KASAMABI Sauna / ujizono architects + bench

Completed in 2025 in Ibaraki, Japan, the KASAMABI Sauna stands as a thoughtfully crafted facility designed by ujizono architects in collaboration with bench. The project embraces both tradition and contemporary sensibility, situated in Kasama City — a place historically recognized since the Edo period for its renowned Kasama ware and ceramics.

Project Overview

Architects: ujizono architects
Interior Design: bench
Collaborator: Shota Ueno (bench)
Location: Kasama City, Ibaraki, Japan
Area: 81 m²
Completion Year: 2025
Photographer: Yosuke Ohtake
Category: Sauna Facility

Architectural Context

The site lies within a diverse urban fabric — surrounded by ceramic schools, art museums, golf courses, and tightly arranged residential zones. This unique combination of cultural and domestic landscapes offers both vibrancy and visual complexity to the project's immediate setting.

“The site could be read as being in a four-sided siege situation, enclosed by buildings and open fields.”

As a nude-use facility, the design needed careful spatial and contextual consideration to harmonize privacy with openness, allowing users to experience both relaxation and a connection to the surrounding natural and crafted environment.

Material and Design

Wood serves as the main construction material, enhancing the structure’s warmth and connection to nature. The design suggests a balance between minimalism and craft, echoing Kasama’s heritage of artisanal production while meeting modern wellness needs.