To the lighthouse

Natural materials and environmentally friendly design combine to create a resort-style ambience in this expansive master suite

A sliding panel to the left is the architecture, ceiling, daylighting, estate, floor, house, interior design, living room, loft, property, real estate, room, gray, black — A sliding panel to the left is the entrance to the suite.

Walls of mirrors in the media room and architecture, ceiling, interior design, kitchen, real estate, gray, white

The slate flooring is warmed underneath by a architecture, ceiling, floor, flooring, home, house, interior design, room, wall, gray

Natural materials, such as the granite used in bathroom, cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, home, interior design, kitchen, room, sink, white

The rectangular double shower stall and bath feature architecture, bathroom, ceiling, daylighting, floor, glass, home, house, interior design, room, gray, black

A full-height glass light well with a sandblasted ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, white

1.Bedroom, 2.Office, 3.Entertainment room, 4.light well, 5.bathroom, 6.shower angle, architecture, area, design, diagram, drawing, elevation, facade, floor plan, home, house, line, plan, product design, property, residential area, structure, white

The creation of a spa-like retreat in your own home can be limited by budget and space. When there are minimal restrictions on either of these, the design possibilities increase exponentially.

For this master suite, the space and budget were flexible, allowing architect David Hertz of David Hertz Architects a relatively free hand in the design. The homeowner, however, did request an office and entertainment area. The result is a sprawling, multi-use space with a number of different open-plan areas.

"The basic design premise was for us to create a resort-like feel within the house and provide a respite from the city, which you can see in the distance. The suite needed to function on many levels and be reasonably self-contained so that one could shut out the world and spend some quality time away to rejuvenate," he says.

A large sliding panel opens to give entry to the space, and closes to separate the suite from the rest of the house. To the right of the entrance, a Cubist-inspired structure sets the bedroom apart from the rest of the suite, and houses a two-way fireplace and speakers for the entertainment system.

A light well to the left marks the entrance to the bathroom. It runs from the floor to the ceiling, bringing natural light into the area and to the kitchen on the storey below. The well is sandblasted to about halfway up, giving the impression of steam or fog, which provides privacy. It also creates a thick beam of diffuse light, which appears to radiate natural warmth throughout the space.

Natural light is maximised by the use of transom windows along one side of the bedroom and clerestory windows above the fireplace, as well as the light well in the bathroom area.

Much of the design makes use of energy-efficient products and techniques, and environmentally friendly materials. The architect, who is well-known for eco-friendly designs, used this house to promote renewable resources and the use of energy efficiency methods.

"We limited the range of materials used to mainly natural products, such as the recycled Douglas fir beams for the ceiling. Groutless slate and wool carpets are used for the floor," he says.

A rooftop solar panel provides energy for radiant heating beneath the slate floor. The house also features cotton insulation.

"We wanted to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve an environmentally responsible architectural design using resources that are sustainable, and yet still present a desirable, high-end result," the architect says.