February_1965 — Page 33

about people

By HUGH LUNN

BATHROOM design in the Far East is 30 years behind

the times. The Hong Kong Government is wasting millions of dollars a year on re-settlement buildings. Japan is "way ahead" in interior design.

These are the views of Mr. J. S. Ross, a noted American bathroom designer who recently finished a four-week tour of the Far East.

Mr. Ross visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Lake Biwa, Taipei, Hong Kong, Jesselton, Singapore, Penang, and Bangkok. Short, fast-talking, with wavy hair brushed straight back, he described himself as "an architectural critic." He was drinking coffee with his wife and teenage daughter ("Wives and teenage daughters

once the forgotten race are now the V.I.Ps. of the successful designer").

This was the man who had spoken about bathrooms for an hour during a radio interview. The man who had worked with some of the world's leading architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, and Luigi Nervi.

"The Far East is architecturally behind the times. The Hong Kong Government, for example, is wasting millions of dollars a year on re-settlement buildings mainly because of poor designs and lack of modern techniques such as slip-form building and the major use of pre- fabrication. Many new types of concrete are not being used," Mr. Ross said. His sip of coffee (black) seemed appropriate.

Same Old Model

"There is an appalling waste of space in these buildings, as the designs are not entirely functional. Building these same old designs is like offering people the same old T-model Ford.

"The men at the top have been there too long, and don't know that with modern ideas they could build better, faster, with less material. After all this represents somebody's money," Mr. Ross said. Another sip of coffee.

How could the position be improved? "The Govern- ment should confer with local architects. You've got some damn good architects here."

It was private enterprise's turn.

"Japan is way ahead in design. Hong Kong is supposed to be the cross-roads of the Orient. Therefore it should be the melting pot of all design ideas. Instead of bringing out the best it seems to be furthering the growth of the worst.

our

"Building compact bathrooms has become speciality. In 1970 American homes will have more bathrooms than bedrooms. Now in California you can't sell a new house if there is not a bathroom with every bedroom. What with teenage girls spending up to 80 per cent of their time in there.

—

"Fibre-glass, besides being the strongest material for weight, cuts household drudgery to a minimum. A damp cloth removes any dirt-ring that might form. The days of scrubbing back-breaking work are over. Mrs. Ross topped his coffee cup.

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"I have been surprised at the lack of concept in bathroom design throughout the Far East. They are doing what they have been doing for the last 30 years— and losing money. Wall tiles and heavy, cumbersome cast-iron enamel-finished baths... One piece walls-and- tub, fibre-glass tubs with vinyl floor tiles is the modern way," he said.

Far East Architect & Builder February, 1965

Mr. J. S. Ross:

"The family that bathes together

stays together"

"The possibity of structural defects allowing water. through and producing dry-rot is nil."

Finishing his coffee Mr. Ross produced a booklet of, photographs. This was the type of thing made by his company Superior Laminates Inc., Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. Ross is vice-president.

He held up a

of а

picture

one-piece-tub-and- three-walls design. "This

is

a conventional bath. Note the contoured lines to give more room in less area," he said pointing to another picture.

"This is the smaller, deeper, sunken Oriental- type soaker tub, which is now very popular in America. It was original- ly designed by us for use in apartments in Samoa. It is only 42in. long in- stead of 60in., but it is 18in. deep, not 14in."

Another picture. "This high bath is for old people with special fixtures so they can slide in and out.

This is a bath- with-a-view.' It incorpor- ates a window instead of one fibre-glass wall."

Watery love-seat

A small one-piece fibre-glass shower was followed by a similar "King-size" shower incorporating a seat in the corner. But the best was to come.

"This is our special.' It was a "King-size" shower with two built in corner seats. "The family that bathes together stays together" Mr. Ross joked.

"We have 481 different types of bath and shower splash enclosures," he said from over a new cup of coffee.

"One hotel group who used our baths cut their maid force by one-third" he said.

Colour is Out

"What is the colour for bathrooms now?" I asked. "Colour in bathrooms is archaic. They are now all off-white (in various shades) or perhaps off-white with a gold fleck."

Mrs. Ross chimed in: "With all the beautiful towel, handtowel, and curtain shades available now, all the colour necessary can be provided this way. A quick change of towels and curtains and you can change your bathroom from blue to pink in ten minutes.”

"What decoration could you do with a blue bath- tub?" Mr. Ross asked.

"The trouble is," said Mr. Ross, modestly looking out of his cup, "we have to be ahead of the builder, the engineer, the wife, and the teenage daughter in the reverse order. This takes some doing."

"Why is a bathroom so important?" asked Mr. Ross, rhetorically. "Because this is man's last really private retreat in a modern world. The place where he can lock himself in, look in the mirror, do exercises, sing, or just clean himself up. Black coffee please."

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