LESS IS MORE
ELEGANTLY EXECUTED USING FEW MATERIALS, THIS DESIGN EMBRACES THE ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES OF PROPORTION, SPACE AND LIGHT
Minimal materials – marble, oak, polished plaster and bronze – form the core of this ingeniously balanced spa-style design
Australia-based Conrad Architects approaches all its projects with the same degree of restraint, selecting materials that will improve with age.
An exquisite case in point is this master en suite of a luxury apartment that shares a core palette throughout – namely silver-toned marble, natural oak, polished plaster and bronze detailing.
The addition of rugged stone-look textured wall tiles gives this space its own identity; or rather, the identity of a spa-style hotel bathroom, which is what the owners – downsizers looking for low-maintenance, high-quality living – were seeking. Lead architect Paul Conrad is a firm believer that bathrooms should feel clean, without being clinical. Limiting the number of materials in this scheme achieves cleanliness, while the warming tones provided by the aged bronze fittings and oak vanity ensure an inviting feel.
The layout was planned to make a focal point of the bath, and to conceal the shower and WC. As you enter the room from the bedroom or the walk-in wardrobes, the freestanding bath is the key visual element in the space. Centred on the textured wall, its crisp, sculptural shape draws attention away from the shower access to the left and WC to the right.
Opting for glass doors rather than open entry to these two areas creates a subtle sense of separation that makes the main part of the bathroom feel more connected to the bedroom, a visual link that is further enhanced by the wall-hung double vanity unit. Featuring the same custom-stained oak veneer that has been used in the bedroom, the silver marble-topped piece is modelled on a luxurious dressing table. As bronze is a key finish throughout the apartment, it was the natural choice for the brassware. The minimalist handle and spout of the tap design brings the aged bronze finish up to date, and meets Conrad Architects’ pared-back aesthetic perfectly.