This washroom which is a part of a weekend home in Pune, designed by Sunil Patil & Associates, follows a modern contemporary design that attempts to bring the outdoor inside, explores Mrinmoy Dey
The weekend house for a family of four has been designed on a sloping site, with a concept that the built mass should completely merge with the land and its landscape. As the total site has a steep slope, the entire house is designed with various levels to suit the contour. The house overlooks the valley on one side and multiple courtyards are created which get the cut cliff view and light from the top.
Talking about the design approach, Sunil Patil, Principal Architect, Sunil Patil & Associates says, “The family wanted a house for their weekends and holidays. The idea was to create relaxing spaces along with party areas for the couple and their young daughter and a son. All the spaces in the house are designed in harmony with nature. This concept has been continued from the main living area to all the bedrooms and further to all the bathrooms.”
The son’s bathroom
The son’s bathroom is designed in such a way that one can enjoy the space in multiple ways. The entry of the bathroom is through the courtyard with a large skylight on top. The courtyard is designed in an organic pattern with a rain shower and pebbled court.
The toilet opens out to the outdoors on both its sides creating a continuous view. One side opens out towards the valley and the other into the private court which offers a view of the cut cliff rock. “The shower experience in the courtyard is very close to having a bath in an open landscape. Rolling blinds are provided for large openings which allow creating privacy as per necessity,” shares Patil.
Through the entrance court, one can enter the formal toilet area, which is designed with a dry zone, which contains a washbasin and a WC, and then to the bath area. The bathing area is designed with a large glass offering a view of the valley. The full glass allows one to be in the complete closeness of the landscape and to be in complete harmony with nature.
“The light entering through the large openings and a skylight create a serene space. The varying volumes also add to the experience. From a heighted courtyard to a cozy shower area, changing volumes and lighting give a special character to space,” shares Patil.
Materials, colour palette and more
The material palette chosen for this bathroom is rustic and natural as per the theme of the rest of the house. “The entrance courtyard is designed with rustic tiles which give an impression of hand-painted walls. The large skylight on top pours ample light onto this wall with rustic tiles. The formal part of the toilet is designed with plain subtle grey tiles. The flooring of the court and the formal toilet is done in the wooden textured tile which forms the base for both areas,” informs Patil.
The sanitary fittings are chosen in such a way, that they are maintenance-free. Elements like a large round mirror and niches in the dado work add to the décor subtly. The pattern of the false ceiling in the formal toilet is designed in such a way that it allows the volume to reduce and creates an opportunity for indirect lighting.
Talking about the design philosophy, Patil adds, “Our firm’s philosophy is designing spaces in harmony with the nature and it is well reflected in the bathroom and the overall house design. The way it is designed it will give a feeling that it is not built but has rather grown organically within the contour of the mountain.”
Overall, the idea of being completely in nature has been extended to the very personal space of the house – that is the bathroom and yet maintaining the much-needed privacy.
Sunil Patil
Principal Architect, Sunil Patil & Associates
“The idea was to create relaxing spaces along with party areas for the couple and their young daughter and a son. All the spaces in the house are designed in harmony with nature. This concept has been continued from the main living area to all the bedrooms and further to all the bathrooms.”