Thoroughly modern ... the spectacular Passion.
Glamorous space to rest and relax
From functional spaces used for personal ablution, bathrooms today have evolved into areas of rest, recreation and rejuvenation.
01 December 2006
As bathrooms take on a new-found glamour similar to the rituals reminiscent of the bygone Turkish and Roman eras, designers and sanitary ware suppliers are catering to new demands that this space makes, using the latest materials and state-of-the-art technology to allow the urbanite to convert this space into a zone of tranquillity for rest and relaxation.
“There is a revolution sweeping the market, as people are becoming increasingly clear about attention to detail and personal touch,” says Julian Henco, managing director, Hansgrohe Group, Middle East, Africa and India “This is particularly true in the Gulf where the concept of home ownership is gaining momentum. Consequently, homeowners are taking a personal interest in buying fittings for bathrooms.”
Ambience is the key word and different themes that reflect both the owner’s personality and moods are being explored.
In the quest for even greater relaxation and comfort, entering 21st century bathrooms are whirlpool systems or hydrotherapy showers, which can provide multi-functional uses such as colour therapy, steam and aromatherapy.
“Design is the key word of this century. Earlier, everyone focused on strategy and strategy development. Then, we went through the “total quality” stage. Now, design has come to the fore. In markets with hundreds of producers, businesses that cannot differentiate themselves from their competitors clearly do not have a chance of survival,” says Ananth Narayan, Alshaya Trading’s regional manager.
With a line-up of dealerships that include brand names like Keramag, Kludi, Bobrick, Keuco and Galatea from Germany Al Shaya has been riding the crest of the realty growth around the region and growth has been in double digits these past few years.
“Forget about standard pedestal sinks and rectangular bathtubs. Sleek style, superb finishes and great design values are demanding that bathroom designers develop solutions that are both practical and aesthetically appealing. Going shopping for a new bathroom is no small task as the choice available can range from classic to contemporary and antique vintage to slick modern and more. And we have to ensure we can satisfy every taste,” he adds.
Designer bathrooms are clearly the order of the day and, in their quest to fulfill their clients’ every wish, Alshaya has been expanding its product range, Keramag being among its more recent additions. The brand is a leading German manufacturer of sanitary products as well as public and commercial wash and toilet facilities.
“In line with market trends, we have added new sanitary ware suites F-1 and Joop – designed by Porshe Design and Joop Living Hamburg, exclusively for Keramag,” he says.
Alshaya also offers Keuco’s full range of bathroom accessories, furniture and fittings, which combine traditional metalwork with woodwork techniques. Keuco is a reputed brand that has received the Design Awards 2000 for the Keuco Plan collection and the Red Dot award in 2004 for the Royal T2 mirror cabinet.
Kludi, another world-renowned name in bathroom fittings, is leading the way in meeting the demands of the environmentally-conscious. “Its spectacular range offers maximum user comfort with water and energy-saving functions and thermostat technology for more safety and easy care. There is something to meet every conceivable requirement – from environmentally-conscious individuals to families with children. Kludi fittings adapt perfectly to any bathroom,” he points out.
More than just being a friend of the environment, there is also a quest to search for newer ways to maintain hygiene. Hansgrohe, a well-known name in sanitary engineering and manufacturing, recently launched a range of anti-bacterial shower hoses in the Middle East. The company says it was the first to introduce anti-bacterial shower hoses in Europe, and the product has gained instant popularity.
“The new product, which will revolutionise the sanitary industry in the Middle East, has been designed in accordance with the German Federal Health Agency requirement for the application of plastics in potable water pipes,” says Holger Ruf, marketing and communications manager, Hansgrohe Group, Middle East, Africa and India. “The anti-bacterial plastic shower hoses offer effective protection against harmful micro-organisms and will mark a new era in hygiene in the Middle East.”
He adds: “The hot climate and moisture in the region makes it particularly susceptible to the growth of microorganisms. Our plastic shower hoses – Novaflex and Isiflex – use the anti-bacterial quality of natural silver, making them bacteria-resistant.”
Changing the way that bathrooms are viewed is Bagno Design, a leading Gulf-wide chain that is launching a whole range of new products. Enhancing its current offering is Hoesch’s new range of tubs Scelta and Spectra. This unique ‘family of bathtubs’ seamlessly combines various shapes – from rectangular to oval – with the rest of the interiors of the project, says the Dubai-based firm, which specialises in sanitary ware, tiles, plumbing accessories, sinks and bath-tubs.
Backed by its huge variety of top-of-the-line product ranges, Bagno offers many combinations to make a bathroom luxurious, unique, and a place of well-being.
“Hoesch is offering numerous possibilities to meet to the widest variety of spatial conditions and preferences in taste and it is the variations on different basic shapes and dimensions that has made it all possible,” says Daryl Barker, group managing director of sanitary ware and plumbing specialist Sanipex, of which Bagno Design is a subsidiary.
Both bathtub families – Scelta and Spectra – focus on the same theme and were designed by the renowned German designer, Adolf Babel, he points out.
With design leading the way in creating modern bathrooms, leading German ceramic sanitary ware manufacturer Duravit has turned to renowned designers such as the French designer Philippe Starck, Sieger Design, Frank Huster, Michael Graves and Phoenix Design to create its innovative and design-led range of products. The more recent addition to its range include the 2nd Floor series continue to set trends and drive the industry forward in both commercial and private sectors (see page 135).
Among local manufacturers, RAK Ceramics leads the field with worldwide sales of over $400 million and rules with a 60 per cent market share. Its global production of tiles is over 300,000 sq m per day, making it one of the largest multinational in the world manufacturing ceramic /porcelain tiles and sanitary ware. Presently, the company exports to over 135 countries.
This global ceramic multinational calls upon Italian and British design consultants to develop the latest designs to ensure that it offers an exclusive range of sanitary ware with a very wide choice in designer bathroom sets, wash basins, bathtubs and related products.
Designers of sanitary ware are conscious of the many factors that come into play when creating today’s bathrooms: Ergonomics and space saving solutions is sought without losing sight of quality, shape, and texture. Along with futuristic design in tubs, washbasins and shower enclosures, another area that is fast growing is in the region of bathroom accessories.
Here too designers are creating dressy mirror cabinets and specially designed furniture for bathrooms.
The quest to create the create the ideal bathroom environment doesn’t end there - matching ranges of towel sets, bath mats and soap dispensers and toothbrush holders all naturally designer ware, all go into creating the right ambiance to the last detail.
