In his book, 'Towards a Nude Architecture', Yuval Zohar explores the intricate bathing rituals of Japan, focusing on onsen and sento. Onsen, natural hot springs, contrast with sento, urban public bathhouses that catered to communal needs. With communal bathing on the decline, Zohar's work reflects on the architectural evolution of these spaces, addressing cultural, environmental, and technological shifts. The book's structure, divided into past, present, and future, indicates a departure from nostalgia, aiming for a deeper understanding of the significance of these bathing practices in contemporary society.
At the heart of the publication are two key traditions: the onsen and the sento. Onsen are natural hot springs... Sento, on the other hand, are public bathhouses that use heated tap water.
Towards a Nude Architecture, however, resists the pull of nostalgia and instead offers a layered exploration of how onsen architecture has evolved in response to shifting cultural, environmental, and technological forces.
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