IT’S not unusual for a hotel room to come complete with a remarkable view.
But what about the bathroom?
Long gone are the days when this most functional space was placed in a dark corner, out of sight and out of mind, with today’s architects and interior designers positioning the bathroom so those occupying the suite can enjoy a memorable vista while soaking in the shower or relaxing in the tub.
1. Ho Chi Minh City’s 22-storey Le Meridien Saigon is on the river on the edge of District 1 and has uninterrupted views across the bustling metropolis. The glass wall dividing the bathroom and bedroom lets those standing in the shower gaze at the sprawling city as they wash.
2. The Kimberley’s Berkeley River Lodge is so far from civilisation – on Western Australia’s far north coast an hour’s flight in a light aircraft from Kununurra – that there’s almost no light pollution. That means guests using the outdoor bathroom in each of the private villas can look up at the sparkling stars during a night-time soak in the oversized bath.
3. Every room at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore has a view, even the bathrooms. Guests can see the city skyline from everywhere in the wet area, even inside the shower but the highlight would have to be soaking in the oversized marble tub, gazing through the octagonal window at the panorama including the Singapore Flyer.
4. When Tracey and Vin O’Callaghan designed Aspect Villas in Victoria’s Halls Gap they wanted guests to see the view from every corner of the modern cottages, so they positioned a spa bath inside a picture window that frames a vista along the valley to the dramatic peaks of Grampians National Park.
5. Each of the grown-up tree houses at exclusive Hapuku Lodge – near Kaikoura on New Zealand’s South Island – is orientated to give guests absolute privacy.
Bathrooms are placed to present a panorama that’s especially magnificent at sunset, and stretches from the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean to the dramatic mountains flanking the coastline.
6. When Melbourne architect Rob Mills designed Ocean House Ocean House in Lorne he hid a tub on the pavilion’s flat roof so those enjoying the holiday house, perched between the bush and beach on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, can bathe alfresco with only the resident kookaburras for company.
7. A secluded stretch of sand on Vietnam’s sun-soaked coast is home to the AVANI Quy Nhon Resort & Spa. It’s so private guests can look across the South China Sea – or the East Sea as locals prefer to call it – while savouring their suite’s rain shower without fear of neighbours wandering past.
8. The Ocean Wing at Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort & Spa is the Borneo hotel’s most recent addition and each guest room in this sand-side structure features a built-in tub on the ample balcony. A housekeeper will fill it, adding essential oils and flower petals while guests enjoy dinner.
Far Near Or Here 