The changing process of the spaces for wet area in the upper and middle class houses during Taisho and Showa era

analyzing the drawings of houses designed by architect Isoya Yoshida

Abstract

This paper clarifies changing processes of wet area spaces in the upper and middle class houses during Taisho and Showa era, analyzing the drawings of works by a Japanese architect Isoya Yoshida. We examined the position meanings in flow planning of the house and the interior about kitchen, bath and rest room. As a result, it was confirmed that changes concentrated in around 1940 and early 1950’s. After these turning points, the relation between wet area and public-private characters of the spaces in the house had changed. And it was noticed that using new materials and technologies at the wet area had supported this process.