Banya, of course, is an integral part of Russian culture. Such buildings are being erected in our country in almost every suburban area. Private baths can be designed in different ways. For example, chalet-style structures of this variety look very impressive in the courtyards of low-rise buildings. Baths of this design are not only beautiful, but usually also very ergonomic.
What is the chalet style in architecture
A feature of buildings of this type for any purpose is, first of all, precisely the fact that they always combine practicality and aesthetics. Switzerland is the birthplace of the chalet style. Once upon a time, local shepherds built their houses in the mountains in this way.
Characteristic features of the chalet style in architecture are:
- using wood and stone for building walls;
- a solid foundation that lifts a building off the ground;
- open truss system (lack of gables);
- gable roof;
- large overhangs;
- large windows and doors;
- spacious terrace;
- equipped loft.
Carvings or any complex wood patterns are not used to decorate buildings built in the chalet style (including baths).
What should be the interior
Of course, in a building of any purpose, the style of a chalet in architecture must be in harmony with the interior design. It is also necessary to design such buildings correctly. The main characteristic features of the chalet style in the interior are:
- using natural, environmentally friendly, preferably unprocessed materials;
- high ceilings;
- visible beams;
- massive furniture;
- natural colors.
When decorating various kinds of rooms in this style, beige, terracotta, orange-yellow colors are usually used.
The foundation of a chalet-style bathhouse
Swiss shepherds built the foundations of their houses out of stone. But today, when building a bath, there is no special need to use such an exotic material for the foundation, of course. The base of the bath can be poured simply from concrete. In the future, in order to maintain the style, such a foundation can simply be finished with natural or artificial stone.
A bathhouse in the style of a chalet, like any other building of a similararchitecture, should rise above the ground. After all, the Swiss shepherds built their huts in the mountains on the slopes. And so part of their basement protruded above the ground. Of course, a Swiss-style sauna should look approximately the same.
It is, of course, not necessary to equip the basement floor under the bathhouse. But the foundation above the ground during the construction of such a structure should be raised higher - by 40-50 cm. It makes sense to build a basement floor only if it is planned to build a chalet-style bath house on the site. In such structures, a bath is usually equipped below. Living quarters are set up on the second, and sometimes even the third floor.
From what and how to build walls
Photos of a chalet-style bath are presented to the attention of the reader on this page. As you can see, it is best to use wood to build a box of such a structure. You can build such a bath both from a bar and from a log. Windows in such a building, even decorated in the style of a chalet, should not be made too wide and high. But their sizes in this style should still be a little larger than with any other.
The doors to the washing room and the steam room in this type of building should not be made too wide, of course. Otherwise, heat will subsequently begin to leave these rooms and it will be difficult to heat them. But the front door leading to the locker room can be made wider. It will subsequently serve as one of the elements of the building, emphasizing the style of the chalet.
Rafter system
The attic of a chalet-style bathhouse is best made residential. Here you can place, for example, a relaxation room with a TV and billiards. Gables in buildings in this architectural design, as already mentioned, are usually absent. However, in the event that the attic is supposed to be made residential, of course, you still have to install these roofing elements. After all, winters in Russia are much colder than even in the mountains of Switzerland.
To make the bathhouse look stylish in the future, you just need to let out the roof slopes beyond the gables. At the same time, it is not necessary to hem the overhangs with anything. The battens and rafters in this part of the roof should remain visible.
As a roofing material for a bath in the style of a chalet made of timber or logs, it is best to use natural tiles. But, of course, you can replace it with some cheaper and easier-to-install material. Chalet baths with slopes, lined, for example, with not too bright metal tiles or ondulin, look quite harmonious.
Terrace
Of course, this element should be provided for when designing a chalet-style bath. It is best if the terrace of this building is spacious, wide and open. Very often, such structures do not even sheathe the parapet.
It is best to equip a terrace in a chalet-style bath near the main facade. In this case, in the front plane, such a structure is usually left as open as possible. The two extreme walls adjacent to the facade can be sheathed, for example, with an edged board.
Bin a two-story chalet-style bath, a terrace is usually arranged along the long side under the slope. In this case, the side walls of the structure are most often not hemmed with anything.
Bathroom interior: wall decoration
Enclosing structures inside such a bath, if it is built from timber or logs, are usually not additionally finished. To make the steam room, washing room and locker room of this type of structure look more stylish, their walls can be artificially aged using special paintwork materials. But to choose for a bath, of course, you need products of this type that do not emit harmful substances at elevated temperatures.
Floor and ceiling
Materials for finishing a bath in a chalet style from the inside should be used exclusively natural. The floors in such buildings are usually sheathed with a thick, rough edged board. You can also fill the lower floor of such a structure with concrete with a preliminary arrangement of a water drainage system, and subsequently line it with artificial stone or tiles of the appropriate color.
It is better not to hem the ceiling of the chalet-style bath from below. Such a solution will be especially successful if the attic of the structure is equipped as a residential one. The slopes in such a bath, of course, will need to be insulated. And consequently, there will be no heat to leave the steam room through the ceiling and there will be no washing room. The only thing, in this case, it is desirable to lay a vapor barrier on the floor of the attic. Otherwise, for obvious reasons, resting in the attic while someone is takingwater procedures below, it will be uncomfortable.
Furniture and decor
Outside, buildings built in the style of a chalet, including baths, are not decorated with carvings and patterns. But internally, such design elements are considered quite acceptable. The only thing is that there should not be too many carvings and patterns in the interior of a chalet-style bath.
Benches in the locker room, washing room and steam room of such a construction are recommended to be installed quite massive and rough. Such bulky, as in country style, furniture in the premises of such a building should not be. This is especially true for small chalet-style baths. But too elegant wooden structures should not be installed in structures of this type.
