Taking a cue from this year's regional ADNZ | Resene Architectural Design Award winners, Defign has selected our top six bathroom looks of the year. Each practical and stunning in their own unique way, there is beauty to be found in even the smallest detail.
Bathroom Makeover
House on Hazel – by Robin Baillie of Baillie Architecture Ltd
This beautiful Bay of Plenty house has its roots in the 1970s, but after a full blown make-over it has been transformed into something refreshingly modern. The owners and designers dreamed of opening up spaces to create breath-taking views of the Tauranga harbour from key living areas, and they've achieved exactly that. One notable aspect of this house is its bathroom, where the stand-alone bath has been placed directly in front of a large window allowing it to bask in natural light. It's a room that blends in with the home's gorgeous natural views, with neutral colouring complimenting the creative use of stone panels alongside the large mirror and the shower.
Simple Yet Striking
Davy Residence - by Mark McLeay of Creative Arch
This home is a breath of fresh air in busy Auckland. Designed with Sthapatya Veda design principles, the home is designed using only natural, non-toxic materials that are in line with the local climate. Judges praised the textured panels, which can also be seen in the bathroom area where the sink rests upon a carefully-placed wooden bench. It’s a pleasingly natural room, which although simple in design is also incredibly striking.
Nature’s Own
Hickman Residence - by Gordon McMillan of KGR Architectural Design
Hickman Residence was designed with the environment in mind; the owners wanted minimal impact on their Southland surrounds. The goal was to take advantage of the captivating views of local farmland and the Takitimu Mountains, and to also draw elements of these into the home's interior. This has given it a pleasant natural theme with the use of stacked stone and marble and timber complimenting the home's natural colouring. The bathroom is no exception to this theme, with a beautiful stone mosaic background framing the stand-alone bath. Alternating shades of grey stand out against the pristine white tiled walls, making this bathroom a striking feature of this farm residence.
Urban Sanctuary
Pellowe Residence - by Reece Warnock of Warnock Architecture
This house was praised by judges for its elegance despite its constrictions on a tight suburban site. It was designed with open living spaces for close family interaction in mind, with the upper level dedicated as the owner's "sanctuary". This unique bathroom is part of that area, with a free-standing bath taking precedence right in the centre of the room. The neutral white colouring serves to enhance the beautiful adornment on the wet-area shower where natural light from the window filters beautifully through a stained-glass cross.
Texture and Contrast
Red Box Apartments - by Mark McLeay of Resolution Architecture
These existing Parnell apartments were given a second lease of life, with the new design providing further protection from the elements, new colouring and texture. The designers have expertly utilised the large bathroom, with double showers, a large vanity unit and a stand-alone bath all carefully placed around the walls, leaving a large space in the centre. The bath itself is placed directly in front of the window where it is beautifully framed by the natural light. The use of texture in this room is also notable, with wooden drawers providing a lovely contrast to the dark stone-coloured tiles.
Barn Rethink
Modern Barn Form - by Tane Cox of Red Architecture
This stunning home is a winner on many levels. It’s comprised of two black barn-like structures and utilises many unique recycled materials. The bathroom is no exception to how impressive this home truly is. It is relatively simple in design, with plain white walls and tiling, however, this only serves to emphasise the striking use of bare wood on the vanity unit. It's certainly a case of "less is more" in this room.
The national winners of the 2014 ADNZ | Resene Architectural Design Awards for 2014 will be announced on the 26th of September at an awards ceremony in the Bay of Islands.
