Waingaro bathroom
A large bath is the focal point of the minimalist ensuite, designating the space as a zone for relaxation.
Nestled amongst the trees, this master suite is a statement in seclusion.
Natural materials echo the surroundings while a neutral colour palette imparts a sense of calm.
Architect Richard Mauriohooho cantilevered the ensuite to further enhance the feeling of the space being in nature.
If a man‘s home is truly his castle – to paraphrase Sir Edward Coke – then surely the ensuite bathroom has become an inner sanctum. For the owners of this house in the hills outside Ngaruawahia, creating a space that would offer total seclusion was paramount.
“The clients are both busy professionals, so when they’re at home being able to fully relax is very important,” says architect Richard Mauriohooho. “The master suite is an expression of this; the ensuite in particular. The decision to not include a shower means this is a space that has been designed to luxuriate in – the act of drawing a bath is, in itself, a form of relaxation.”
Adding to the sense of solitude is the bush-clad property’s sloping nature, a fall of some 20-25 degrees from the top of the site.
“Rather than excavate a building platform that would have then burrowed into the hillside, we opted for a more lightweight approach with the house stepping down the site over three levels.
“Not only did this result in minimal disturbance to the environment, at 3.5 metres above the ground, the ensuite is perched among the canopy of the surrounding trees. Cantilevering the space from the main building platform meant we could include windows on three sides, further enhancing the immersive feeling.”
Natural materials, such as Pacific matai and Pacific jarrah used on the vanity, along with a warm neutral palette help create a sense of the ensuite being at one with its surroundings.
