Since at least the 1970s, when Calgon advertised its skincare products as means to “take me away,” the bathroom has transformed from a site of hygiene to a personal haven. Yet this enormous shift does not rely on bubble beads and body washes alone. The Hornberg, Germany-based manufacturer Duravit is producing bathroom fittings that foster changing perceptions.
ME by Starck
Duravit’s products are also influencing the meaning of this recently hatched concept. “Every person takes advantage of their bathroom space differently, so what is comfortable and relaxing for one person may not be for another,” says Tim Schroeder, president of Duravit USA. “Because of this, we aim to provide enough options where users can create their own experience.”
P3 Comforts
Take the Paiova 5, which Duravit launched this fall and whose design by Vienna-based EOOS refreshes the Paiova concept originally released in 2012. Both freestanding and built-in versions of the sculptural tub include two backrest slopes. The planes are angled for sitting or lounging and allow bathers to share the internal volume with a second person — or to individually choose a reclining position that best ergonomically suits them.
Paiova 5 (also shown at top)
While the geometry of Paiova 5 lends itself to personalization, the tub achieves full customizability by way of less visible features. It incorporates Bluetooth and LED technology, backrests that can be equipped with massaging jets, and increased rim size for perimeter shelving.
SensoWash Slim
Another product re-launch in Duravit’s recent slate incorporates progressive shapes and high technology, and, like Paiova 5, it infuses the bathroom’s original sanitation purpose with luxury. Updating the Philippe Starck-designed SensoWash is the new ultra-streamlined version of this shower toilet — called SensoWash Slim. Its sleekness accompanies three wash cycles operated by a discreet remote control, which includes settings for intensity and position of the water spray. Other features range from a nightlight to an integrated flow heater that conserves water.
OpenSpace B
The slim proportions of SensoWash Slim suggest that today’s sanctuary bathroom can also demand certain spaciousness. Underscoring that option is the shower enclosure OpenSpace for which Duravit and EOOS eschewed traditional railings and pillars for a corner-mounted structural frame whose two glass doors swing out and lock into a 90-degree angle; they imperceptibly fold against the wall after use. For an even more seamless room plan, the new OpenSpace B features an improved mounting bracket, which precludes diagonal wall supports even in the largest of the product’s four sizes.
OpenSpace B
OpenSpace B perfectly complements the Stonetto shower tray. Manufactured entirely in the quartz-based cast-mineral material DuraSolid, the shower area and drain cover appear as a single plane. The matte-finish stone surface is available in white, beige, and anthracite and requires no coating for slip resistance; in other words, it is a highly minimalist, high-performance take on the organic aesthetic that consumers equate with escapism. “While Duravit’s materials are all natural, Stonetto provides that earthy, raw look that is very popular,” Schroeder says — noting that the sustainability movement’s mainstream acceptance underlies the look’s popularity.
Stonetto
Besides sustainability, some large-scale social trends drive these product launches. The entrance of Millennials into the marketplace is one example. Younger buyers are more willing to buck traditional forms and functions and embrace integrated technology. “Younger, newer buyers are interpreting the ‘rules’ of design in a much more individual way. Products that help solve their specific problems — whether of style, budget, space, etcetera — appeal to them, and the cool factor of tech-friendly or feature-heavy products also comes into play,” Schroeder says. The executive adds that these products were conceived with an eye to the revitalization of cities, and renovations of small existing bathrooms accompany that sea change: “Use of space in urban settings needs to be efficient and practical above all else. However, we still think there’s a way to infuse great design and comfort into these environments.”
Stonetto
Whatever the underlying cause, the effect is a phenomenon of its own. More than ever, the bathroom can be designed for what Schroeder calls “personal comfort: you can create a custom, luxury bath experience that perfectly accompanies and supports your lifestyle for the better.”
L-Cube
