Tropical hideaway

Not all houses are designed to look outwards. Sometimes an internal focus is the ideal design solution, especially where there is a tropical climate.

This master suite is in a house in just such a location. To minimise the extreme heat, the house has a large internal courtyard, complete with interior pool and waterfall. But the internal focus doesn't end there the master suite was also designed to provide a private haven.

Swiss architect Joh Holenstein merged the bedroom and bathroom to create one flowing, contemporary space that has more in common with a resort hotel than a traditional master suite.

To provide a degree of privacy and separation from the entry to the suite, Holenstein created a freestanding bamboo wall that wraps around the top of the bed to form a headboard. The bedroom is also large enough to accommodate a seating area, coffee table, office desk and a designer lounge chair and ottoman.

In the bathroom area, the piéce de resistance is a spa bath, which sits on a black granite plinth. Black granite also lines the shower and vanity walls and forms a cantilevered vanity.

"There is a visual uniformity with the materials used throughout house the entire house appears to sit on a black granite plinth," says Holenstein.

The granite is contrasted by the wood wall that appears to flow into the bamboo floor, providing a warm, natural look.

"The interior is defined by clean lines and simplicity there is no decoration purely for decor's sake," says Holenstein.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: Lin Ho