The light fantastic

Conventional bathroom design has typically been guided by the need for privacy. Any windows in "the smallest room in the house" were tiny and covered with blinds, or made of textured glass to obscure a second-rate outlook.

But when these constraints can be put aside, bathroom design is limited only by the architect's imagination. In this contemporary home, set on a wooded site, architect Robert M Gurney uses a double-height window wall as a focal point. It is a means of capturing the abundant southern light, and the view serves as a natural backdrop for the sculptural .25 freestanding tub by Waterworks.

"This site offered us a lot of space in which to work," says Gurney. "As the structure evolved, it became obvious that we could create this amazing, light-filled room within the master suite, which was at the same time very private."

The dramatic glazing gives the feeling of being perched in the treetops; while the white interior walls, enhanced by strategically placed apertures and perforations, make the ongoing play of light and shadow an integral part of the interior composition. When selecting finishes, interior designer Therese Baron Gurney chose warm, neutral tones that would complement the view, no matter what the weather or season.

"Especially in winter, when the leaves have fallen and the view outside is mostly grey, white and blue, you want warm, yellow tones around you," she says. "Otherwise, with all the windows, you'd feel cold."

On the northern side of the bathroom a long double vanity in caramelised bamboo spans the length of the space, and offers plenty of room for storage and preparation. Window openings here are long, thin slots, positioned beneath the eaves of the roof. This, combined with the orientation, makes for a more diffused light in this area.

Story by: Kathleen Kinney