Shizunoyu Fukushima (Former Enmeiyu) | nozomu mabuchi

Shizunoyu Fukushima is a renovation project that transforms Enmeiyu, a public bathhouse designed by architect Yoshiji Takehara in 1983, into a bathing facility exclusively for men.

Rather than simply renewing a building that has aged over time, the project seeks to reinterpret the spatial qualities and memories embedded in the existing architecture, carrying them forward while introducing new value.

Enmeiyu featured a distinctive spatial composition characterized by abundant curves, uncommon in conventional bathhouses, along with the unique colors of tiles that had been used over many years. These elements were regarded as traces of the building's history. In the washing area, as many of the existing tiles as possible were retained, allowing these memories to remain present within the space.

At the same time, new functions—including a cold plunge pool, sauna, outdoor bathing area, indoor relaxation area, and bar counter—were introduced into the existing spaces. By carefully balancing the original curves and tiles with newly added materials and functions, the project explores a spatial composition in which different layers of time coexist.

A public bathhouse is not only a place to wash the body, but also a place where people can come closer through chance encounters and conversation. By creating a place where people returning from work and members of the local community can gather naturally and share time, the project aims to carry forward the bathhouse's original role as a community hub into the present day.

While preserving the memories accumulated by the former Enmeiyu, the building will continue to mark the passage of time through new ways of being used.

It is our hope that Shizunoyu Fukushima (Former Enmeiyu) will become a place where the lives of people across generations intersect and relationships with the local community gradually deepen.

Architects:MABI ARCHITECTS
Signage:Yusuke Sakurai
Logo:Hiroaki Endo (NEWMAN Inc.)
General Contractor:Kikuchi Soken Co., Ltd.
Collaborators:SCIENCE Inc.
                          Tile Capsule (BOWCS Inc.)
                          Nakamura Inc.
Photography:dig photograph

Location:5-12-5 Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka, Japan
Project Type:Renovation
Building Use:Public Bathhouse
Design Period:November 2025 – February 2026
Construction Period:April 2026 – July 2026