Bathroom design comes clean with the times<\/p>\n
Maria Endah Hulupi
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Time was when the bathroom was considered an ultra-private area,
\nrarely mentioned and built at the back of the house to be kept
\naway from prying eyes.<\/p>\n
Dark and dank, it was not a room that got much attention
\nexcept for the daily bathing needs of the family.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, changing attitudes have led to the bathroom's
\nrecognition as a part of the home that should be functional and
\nthoughtfully designed.<\/p>\n
The shift has come with a growing awareness among house owners
\nfor the need of the bathroom to complement a well-designed home
\nthat reflects the owner's lifestyle.<\/p>\n
And the switch to dry bathrooms here -- instead of having wet
\nfloors from traditional bathing methods and other uses -- is more
\npractical and requires less effort at keeping clean, according to
\nan architect with Arkitekton Lima Pratama architectural firm,
\nChiquita Pitono.<\/p>\n
Another plus is that a modern bathroom can be designed even
\nfor a limited space.<\/p>\n
"Basically, a bathroom should accommodate basic functions and
\ngrooming activities, like a toilet with a hand-held spray right
\nnext to it, a wash basin and a shower. But if the space allows
\nit, other items can also be added to meet the owners' lifestyle,"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
A small cabinet can be installed under the wash basin for
\nstoring clean towels or keeping other bathing and grooming
\nnecessities like lotions, soaps, shampoos or toothpaste.<\/p>\n
To ensure water does not wet the floor, the shower area can be
\nseparated by setting up a cubicle or using a shower curtain and a
\nbathmat.<\/p>\n
"This type of bathroom is very functional and an owner of such
\na practical bathroom usually uses it only for bathing purposes
\nand they are not likely to spend a long time in it," the
\narchitect said.<\/p>\n
A larger bathroom can have both a shower and a bathtub with a
\nbench in one corner to allow the owner to sit while cleaning
\ntheir feet, for instance.<\/p>\n
"The bathtub has now become one of the features of even a
\nsimple master bathroom," she said.<\/p>\n
Apart from the basic features, a spacious master bathroom can
\nalso house a separate wash basins, a whirlpool, a sauna, a shower
\n-- all in one place located right next to a walk-in dressing
\nroom.<\/p>\n
Today, the bathroom is no longer a place where people make a
\nperfunctory visit to "take care of business". Many find it a
\nrefuge from all that is going on around them.<\/p>\n
For others, even as they while away an hour or two in the
\nbathtub, they still need to stay connected.<\/p>\n
"The bathroom, for some people, is not only a facility but a
\nnecessity to pamper his or herself. Equipped with extensive
\nfunctions,such a bathroom is specially designed to provide
\ncomfort and reflect lifestyle."<\/p>\n
Communication features -- like a telephone or a speaker
\nconnected to television set or radio -- have alread found their
\nway into bathrooms to serve the needs of busy businesspeople.<\/p>\n
Chiquita said a bathroom, even a small one, can be designed in
\nvarious styles -- modern, ethnic or contemporary. It can be set
\nup either indoor or outdoors, according to the owners' taste.<\/p>\n
"Owners of houses or villas that are exposed to a magnificent
\nviews like a lake, sea or beautiful rear garden usually do not
\nwant to waste the opportunity to have an outdoor bathroom that
\nallows them to enjoy a pleasant bathing experience while
\nrelishing the soothing view," she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bathroom-design-comes-clean-with-the-times-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}