Forecast: Hyper Sento
- Ruth
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
The bath house boom inspires an aesthetic that reflects the hard shine, softened corners and offbeat pastels of the traditional Japanese sento
Wellness and the quest for longevity, self-improvement and relaxation are being woven into every aspect of life. The resurgence of public, community, and urban bathhouses has sparked renewed interest in the design aesthetics of traditional Japanese sentos, influencing contemporary interiors with bold, nostalgic, and communal elements.
Architects such as the UK's S&M Design and CAN are reflecting the sento’s signature mix of vibrant tile murals, retro signage, and playful color palettes to create spaces that feel both immersive and culturally rich.
Neon lighting, geometric patterns, and vintage-inspired fixtures bring a nostalgic charm that contrasts with the more subdued, nature-focused aesthetics of other wet room trends.
Basil Schu and Laura Dominici’s Lazy Swim collection, featuring stools that resemble stacked towels, playfully reinterprets everyday bathhouse elements, making it a perfect fit for the nostalgic and communal aesthetic of Japanese sentos.
Marianna Ladreyt’s recycled inflatable designs, particularly her shark float chair, embrace kitsch and sustainability, echoing the whimsical yet functional spirit of urban sentos with their bold forms and playful materiality.
Marianna Ladreyt’s recycled inflatable designs, particularly her striking chair made from repurposed shark pool floats, align seamlessly with the playful and nostalgic aesthetic of Japanese sentos.
Much like the bold tile murals and retro signage found in urban bathhouses, her work embraces kitsch and humor while giving new life to discarded materials. The shark chair, with its exaggerated forms and glossy, air-filled structure, echoes the surreal yet inviting nature of sento interiors, where practicality meets unexpected whimsy.
By transforming inflatable toys into functional furniture, Ladreyt taps into the communal and lighthearted energy of bathhouse culture, where relaxation and play coexist. Her approach not only challenges traditional notions of materiality but also complements the resurgence of sento-inspired design, which celebrates vibrant, unconventional, and socially engaging spaces.
Austrian design duo Basil Schu and Laura Dominici’s Lazy Swim furniture collection perfectly aligns with the resurgence of Japanese sento-inspired aesthetics, blending playful nostalgia with functional design.
Their signature stools, which cleverly mimic stacks of folded towels, but made in silicone rubber, capture the casual, communal spirit of traditional bathhouses while offering a whimsical reinterpretation of everyday objects.
The collection’s bold use of color, soft rounded forms, and stackable modularity echoes the kitschy yet inviting atmosphere of urban sentos, where practicality meets lighthearted design.
By transforming familiar bathing elements into sculptural, functional pieces, Lazy Swim bridges the gap between utility and visual storytelling, making it a natural fit for contemporary wellness spaces. This approach not only reflects the sento’s communal and welcoming nature but also injects a fresh, playful energy into modern interiors.
Office S&M, a UK-based architecture practice, exhibits a design ethos that resonates with the aesthetic of traditional Japanese sentos through their inventive use of color, materiality, and form. Their projects often incorporate vibrant hues and playful elements, reminiscent of the lively and communal atmosphere found in urban sentos.
This approach mirrors the sento tradition of integrating engaging visuals and textures to create welcoming communal environments. By embracing such design principles, Office S&M crafts spaces that foster community interaction and evoke a sense of nostalgia.
In the past year, Office S&M Architects were received planning application for their deep retrofit of the Tate Institute in Silvertown, UK. On track for completion by May 2025, the restoration of the listed heritage building, which has been derelict since 2019, hopes to revitalize the community space while preserving the building's historical character.
Schemata Architects, led by Jo Nagasaka, revitalized the Komaeyu bathhouse in Tokyo's Komae suburb, blending traditional Japanese sento elements with contemporary design to rejuvenate this communal space.
The redesign has garnered significant attention in the architectural community due to the extensive use of custom-made green tiles, arranged in varying sizes to create a typographic effect. The renovated Komaeyu also incorporates a tiled depiction of Mount Fuji, paying homage to the traditional sento practice of featuring the iconic mountain as a symbol of hope and tranquility.
The renovation introduced a sauna and a "bandai" (reception counter) that doubles as a bar, offering patrons the opportunity to enjoy a drink after bathing, mirroring the social aspects of traditional sentos. The adjacent vacant lot has been transformed into a gathering area where patrons can relax and socialize, further enhancing the bathhouse's role as a community hub.
