TRANSFORMING SPACE

The bathroom has been revolutionized and created a new genre of living. In modern design history, it would have been unheard of to place a monolithic tub in the bedroom, or to have sofas and seating elements, rugs and TV in the bathroom. Today, while not in every home, its certainly not unexpected. “Time is luxury, and luxury is for enjoying. That applies also to the hours of intimacy and regeneration we spend in the bathroom. Which is why we are equipping it with wall units, seat cushions, warm materials and bathroom furnishings that show barely a trace of their proximity to water,” explains the IMM Cologne report.

Hence, forward thinking designers continually are re-evaluating the space in terms of new uses, not only infusing it with sophisticated aesthetics but injecting smart, solution-driven products to meet all the demands now being placed on the bathroom.

This might explain why collections such as the two-year-old Kartell by Laufen, a collaboration between iconic Italian furniture maker Kartell and Swiss bathroom specialist Laufen, has expanded so rapidly. The Kartell by Laufen brand already credits 550 stores in 40 countries to its name. The collection, inspired by the iconic designs of Kartell, maker of the instantly

Designer Konstantin Grcic works with Laufen’s new material

Cielo presents the wafer-thin

collection of sinks recognisable Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck, includes washbasins, sanitaryware, taps and fittings, storage units, shower bases, bathtubs, lights and accessories, all of which coexist with the maximum flexibility. Designed by renowned Italian architecture practice Ludovica+Roberto Palomba, long-time Laufen partners, the range was launched in 2013. “With Kartell by Laufen we have created a holistic perspective of the bathroom that considers design, emotion and innovation, transforming this room into an architecturally valuable space,” notes Frank Liebetrau, a commercial director at Laufen.

The thin and light ceramics, crafted with the modern material SaphirKeramik, feature a rigid geometry tempered by the lightness of the transparent plastic elements of items such as mirror frames, stools, racks and wall shelves in colors including tangerine, amber and clear. “The idea was to give emotion to a function. Helping the transformation of a space into architecture. A liveable dream, with sophisticated yet affordable aesthetics, chic yet understated,” Liebetrau adds.

“[It’s] an architectural project that speaks a new language. Innovative, rich in emotion, transparency and colour,” note the design duo. “The Kartell by Laufen bathroom is the synthesis of the work we have done in recent years in the world of the bathroom and represents an important step forward in this sector.”

The Ginger’s robe hook adds a nautical touch

shower by Dornbracht adds a seated option to the at-home spa