Article from January 2015 issue of Garden and Home Magazine.
Having a shower in the open air is the most refreshing way you can start and end a hot summer’s day
1. Twice as nice
Situated off the main bathroom of this Durban home, designed by M+M Design, this double outdoor shower by Jan Blok Landscaping features exposed plumbing and an ornate pot stand. Its shaded by a creeper-covered pergola and the decked floor is raised slightly for effective drainage. Not just gorgeous to look at, it has practical aspects such as the mirror, shelving for toiletries and two handy chairs.
2. A fresh approach
“As we spend lots of time in the swimming pool and Jacuzzi, in the garden and on the beach, we needed a place to rinse off salt, sand and chlorine,” explain the owners of this house on the KZN North Coast. The shower is positioned in a sunny corner of the veranda near the swimming pool. The stone wall by The Sandstone Story and large black tiles ensures that it’s in keeping with the modern style of the house. Decking by Affordable Sundecks adds comfort underfoot and allows water to drain easily – in this case straight into the indigenous garden. A wide ledge between the shower and the koi pond acts as a convenient seat while rinsing off sandy feet. The tiles, showerhead and tap are from Classic Trading.
3. As nature intended
With a pine forest as a backdrop and an enormous sandstone boulder as a soap holder, this outdoor shower with a decked floor has a genuine feeling of communing with nature.
Making excellent use of his secluded site high up on the mountain, Hout Bay architect Paolo Deliperi designed a very natural outdoor shower with privacy provided by a wooden slatted wall at the back and a viburnum hedge to the left.
4. All decked out
Since competing in MNet’s The Block, Paolo Benetti-Longhini and Gary Velden Bekker have always incorporated an outdoor shower in their homes. In their home at Monaghan Farm in Gauteng, designed by architect Nadine Naidoo of Meik, the shower leads off the main bathroom onto a private wooden deck that’s protected from harsh west sun by a screen wall.
“We used teak decking which has taken on a beautiful silver- grey patina,” says Paolo. “It’s just the best to return home after a hard mountain bike ride and cool down in the shower while taking in the beautiful views.” The fittings are from Classic Trading in Woodmead, and the decking was supplied and installed by Grain & Co. The towel is from @home.
5. A tropical retreat
This space was originally just an alleyway which did no justice to the beautiful bathroom that opens out onto it. The owner contacted landscaper Craig de Necker of The Friendly Plant for help. “Initially we thought of turning this area into an atrium garden but, as there was access from the bathroom, it occurred to us to add a shower,” says Craig. To make the most of the space he came up with a steel framework that houses the plumbing, as well as the wiring for the low-voltage down lighters that add subtle lighting at night, and supports large planters filled with fragrant star jasmine.
A glass shelf for soaps rests on top of the pillar onto which the mixer is attached. Beyond the shower is a gabion wall against which he planted Monstera deliciosa, agapanthus, shrubs and groundcovers. Basket from @home, towels from Mr Price Home.
Tips for designing an outside shower
Nadine Naidoo, principal architect at Meik, shares some practical advice:
• First decide what type of space you want. A bright, sunny shower space or a cooler south-facing environment with lush shade planting?
• Privacy is paramount so look at areas like courtyards and use features like screens and suitable planting to block out the neighbours.
• A hot shower will require plumbing connected to a geyser or a solar-heated water source.
• A non-slip surface is essential. Decking is great underfoot and doesn’t absorb heat but it requires more maintenance than tiles.
• If you want to shower in the evening include soft lighting close to foliage to create a tranquil atmosphere.
• Fittings and drains should be easily accessible to facilitate any repairs.
• Include features to hold soaps, toiletries and towels.
Sources:
@home home.co.za Affordable Sundecks affordablesundecks.com Classic Trading classictrading.net Grain & Co 082 497 9477 Jan Blok Landscaping janblok.co.za Meik meik.co.za or 011 025 8318 or 082 809 1970 M+M Design mmdesigns.co.za Mr Price Home mrphome.co.za Paolo Deliperi 021 790 0593 The Friendly Plant thefriendlyplant.co.za or 082 805 0910 The Sandstone Story sandstonesupplies.co.za
Related Content
