower required only two items-a large urn and a scoop-and consisted of splashing bowls of rainwater over the body. Bathing took place outdoors where a breeze quickly dried the body after the bath.

      The communal aspect of bathing in Asia is well rooted in ancient times, when the communal bath, like the Roman bath in Europe, was a place to congregate and socialize. Ancient Indian civilizations built capacious public bathing tan ks that resembled enormous square or rectangular pools with steps leading down to wide landings where people performed their daily ablutions. These tanks were generally built into Hindu temple complexes, and were used in cleansing rites. These types of public bathing tanks were transported along with Hinduism to Bali, where similar baths can be seen today. In other parts of the Asian region, bathing and washing along the rivers and waterways were other forms of outdoor communal bathing.

      The concept of an indoor bathroom that was part of the main house entered the tropical home only in the past century as Asians turned toward western living standards. Initially, scant attention was given to the design or comfort of the bathroom, since it was considered a functional space rather than an aesthetic one. Now, not only has contemporary Asian design embraced the concept of the bathroom as an art form, young designers in Asia are rapidly taking the lowly lavatory to a new level, with a creativity that continues to raise the bar.

      Originating in Southeast Asia, tropical resort bathrooms came to the fore along with the tropical resort villa, thanks to the pioneering vision of Australian architect Peter Muller, whose design for the Oberoi Bali in the mid '70s represented a radical new concept in hotel design. Breaking away from the idea of a standard high-rise hotel room, he designed the hotel in the manner of a traditional Balinese village, with guests housed in traditional villas that offered bathrooms opening onto the outdoors as they would in a Balinese home. Considered sensational at the time, his concept has since then set the standard in tropical resort design. His designs for many of Bali's top luxury resorts, including the Amandari with its stunning pool, have influenced a stream of followers who have adopted the ethnic architecture approach and have taken it to new levels, as seen in the Four Seasons resorts and the Begawan Giri Estate in Bali. Over the decades, the concept of tropical resort villas, along with their exotic outdoor bathrooms has spread among resorts and spas, and to private homes around Asia and as far as the US.

      Another key inspiration driving the new wave in bathroom design is the global spa movement that has gripped the new millennium. With the western world discarding their conventional pain-is-gain spa treatments for the holistic rejuvenation rituals long practiced in the east, the Asian-style spa has now become immensely popular.

      Both homeowners and designers are currently strongly influenced by the luxury and beauty embodied in spa design, and its celebration of bathtubs, hot tubs, steam rooms, changing rooms, and all manner of state-of-the-art facilities for cleansing and cosseting the body.