The Kangaroo Valley Outhouse is really nothing more than a bathroom in the Australian bush. It belongs to a small cabin where you can spend the night. The Kangaroo Valley Outhouse was designed by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects.
The Kangaroo Valley Outhouse by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects is a mirrored cube that stands slightly above the ground among the vegetation. During the day the building is barely visible. It reflects the lush landscape and only the subtle lines of the edges of the cube are visible.
The idea behind the design of the Kangaroo Valley Outhouse was to separate the bathroom from the cabin itself. To simulate the feeling of camping: the idea that you walk to the toilet building with your toiletry bag and towel.
The walk on a path to the bathroom enhances the experience of being in the bush, especially at night. The bathroom is located low on a hill about 30 meters from the cabin and can be reached via a path through the dense landscape.
In the bathroom, all walls are made of glass. This gives thee an unobstructed view of the surrounding landscape. The walls are a one-way mirror, which is visible from the inside, but reflective on the outside.
In the center of the cube are a bath and a shower. When the light level inside the cube (at night) is high, the mirror also becomes visible from the outside.
Sustainable technologies such as natural ventilation, solar lighting, and water recycling have been used in construction. The cube has minimal contact with the bottom and can be easily removed. The place can be restored to its natural state at any time.
Madeleine Blanchfield Architects’ idea was to design a bathroom with the least possible impact on the surrounding landscape. And it had to give the user the feeling of being outside. And that has certainly succeeded.
Photography: Robert Walsh