Gulf Construction Online - Neorest breathes life into bathrooms

Bathrooms & Water Heaters

Neorest LE collection ... timeless.

Neorest breathes life into bathrooms

Japan’s Toto has raised the bar on automation in bathrooms with its Neorest SE and LE collections, which combine futuristic technology with aesthetics to offer the highest level of comfort.

01 December 2011

TOTO, Japan’s leading producer of ceramic sanitary ware, continues to expand its luxury Neorest suite with innovative products designed to take the bathroom experience to new heights. The latest series to join this family of “living” bathrooms are the Neorest SE and Neorest LE, which were introduced on the Middle East market three months ago.

Toto describes the Neorest suite – which literally means ‘new rest’ – as ‘living’ and ‘breathing’ because it remembers aspects such as the user’s preferred water temperature and how deep they like the bath. It even ‘senses’ the user’s approach and prepares accordingly, it says.

“Here, technology and design bond to form a sense of relaxation like no other. The result is a suite that is as luxurious and intuitive as any can be. We like to think of it as ‘ergonomic technology’. It makes every single experience more rewarding. And that, we see as the peak of luxury,” says a spokesman for Bukamal, Toto’s partner in Bahrain. “Toto represents the ideal symbiosis of technology and design, complex construction and simple operation.”

The new suites incorporate all of Toto’s design priorities for bathrooms, namely comfort and convenience, functionality and minimalism, discreet technology, and superior hygiene that is achieved through numerous design, material and technological innovations.

The design concept of the Neorest SE is all about integration with the advanced technologies all incorporated though hardly visible to the naked eye. The products’ flat lines are unobtrusive, neatly matching each other and fitting into any bathroom atmosphere.

The Neorest automated water closet – offering the highest level of comfort among Toto’s collections – is a sleek, tankless, wall-hung toilet with an integrated main unit. It has a sensor-activated lid and a “Tornado” flush, which minimises the volume of water required to flush to within 3 to 4.8 litres with its vigorous and efficient flushing technology. The special CeFiOntect glaze used on the ceramic ensures stain resistance and exceptional levels of hygiene. The water closet features a filter system to absorb odours, a heated seat and a warm water nozzle, which is an individually adjustable wand system with a self-cleaning function.

The bathroom suite from the Neorest SE collection.

A number of different cleaning functions are available, such as oscillating wash and soft wash, plus warm air drying. All functions are controlled with an elegant and ergonomic remote control.

“With its adjustable water temperature and pressure, adjustable seat temperature and dryer, the water closet is designed to meet the individual needs of the user and thus ensure maximum comfort and convenience,” he says.

The Neorest SE washbasin features sensor-activated “waterfall” faucets that let water flow gently and these can be disabled manually at any time and switched to a flow of a fixed 50-second duration.

The suite’s economical shower unit keeps the temperature fluctuation of hot water to a minimum and uses water to maximum efficiency. Made with SMA (shape memory alloy), a material which returns to its original shape immediately at the set temperature even if the shape has been changed, the thermostatic unit assures a consistent temperature. In addition, the metal components on the hot water side are covered with a cold water pipe to keep them cool and eliminate any risk of the user accidently getting burnt.

The shower features Gyrostream technology which takes the showering experience to a whole new level. “The water sprays out from several sources including the head-shower, the hand-held unit and the six-nozzle body shower, which uses Gyrostream technology to create a vortex of water that rinses and warms the entire body,” the spokesman explains.

The bathtub, which can accommodate either one or two bathers, incorporates hydrohands technology to create a whirlpool effect that provides a relaxing massage, while bubbles help to heighten the sense of well-being.

“The shoulder shower channels a stream of warm water on the neck and shoulders and cushioned headrests let the bather sit back and unwind. The steps feature an inlaid metal profile, making it easier and safer to get into the bath. Another highlight of this bath is the underwater lighting that creates a kind of atmosphere otherwise only found at spa resorts,” he says.

LED lights allow the bather to change the colour of the bath water from a choice of 10 colours and three sequential programmes.

Like the washbasin, the bathtub features a constant waterfall-like flow of water. An auto-fill function automatically stops the flow when the water reaches the chosen level. The faucet opens up to reveal a hand shower and the LCD control panel with touchscreen and speech function allows the bather to conveniently control all the bathtub’s functions.

Turning to the Neorest LE, the spokesman points out that the charm of the Neorest LE lies in its distinctive design. The washbasin set, which was the winner of the red dot design award for product design in 2009, combines design with functionality, while showcasing Toto’s innovative Luminist material, thanks to its built-in LED lighting. The translucent epoxy resin combines a soft silky texture with impressive durability.

As with the SE series, the water closet features a host of technologies, including a warm water jet, dryer, heated seat, air purifier, special CeFiOntect glaze and the ‘tornado’ flush. To ensure it fits in with the rest of the collection, it features a push plate made from luminist epoxy resin.

The bathtub, meanwhile, brings out the best of both light and water – a prime reason for it securing the red dot design award in 2010. LEDs are used to create a diffused shimmer that underscores the clarity of the design and creates a sense of well-being throughout the entire bathroom.

Other innovative features are the eco-power timer, which helps minimise power consumption by putting the bathroom into ‘sleep’ mode when it is not in use for a stretch of time.

Neorest products have been installed at a number of projects in Bahrain including the new Kempinski hotel, Bahrain Financial Harbour, Moda Mall, the newly-refurbished Regency InterContinental hotel and a number of luxury villas and palaces. Bukamal has a showroom dedicated to Toto products in Sitra, where a range of Neorest products are on display.

Toto products have also been used at Dubai International Airport and several five-star hotels in Dubai (including the Presidential suite at Burj Al Arab which features bathrooms with gold-plated accessories) and Qatar, among other projects in the region.

Toto has its regional office in Dubai and showrooms located in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.