Designer bathrooms

Kohler's multi-faceted Flipside shower.
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Building on a trend that has transformed the bathroom into one of the hippest rooms in the house, Hansgrohe’s designer brand, Axor, will later this year unveil a new collection created with the Bouroullec Brothers.

Fresh from a collaboration with Patricia Urquiola, the company has also extended its Axor Citterio collection, a collaboration with Milan-based architect and designer Antonio Citterio that was first unveiled in 2003.

The collection now includes a new type of mixer that aims at further optimising the comfort of the wash basin area, as well as a new overhead showerhead with a fully pre-assembled surface-mount shower system.

Citterio has also further developed his spatial concept for the modern bathroom. His 2003 concept focused on the segmentation of the bathroom into wellbeing and needs-oriented zones, by introducing transparent elements. “To me, time is the sublime expression of immaterial luxury,” said Citterio.

“And the bathroom is where I take time out for myself: to me, it is a place for retreat and regeneration. It is therefore all the more important that I adorn this space with selected, valuable and beautiful things.”

In the new, enhanced version of the Axor Citterio bathroom, an enclosed area in the centre of the room accommodates the toilet, with the wash basin, shower and bathtub placed along the outside wall.

This ‘room within a room’ links areas dedicated to sleeping and bodily hygiene, resulting in a comfortable, spacious environment where bathroom and bedroom harmoniously blend into each other.

“In this way, Antonio Citterio once again shows us how these two formerly separate rooms can increasingly grow into one functional, aesthetically pleasing unit that turns the bathroom into a fundamental part of modern living.

“By featuring a large window front and direct access to the garden in his wellbeing bathroom, the result is an abundance of natural light – in addition to the deliberate placement of his accentuated sources of light giving the bathroom a very comfortable, inviting atmosphere,” commented Philip Grohe, head of the Axor brand.

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Teaming up with leading architects, interior designers and fashion icons has enabled bathroom companies to transform the bathroom into a space that is now as much about style as it is about function. “There has definitely been an increased emphasis on contemporary design, which is cyclical. I think contemporary design is becoming more ubiquitous in most markets around the world,” noted David Kohler, president and COO of Kohler.

Swiss bathroom manufacturer Laufen has identified two distinct, seemingly contradictory design trends making their way into the bathroom. “We are seeing northern, puristic, rectangular design, as well as Italian, organic, rounded design,” revealed Ivan Zupanovic, international sales and marketing manager, Laufen.

“Innovations in both sectors are very important for Laufen, because the demand is split between these two approaches. And, with its Swiss tradition of integrating influences from the north as well as the south, Laufen is in an excellent position to deliver both – and refine them with quality and finesse,” Zupanovic continued.

Responding to the need to create increasingly design-orientated products, Spanish bathroom company Roca has introduced Khroma, a collection characterised by colour. “Roca has brought colour back into the bathroom,” said Victor Schoone, country manager, Middle East, Roca.

The collection is available in ‘passion’ red, ‘street’ and ‘silver’ grey, and oxygen blue. “We give people the opportunity to keep the sanitary ware in white but to bring colour in, in the form of colourful toilet seats and covers and furniture,” Schoone said.

The need for sleek, innovative bathroom solutions has also been recognised by Geberit, which has responded with its Monolith collection. “The elegantly-designed Geberit Monolith is a perfect alternative to toilets with visible cisterns.

“It is compact and flexible, opening up a nearly unlimited application range. Installation of the entire system is completed in a single operation, with the new installation ready for use within just a few hours,” said Guy Wilson, head of Gulf region, Geberit international sales.

Promoting a brushed aluminium and glass finish, Monolith is characterised by clear, simple lines and high-quality materials. “With its slim profile, the Monolith can be fitted into almost any bathroom without impinging on space and is ideal for the retro-fit market as it conceals marks from previous floor-standing pans and there is no need for any complex plumbing alterations,” explained Wilson.