Sunken Bath Project
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External View, Night time
Radu Palicica (website) Download Original
The refurbishment and extension of a Victorian terraced house in East London
The Sunken Bath project in Clapton, East London, adds a new kitchen, dining area, toilet and bathroom to a ground floor apartment within a terraced period property. Central to the brief was to separate the toilet and shower room in order to create a standalone bathroom that would facilitate ritual bathing.
The existing layout of the apartment was inefficient and had a poor relationship with the south-facing rear garden. The functions of the new bathroom are separated and placed against the east facade, allowing each area to have a view of the garden and benefit from natural light. Outside, the east facade is partly clad with larch slats, to maximise the garden aspect while also ensuring privacy. Incorporating a sunken bath, the glass-walled bath enclosure extends out into the garden, allowing light into the adjacent bedroom window.
A slatted larch screen covers the bathroom’s glass roof, again ensuring privacy from neighbouring windows. Granite gravel, polished concrete and bamboo complete the garden, creating a concealed, peaceful space. Inside, A copper worktop and wall surround in the kitchen are intended to give a sense of warmth to the living space. Larch slats charred using the Shou Sugi Ban method are used to conceal the extract system and appliance storage space.
Polished concrete flooring runs from inside to outside at the rear of the apartment creating a new relationship with the garden. The materials used on the project were chosen to age well over time and develop a patina of their own. Surfaces in the bathroom, shower room and toilet are coated with micro-cement ensuring seamless waterproof junctions.
Data
- Completed: Aug 2016
- Floor area: 25m2
- Sector: Residential
- Total cost: £80,000
- Address: Clapton, London, E5 , United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Studio 304 Architecture
- Client: Private client
- Structural engineer: James Frith
- Main contractor: Kensington Green
Suppliers
- Structural glazing: Culmax
- Micro Cement: Veneziano Polished Plaster