Nobuaki Miyashita · CLIENT: Life Housing Co., Ltd.,
Tokumitsu Taanto is a public restroom interior located in Hakusan, Ishikawa, Japan. The room covers 25 square meters and has a ceiling height of 2.90 meters. More than 3,000 gold leaf tiles cover the walls. Each tile is a 200 millimeter square porcelain tile with a textured surface, finished with hand-applied Kanazawa gold leaf. The tiles are set against a dark background, and indirect lighting is arranged to reveal the reflective quality of the gold. The design applies a traditional Japanese craft to a contemporary public space.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Golden Restroom at Hakusan Gateway Tokumitsu TaanTo is a one-of-a-kind interior space featuring Kanazawa gold leaf, a traditional Japanese craft. Over 3,000 gold leaf tiles adorn the walls, shifting in appearance with changing light. Set against a dark backdrop, indirect lighting accentuates the golden glow, creating a surreal experience akin to a luminous chamber floating in space.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Room area: 25 square meters Ceiling height: 2.90m
- Tags
- interior design, gold leaf, luxury restroom, Kanazawa, cultural heritage, immersive experience
- Production Technology
- The gold leaf tiles are crafted using the UNESCO-listed Hand-Applied Gold Leaf technique. Each 200mm square porcelain tile features textured surfaces enhanced by meticulously applied gold leaf, creating depth and richness. The lighting design is strategically planned to maximize gold’s reflective qualities, enveloping the space in a serene, ethereal glow.
- Design Challenge
- The greatest challenge was crafting a space that maximizes the texture of gold leaf while maintaining a refined and immersive ambiance. Detailed studies of light angles and reflectivity were conducted to create a lighting design that showcases gold at its most mesmerizing.
- Project Duration
- The project is located in Hakusan, Ishikawa, Japan, and was completed in April 2021.
- Operation Flow
- The restroom offers visitors an immersive experience enveloped in golden radiance. Indirect lighting dynamically alters the expression of the gold leaf, transforming the space into a living artwork of light and shadow. Users feel as if they have stepped into an art installation, elevating a routine activity into an extraordinary encounter.
- Research
- English: Type of Research: Interior design study Objective: Exploring the potential of traditional craftsmanship in spatial design Methodology: Analysis of gold leaf’s light reflection properties, lighting simulations Data Collection: Reflectivity measurements, visitor sensory evaluations Results: Creation of an immersive design using gold leaf Impact: Introducing new applications for Japanese traditional crafts
- Inspiration
- English: The core inspiration of this project is to transform the beauty of Kanazawa gold leaf, a symbol of Kaga culture, into a contemporary spatial experience. The golden enclosure is designed to immerse visitors in the profound artistry of traditional craftsmanship. The interplay of gold's sheen and shadows evolves with time, creating a mesmerizing atmosphere.
- Image Credits
- Image #1,#2,#3,#4,#5: Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita, 2021
- Patents
- N/A
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