Experience five open-air bathrooms that elevate the everyday act of bathing into an immersive ritual, embracing the restorative qualities of indoor-outdoor living.
Copacabana House by Polly Harbison Design
Gadigal Country / Sydney, Australia
Designed by Sydney-based architecture studio Polly Harbison Design, the Copacabana Beach House is both understated and resilient, embodied by the indoor-outdoor bathroom. With high ceilings and open glass doors, the ensuite allows for bathing en plein air, framing views of the sky and coastal landscape.
“The larger-format floor tiles have a smooth, uniform texture with tightly colour-matched grout, while the narrow Inax tiles create a subtle shadow play,” principal architect Polly Harbison explains. “The house is designed for holidays, a place for family to come and go from the beach,” Harbison says, underscoring her relaxed and immersive design approach.
Clifton House by Anthony Gill Architects
Gadigal Country / Sydney, Australia
Sydney-based studio Anthony Gill Architects transformed an unprepossessing site in Sydney’s North Bondi through an ingenious architectural scheme that fully embraces garden spaces and employs a carefully calibrated range of materials.
The bath outside the main bedroom—which is used by owner and builder Bill Clifton as an ice bath—is submerged in sub-tropical planting, ensuring that a sense of repose and privacy is provided by the opaque nature of the fibreglass sheeting. The space is essentially a small greenhouse that uses many native plants from Queensland, such as Doodia Aspera and Lady Fern, which have thrived.
Casa Kyma by Hana Waxman Design
Punta Mita, Mexico
Architect and SJB Director Adam Haddow’s Former Warehouse Home
Gadigal Country / Sydney, Australia
On the top storey of a circa 1930s machinery warehouse, SJB director Adam Haddow’s former rooftop Sydney home is engulfed by greenery, featuring a tranquil outdoor bath.
Mirrored in the adjoining ensuite, Haddow chose tonal blues and greys to instil a sense of calm and freshness, so the act of bathing took on a more ‘ceremonial’ feeling. “You can also see the sky from the shower – I love daydreaming under the water; it’s rewarding to watch the clouds pass over while you’re showering,” Haddow adds.
Noosa National Park Home by Macchia Design Studio and CLO Studios
Kabi Kabi Country / Queensland, Australia
Protected by eucalyptus, this beachside home situated at the entrance to Noosa National Park takes in front-row views of the pristine water below. Deviating from typical coastal architecture, the designers and the client shared an appreciation for Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa’s work, informing a harmonious relationship between inside and out.
Blending into the site’s topography and subtropical climate, the sustainable outdoor bathing area features raw Australian Blackbutt timber and concrete. This pared-back design fosters a deep connection to nature, allowing one to fully immerse themselves in the lush greneery of the surrounding national park.
