An appreciation, passion and commitment to bespoke,
authentic design is the hallmark of our portfolio. It’s what keeps us inspired to continue creating better
spaces for people to live, nourish and relax in. So when we had a call to transform a unused service area of the home into a luxurious steam room with shower we just had to say yes!
Project Description
A large modern home built at the
turn of the millennium. Situated on the
side of a steep sloping street, very close to Sydney's picturesque Bronte
Beach. The clients Luke and Alicia and
their three children have a real connection to their local surroundings,
especially the ocean. So much so they requested a steam room be constructed
into a space that at the time housed much dirt!
All this so they could finish their beach days rejuvenated and relaxed.
Structural Challenges
·
Turn dirt into
useable space – a luxurious spa room infact!
·
Lack of Air flow
·
Difficult access
·
Existing plumbing and
pipework in the way
·
Moisture, dampness and water
flooding issues
·
Stringent installation
specifications for steam appliance.
Client Requirements
·
Q- Have you ever built a
steam room? A- Ummm NO!
·
Desire for something
amazingly beautiful;
·
A place for relaxation;
·
Soft lighting;
·
Natural materials ;
·
Shower and
·
Steam NOT sauna
Design Statement
Where to start? Underground space. Dirt. Pipes. Cables, stale air – and a water tank! The first thing the designer had to do was
understand how the proposed space could function from a plan perspective. Consideration to the need to access the water
tank and to create positive airflow and extraction for musty air was paramount.
The result, a room within a room - so to
speak. A walkway that was the most
direct from the original entry point and then set out to explore the seating
and shower requirements. Once the
spatial plan was created the selection of the steam appliance was confirmed. This was no easy feat. Size of room, glass thickness, room ceiling
height, and remote access all played a part in the decision process.
The steam appliance selected was Italian made. This meant dealing with overseas late at
night to get information such as the volume of the room 100% accurate; the
thermal properties of the room correct with in wall insulation, triple glazing,
the viewing window parameters and a completely sealed door to keep the heat in.
Actually the Italians wanted everything confirmed prior to supplying the unit.
Finally with the unit selected and the volume
for the room decided the designer then set about to design the seating and the
ceilings. Curved ceiling were selected to make the space feel larger and more cocooned.
This was also needed to prevent condensation on the ceiling. This curvaceous concept then went onto form
the seating area. Constructed from Hebel block and shaped by hand this
continued mirrored organic from.
The designer added a hand shower at entry/exit into
the steam room to cool off and a shower on the outside for the complete cleanse. Lighting was layered, uplight and dimmable to
enhance the mood. The selection of
lighting also had to be explored as it had to be completely impervious to
condensation.
Overall this space is a luxurious retreat – a
place to retreat had rejuvenate oneself from life.
