Thursday, August 29, 2013

Japanese bath in Philly

Japanese bath has been completed at 1801 E Tioga. Planning and construction by Mancini Design Build. Custom birch vanity is 12.5" x 46" with clever access panel designed + installed by Mancini Design.

The design is based on typical Japanese design aesthetics of placing the toilet in a separate space away from the bathing area and also having a separate changing room. In my design the changing room has  storage for towels and toiletries, a basket for clothes, a place to hang your robe and a sink.
That leaves the bathing room with tub and shower that is entered via the shower door.

This addition began with tearing down the original bathroom addition that was poorly insulated,
had aluminum wiring, water damaged sub floor soft enough to put your foot through and termite damage.
I rebuilt on the existing foundation framing with 2x4 pressure treated lumber for the bottom plate and also studs to resist future water and termite damage. I cantilevered the roof 4'-6" beyond the wall with
 2x6 studs to offer shade over a small walk out veranda. Roof insulated with R-19 batt and reflectix foil insulation for a combined R-30 http://www.reflectixinc.com/ .
Floor joist extend and support exterior veranda.
Exterior  is T 111 exterior grade sheathing protected with wood stain.
insulation in walls are standard R-15 batt insulation covered with 5/8" mold resistant drywall. Crawlspace was completely insulated using reflectix foil insulation,combined with 1" ridgid foam, then double 6 ml plastic over the dirt crawlspace.
Heating is supplied via radiant heat through 1/2" oxygen barrier pex tubing sandwiched between two 5/8" sub floors.
Finished flooring is Kimona Silk 12x24 tile from Daltile Philadelphia branch
 http://www.daltile.com/series.cfm?series=254

Japanese deep soaking tub was ordered from  American Reinforced Plastics http://www.arpbathtubs.com/product.php?id=38

  Polished chrome Tiamo shower was ordered from Hudson Reed UK.
http://usa.hudsonreed.com/tiamo-designer-thermostatic-shower-faucet-system-with-fixed-head-and-handset.html

 Grohe Eurodisk II Roman Tub Filler handles the tub filling duties for the 65 gallon soaking tub.


Toilet room  is completed with Toto toilet, and Barclay tina mini sink with Vigo single lever faucet.
http://www.wayfair.com/Vigo-Industries-Sierra-Left-Sided-Single-Handle-Bathroom-Faucet-in-Chrome-VG01027CH-VGU1028.html?refid=FR49-VGU1028

Changing room sink is by Caracalla and faucet by Vigo

All that remains is custom made sliding door for W/C room and changing room. As part of this project there will be a Japanese garden designed in yard and viewed from the soaking tub and small veranda.







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Sunday, March 31, 2013

I along with other colleauges surveyed cell block 11 at Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP). Led by David Cornelius professor of architecture at Drexel University and an expert at historic preservation. Our survey is part of ESP goal to completely survey the Penitentiary so they may continue their ongoing preservation efforts.
Eastern State is unique in that they want to preserve the Penitentiary in a ruined state while keeping it a safe place for tourist to visit.








Saturday, January 5, 2013

Drexel Smart House

This fall I attended two professional electives. One of those electives was the Drexel Smart House Project. The other Historic Preservation surveying Eastern State Penitentiary.
Solutions in the Smart House Project that I had specified for past projects, and new ideas and solutions learned here in these classes will add knowledge and insight into my future projects.



http://www.scribd.com/doc/119107388/Drexel-Smart-House-Final-Presentation

http://www.drexelsmarthouse.com/