Since the advent of indoor plumbing, soaking in a tub mostly takes place behind closed bathroom doors. Some custom home owners, however, are realizing the pleasures of bathing al fresco. “We do lots of hot tubs,” says architect Mary Griffin, “but the outdoor bath is different because it’s fresh water.” She adds that especially with vacation houses, it’s nice not to worry about maintenance or sitting in old water. Just pull the plug on an outdoor tub and it’s ready for the next soothing dip under the stars.
Bright Lights, Big City In the Las Vegas desert, most days beg for relaxing in a jetted tub like this one on a balcony outside the master suite. Copper louvers on top of a concrete railing block views of the balcony but don’t prevent bathers from enjoying the constant glow emanating from the Strip nearby. The tub sits adjacent to the master bath for easy plumbing hookups.
Builder: Merlin Contracting & Developing, Las Vegas; Architectural consultant: Food for Buildings, Den Haag, Holland; Architect of record: Willem Kymmell Architect, Oregon House, Calif.; Photographer: James F. Wilson.
California Dreamin’ “It’s one of my favorite places on earth,” says Mary Griffin of her outdoor tub. The architect recovered a discarded tub from a client’s remodel to use at her own vacation home in the vineyard-covered foothills of Mt. St. Helena. The 640-square-foot house was created with outdoor living as the focus, and with a 60-acre site, privacy wasn’t a big issue. An old-growth grove of oak trees encircles the tub, which sits on a plateau overlooking the vineyards and mountain. A four-poster structure features a sleeping loft above the tub, so one can take a bath and climb up to bed. “It’s really a destination tub,” chuckles Griffin.
Builder/Architect: Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects, Berkeley, Calif.; Photographer: Mark Darley/Esto.
Starry Nights Amy Hovis and Jean Goehring knew they wanted to add exterior bathing of some kind to their urban Austin, Texas, home. When they discovered a hot water connection next to the terrace, they decided to forego the typical outdoor shower for something more decadent. A co-worker in the couple’s design firm happened to have an old, unused claw-footed tub and an outdoor bath was born. Goehring, who is a metal sculptor, designed a perforated steel screen to shield the tub from neighbors. The steel is rusting naturally to blend with the Texas landscape. “In the daytime, it’s an easy place to wash the dog or invite kids to play,” she says, “but the nicest thing is to have a glass of wine and take a bath under the stars.”
Builder/Designer: Artifice, Austin, Texas; Photographer: Casey Dunn.
