Bespoke Bathrooms’ designers like to keep their fingers on the pulse of international trends and innovations in order to offer their South African clients the best possible service. The following are our favourite bathroom trends at ISH Frankfurt.
One way of gauging trends is to attend specialist trade shows where bathroom manufacturers launch new lines and introduce prototypes. One such event is the annual ISH Frankfurt which is the world’s largest showcase for innovative bathroom design. Bespoke Bathrooms spent three days there earlier this month checking out all the new offerings.
Presenting new collections at ISH was one of our favourite manufacturers – the world renowned Swiss company Laufen.
Laufen collection: VAL
Designed by the award wining Munich based Konstantin Grcic, this collection is characterized by clear geometric forms, thin walls, extremely narrow edges and gentle radii made possible by Laufen’s unique ceramic material SaphirKeramik. The collection has a very light and elegant in feel which is suitable for everyday use and includes rectangular and asymmetrical washbasin bowls, as well as drop in washbasins.
One real eye-catcher in the Val range is the free-standing circular bathtub, which has a diameter of 130 cm.
Laufen collection: INO
Designed by French designer Toan Nguyen, Ino is a fresh interpretation of classic washbasin forms again using the creative possibilities of SaphirKeramik. Thanks to their extremely thin walls the bowls appear extremely generous, radiating lightness.
The collection includes a wall-mounted basin, a countertop or half inserted washbasin bowl, as well as high-quality bathroom furniture and bathtubs.
Nguyen has also designed bathroom furniture to accompany the Ino collection. A highlight is the ultra-thin panel on the drawer made from real wood veneer or mirrored aluminium, which seamlessly flows over the sides and base of the cabinet making it appear as one piece. A matching cupboard with round-cornered door is also available.
Laufen concept: SONAR
Sonar is a concept collection designed by Patricia Urquiola in which she has sought to combine two powerful and apparently opposing sources of inspiration: the rigour of architectural minimalism as an expression of purity and formal understatement; and the energy and dynamism connected with the natural phenomenon of sound waves and their relationship with water.
Inclined planes, material cuts, small internal overhangs are all functional ploys to optimize the flow of water and to resolve logistical aspects with creative ingenuity and style.
Image credits: Laufen