Project Description
For this Chicago-area master bath, architects at Studio Dwell pulled off
one of the most difficult tricks in bathroom design: maximizing natural
light while maintaining privacy.
The 204-square-foot retreat,
part of a larger overall master bedroom suite, exudes a secluded feel
yet benefits from various light sources: A 12-foot-long clerestory
window above the room’s pair of sinks allows soft morning light to
discreetly enter the room. Light also flows in from a private terrace
via a floor-to-ceiling window, illuminating the open shower area and
providing glimpses of the sloping terrain and nearby Fox River. All
natural lighting is controlled with Kawneer high-efficiency windows to
prevent solar heat gain without shading.
An ingenious floating
concrete wall provides contrast to the smooth porcelain tile in the bath
and separates it from the master bedroom where it becomes the headboard
for the bed. It continues into the open shower, dividing it from the
private outdoor terrace. For even more drama, the architects
cantilevered a pair of long wenge wood vanities along the opposite wall,
adding to the linear appearance of the room. —Jennifer Goodman