Bathroom living
We no longer simply want to visit the bathroom and move on; we want to linger and enjoy it. “The bathroom is like an extra battery that enables us to give our bodies an urgently needed recharge in the comfort and privacy of our own homes – whether that means relaxing in the tub or sweating it out on a treadmill,” says Wischmann.
Crucially, as the bathroom morphs into a space where people enjoy spending time, it must also be a place with which they can identify. Wischmann's advice: don't think about what belongs in your bathroom; focus on what you and your family need. “Not everybody who has a big bathroom necessarily wants a tub, for instance,” he explains. “They might prefer to use the space next to the shower to accommodate a punching bag, a meditation cushion or a dressing table. Or perhaps even a mini-sauna.”
Significantly, what we need is also rapidly changing.. Manufacturers are increasingly adapting products to meet changes in society – the popularity of level-access showers catering to the needs of an ageing population being a case in point.
“Ideal Standard offers a WC especially for heavy people who don't manage too well with the standard size of an average German toilet,” Wischmann adds. The message is clear: a one-size-fits-all approach will no longer cut it in the bathroom.