Here are few things more revitalizing than taking a shower under the sun or beneath the stars. But welcoming in nature –with- out compromising privacy- is challenge when designing a small bathroom that is overlooked by neighbouring houses.

In the bathroom featured here, architect Thomas Tow of Tow Francis Architecture+ Urban Design has made full use of the natural light that shines through the window. Behind the glass is a custom- built planter box enclosed in a wooden trellis. The trellis is placed upside down so that its stats are positioned upwards. This means anyone using the shower can view the sky but not be seen from the outside, says Tow.

“The trellis screens out the neighbours without compromising the natural light. When the window is open, it makes the bathroom appears much larger than it actually.”

To ensure this small bathroom didn’t seem claustrophobic or appear cluttered, a limited palette of natural materials has been used.

“The client wanted the look and atmosphere of a mountain spa. We chose stone tiling for the walls and floor, complemented by wooden framing around the mirrors,” Tow says.

The quartzite stone tiles were cut to a size of 300 x 300m. Although stone is a heavy material, the tiles have adds to the feeling of being in a tropical resort, says Tow.

By placing a mirror above the basin and mirrors along the wall opposite the window, the bathroom appears to double in size. Behind these mirrors are his and her cabinets. A shelf buit into the stone tiled wall below the cabinets houses the towels.

The basin is a single, sculptural piece that has been mounted onto the wall. The mirrored cabinets and the linen cupboard above the toilet eliminate the need for vanity cabinets below the basin.

“To keep the design simple, every fitting and piece of furniture has a purpose,” says Tow.

Separating the shower and toilet is a glass screen, stretching halfway across the shower area.

“No door has been installed because none was required- the glass screen is enough to contain the water inside the shower,” he says.

The sunken shower floor is reminiscent of Japanese design and adds a certain exotic appeal.

“Lowering the floor heightens the shower experience. The person using the shower feels utterly enclosed in the space,” says Tow.

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