The design of a bathroom started with a simple program. A bath, a wash basin, a shower. The design was not conceived as such. It evolved simply by starting to work with the chosen materials. The choice was made to work with roofmate insulation panels and PUR [poly urethane spray foam]. Because the object is on a living barge, the material had to be light.
The object was built on a 1:1 scale in one of the ateliers of atelier maak , and when ready, cut apart and put together again on site. "Sandwich panels" were made by taking the waste from the first forms and adding PUR to these to make a solid construction. In this way material was constantly being recycled leaving a minimum of waste.
Because of the tactility of the chosen materials it was relatively easy to finish the forms using standard woodworking equipment. For finishing process, we switched to using masons equipment as well as tools used in the automobile finishing sector.
Throughout the process of forming techniques were developed that came forth from how the tools were used. The technique of finishing at times dictated the form. As well, experiments in strength were developed. Because the rough forms are finished with a 2 to 3 layer netting of glass fiber, it was possible to find out just how delicate one can detail in the forms, yet still making a strong and durable form in the whole.
In the designing process the forms were decided according to each individual function. Movement within the space was not a priority. The shower cabin is overly large and inhibits movement in the space itself. Yet when standing in the shower the luxurious space inclines to a feeling of "room". The bathtub is placed higher than normal because of the window. Now sitting in the bath one can enjoy the setting sun over the river Rijn.
This bathroom searches to express the functions, and enhance the experiences of what one actually does in a bathroom.
The building process is one of less reflection and more intuition. There are no plans. The moments of reflection and alteration take place in the forming. Through only making choices in the building process, the confrontation of design becomes a craft. This project takes place real time. Choices have to be made there and then. Material and craftsmanship within a chosen formal language dictate the level of complexity.
