Rorschach's Shower

Irvine, CA, United States

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Rorschach's Shower

Irvine, CA, United States

Firm

Laidlaw Schultz architects

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2017

SIZE

0 sqft - 1000 sqft

BUDGET

$100K - 500K

Occupying a traditional neo-French/Spanish /Tudor on the Irvine campus - this intelligent couple wanted to make a modern intervention into their home. At the heart of this request was the desire to create a space that represented who they were rather than trying to live up to the pastiche that was draped over their home. With a leaking shower, and a closet that wasn't sufficient, the idea emerged that a modern and calm retreat could be developed within their master suite. It was hoped that this new spa could be a counterpoint to the rest of the residence and offer them a respite from the molding, antiques, and historic references that comprised the home.
The first order of business was to strip the space to its shell and then to make simple and decisive moves - defining spaces in a manner that magnified both light and space. With a fixed amount of square footage to work with, a central vestibule acts as a link between the closet and bathroom and serves as a transitional space between the historic and the new. A simple palette was then established using three primary materials: bleached oak, stainless steel, and a select marble that was to serve as the set piece to the bathroom. Bleached oak made up the essential casework; stainless steel formed the edge of the transition of spaces be they the jambs of doors or the stainless tower to the shower; while the primary use of the marble is seen with mirrored slabs serving as a Rorschach test within the shower – a simple and entertaining way to access one’s mental state each day.
To reinforce the spa like nature of the space, the detailing focused on clean connections and a separation of materials that spoke to the inherit nature of each. This is perhaps best visualized within the closet where the bleached oak is set into a white frame, serving as the shoe shelves, while on the opposing wall a similar strategy is used but in reverse, with the clothes boxes plugging into the larger frame.
While budget didn’t allow for a full remodel of the home, ultimately this small intervention of “Architecture” transformed the essence of the residence. The homeowner’s now had a space to prepare for the day that reflected their true nature: bright, intelligent, and thoughtful.