DOMOTEX INNOVATION
DISCOVER A well-designed floor can be functional in many ways. When
storage space is at a premium, the answer often lies beneath our feet and, thanks to some innovative ideas, that thinking goes deeper
Photography |
houzz.com | Peter Bennetts,
dezeen.com Words | Katie Cookson
The medieval Japanese were nothing if they weren’t houseproud, especially the higher echelons of society. The Samurai, for example, lived in castles and mansions, most of which adopted an interiors style known as Shinden-Zukuri, an ideal setting for those who gave audiences to offi cials and vassals in feudal times. These homes exuded the Zen-infl uenced design of Buddhist
temples; rice paper fl oors, sliding doors, foldable screens, tatami mats, and futon beds, a style that endures even to today and has inspired everything from art to furniture to fabrics all over the world. But there was another, albeit lesser-known, aspect that marked out these homes. Food, for example, would be hung in baskets beneath the fl oors which in those days tended to be raised to keep houses cool in warm climates and accessed by removing boards. In the absence of basements or attics – something almost unheard of
in Europe - this became a popular feature in middle class homes built on
minimalist, clean lines. The
Japanese have always been close to their fl oors. The tradition of sleeping on or close to them dates back to the 10th century and sitting them seiza-dachi style for tea ceremonies, for example, is well known.
IN-FLOOR STORAGE SYSTEMS the face of space constraints in new CAN GIVE YOU A GREAT PLACE is to install refrigerators beneath
TO STORE LONG OR TALL ITEMS YOU OTHERWISE WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO STORE IN A NORMAL CABINET
Ryan Mitchell |The Tiny Life BACK TO CONTENTS DOMOTEX MAGAZINE
QUO TE
builds? A popular theme in Japan
kitchen fl oors for the likes of wines and beers; a miniature take on the more elaborate fl oor accessed wine cellars installed beneath high-end properties with accessible sub- terranean space. As opposed to
So what do they store beneath the fl oor these days and how has their infl uence manifested itself in modern times when architects and designers are looking for solutions to the demand for more storage in
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