The bath in this San Juan Islands vacation compound is designed to be a room apart from other aspects of daily life, including the toilet, which is located separately. Walking 100 yards through the woods from the main house to the sleeping cabin bathing room gives the homeowners time to relax in anticipation of a “serene and clean experience,” says architect Geoff Prentiss. Passing through a wall thick with built-ins is like an architectural embrace foretelling the intimacy beyond. A soffit across the top of these storage units lowers the entry and generates a personal scale. Clear glass connects soffit with ceiling, however, so the bathing room doesn’t feel too closed in. The hemlock ceiling and fir cabinetry bring warmth to the room, while a stainless steel bathtub, concrete floor, and plaster veneer walls add a hygienic vibe.
“Everything in this space is a destination or about the process of getting to your destination,” says Prentiss. One primary destination is the soaking tub, which juts out into the scenery with glass on three sides. Seamless glazing in one corner offers uninterrupted panoramas, while the other end has operable casements for capturing cool breezes. The dropped ceiling leaves just enough headroom for getting in and out so that when seated, bathers can relish forested vistas from within a cozy cocoon.
Builder: Ravenhill Construction, Friday Harbor, Wash.; Architect/Landscape architect: Prentiss Architects, Seattle; Photographer: Jeff Mason.
Resources
Fittings/fixtures: Lacava.
