Tatami: Traditional Japanese Sleeping Room
Tatami actually refers to the rush-covered mats used for flooring, and the term "tatami" means "to fold or pile." These ubiquitous mats are actually at the heart of room design. They serve several functions. The mats actually dampen sound, insulate feet from the cold of the floor, and they act as a natural air-conditioner, absorbing and releasing moisture. Constructed from tightly-woven rice straw covered with rush grass, the tatami mats conceal doors in the floor (they also have them in the walls in some cases) which are used to store much of the room's furniture. Thus, during the night the futon is taken out and furniture such as tables are stowed. During the day the sequence is reversed; the tables for eating or tea ceremonies replace the bedding. The rest of the room remains simple. Access is gained through sliding rice paper doors, and the rooms are decorated with the wall scrolls similar to those featured at the Kyoto Handicrafts Center. The photos to the right and the left show a tatami room, while below is a video of a tatami room.
Panorama of Tatami Room
3D - tatami room from Kurt on Vimeo.