Ann Arbor, Michigan (2023)
Project Size: ~265 SF

Stone Bath is an en suite bathroom and closet renovation that leverages subtle spatial adjustments and a rich material palette to transform an awkward and visually disorienting space into a relaxing environment for the daily rituals of washing, readying, and unwinding.

Operating in a space with two eccentric window conditions (a pair of angled niches to the east, and a pass-through clerestory to an adjacent “greenhouse” skylight to the south) the project reorients the bath and shower program to take advantage of the room’s distinct natural light.  Implicated in this reorientation is the opening of an existing modest shower cubicle into a spacious walk-in, and the replacing of a terraced built-in jacuzzi with a freestanding copper soaking tub. The resulting bath area is an open continuous space, rich with natural light and designed with consideration for physical accessibility.

Conversely, the existing toilet area is reconsidered with privacy and enclosure in mind. An existing half-wall is built into a full partition with sliding door, creating a nook that is continuous to, but discrete from, the larger bath area.

Throughout the project, thickened wall surfaces create opportunities for built-in storage niches for decorative and functional items alike. Clad in tonally rich tile, these alcoves sculpt reliefs into the geometry of the wall, echoing the gestures created by the window niches, and contributing to the suggestion that the space itself might be carved from stone. Beyond lending its material character, the wrapping tile surfaces play a functional role to temper the space for its water-oriented program, and make it easy to clean. New floor drains and a built-in spray-wand fixture offer a convenient means to wash the water closet and bath area without intensive labor or concern for the excess of water, diminishing the stresses of maintaining the space, and emphasizing its role as an oasis for relaxation.

This project was completed in collaboration with:

Kasey Vliet - Principal in Charge
Elpis Wong - Project Architect
Trevor Herman Hilker - Design
Structural Consultant - SDI Structures

Construction Team: D.A. Haig Construction, LLC

Jane Messinger Photography - Finished Photography