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Brian Vanden Brink
Once the steel frame had been lowered onto the porch, the team r…
Aucoot Cove, Marion, Mass.
Custom Detail | Grand Award
2 MIN READ
At first glance this outdoor shower may appear to be a simple structure. Closer inspection, however, reveals the depth of detail and precision that elevates it to an award-winning design. The jury proclaimed it to be “killer,” elaborating that it’s an innovative structure with a daily function. Architect Mark Hutker calls it the celery stalk and his glib analogy highlights several inventive features. Untreated cedar slats that make up the majority of the structure lean in, so like a celery stalk, the diameter is smaller at the top. This gives the user ample room at the base while a narrow oculus at the apex frames only unobstructed sky. It also creates a more elegant form when seen from other parts of the house and grounds, especially within the second-story master suite sightlines. Narrow boards placed between the wide slats enhance both the celery resemblance and privacy while still allowing for sufficient ventilation. Those skinny pieces are cut off just above the porch overhang to let breezes pass through as well as generating playful shadows.
A steel frame holds it all together and prevents warping. Inside, circular cedar ribs connect wood to steel. The ribs also act as impromptu shampoo shelves. The doorway itself is a cool detail. A segment of curved wall hangs from a stainless steel bar. The door is suspended off the deck and has hidden rollers inside the track to push it away from the wall so it slides with ease. Hutker and project architect Jim Cappuccino visited the site numerous times to ensure the opening exactly frames a sliver of sea and shore that can be seen only when standing at a particular angle toward the cove. “We always strive for architectural choreography of connecting people with a specific piece of the property,” Hutker says, “and this shower does that really well.”
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