This “celery stalk” outdoor shower sits
at the front corne…
This “celery stalk” outdoor shower sits
at the front corner of the home’s wraparound porch. At the other end of
the porch is the home’s main entry and a dogtrot that provides a cool
space to lounge. Architects Jim Cappuccino and Mark Hutker purposely
placed the shower just steps away to create tension between these very
public and very private spaces.
Brian Vanden Brink
All materials are exposed to the
natural elements and they wil…
All materials are exposed to the
natural elements and they will weather erratically. “This decision was
consistent with sensibility that imperfections are the beauty and
weather marks are the history of a building,” explains Hutker.
Brian Vanden Brink
The design team wanted the shower to
read as the strongest par…
The design team wanted the shower to
read as the strongest part of the porch composition, so they produced a
circular opening in the porch overhang so the shower stands as an
uninterrupted form.
Brian Vanden Brink
Once the steel frame had been lowered
onto the porch, the team…
Once the steel frame had been lowered
onto the porch, the team rotated it until the structural crossbars were
in perfect alignment with the orthogonal points of a compass.
Brian Vanden Brink
The narrow cedar boards are cut off in a
pattern that mirrors …
The narrow cedar boards are cut off in a
pattern that mirrors the angle of the porch roof while the wider slats
are canted in the opposite direction.
Jim Cappuccino
Concept sketch showing how the circular shower forms relate to t…
Concept sketch showing how the circular shower forms relate to the angular roof overhang and square house corner.
Jim Cappuccino
Another sketch detailing the angles of the top occulus and the n…
Another sketch detailing the angles of the top occulus and the narrow wooden slate the stop in alignment with the porch roof.
Jim Cappuccino
The shower plan.
Jim Cappuccino
The roof plan showing the shower cut out.
This outdoor shower looks simple, but closer inspection reveals a
depth of detail and precision that elevates it to award-winner: An
innovative structure with a daily function. Architect Mark Hutker calls
it the “celery stalk,” an analogy that highlights several inventive
features. Untreated cedar slats lean in, so like a celery stalk, the
diameter is smaller at the top. This gives a user ample room at the base
while a narrow oculus at the apex frames unobstructed sky. “You want to
look up at that view,” said the jury.
Project Credits
Entrant/Architect Hutker Architects, Vineyard Haven, Mass. Builder Lars V. Olsen Fine Homebuilding, Marion, Mass. Photographer Brian Vanden Brink
The shower creates an
elegant form when seen from other parts of the house and grounds, too.
Narrow boards set between the wide slats enhance the celery comparison
and allow privacy while providing sufficient ventilation. Those skinny
pieces are cut off just above the porch overhang, encouraging both
breezes and playful shadows. A steel frame holds it all together and
prevents warping.
Inside, circular cedar ribs connect wood to
steel and serve as shelves for toiletries. Even the doorway 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 during
construction 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 connecting people with a specific piece
of the property,” Hutker says, “and this shower does that really well.”
