Duravit ‘s new tap pillar.
New bath solutions from German ace
Duravit, a leader in bathroom solutions, has unveiled a range of intelligent products that help easy renovation of bathrooms.
01 December 2007
With bathrooms increasing been seen as a place of retreat, more and more people are looking at replacing their old-fashioned bathrooms with modern, rejuvenating space, says German bathrooms specialist Duravit, which aims to meet the demands of today’s market with its intelligent solutions for easy bathroom renovation.
These include cleverly-designed bathtubs, aesthetic lighting, compact storage spaces and multifunctional furniture that highlight sophisticated design with functionality for today’s bathrooms.
“Bathrooms are a space that have traditionally been incredibly static and are only renovated once every 10 to 20 years – but today given the hectic lifestyle, more and more people feel the need for a very personal oasis of calm and are replacing old-fashioned bathrooms with contemporary bright rooms that provide a fantastic start to every new day. High-profile bathroom manufacturers such as Duravit are offering a whole raft of solutions that not only generate the desired sense of comfort but that also prove particularly intelligent for many aspects of bathroom renovation,” says a spokesman for Duravit.
When it comes to renovation, the bathtub is the most hotly debated issue. Free-standing bathtubs that can be positioned flexibly to make the most of available space in the room layout are currently very popular. But where does the water come from for a free-standing bath?
“Duravit provides a solution with its tap pillar. The wood-veneer pillar, measuring 110 by 45 by 20 cm, provides a housing for a tap system. The pillar is fitted on the inside with a pre-punched mounting plate, designed for integrating products from Dornbracht, Grohe, Hansa and Hansgrohe,” says the spokesman. “The tap pillar accommodates both the tap and a hand-held spray head, which can be attached on the left or right of the pillar and, depending on the water supply, is positioned either on the long or the narrow side of the bath. Thanks to the removable rear panel, the pillar provides easy access for subsequent inspections.
Separate feet for the unfinished floor offsets any unevenness that is often found when renovating old buildings.”
But what happens when floor space is at a premium and free-standing furniture takes up too much room?
“Corner bathtubs are a popular choice when renovating bathrooms – with good reason, particularly when they combine maximum bathing comfort with a more-than-generous showering zone, such as the Seadream bathtub. Designed by Jochen Schmiddem for Duravit, this bathtub has an intelligent L-shaped geometrical design that creates space for bathing and showering with external measurements of just 163.5 by 110 cm.
“Thanks to the generous tub depth of 57 cm, Seadream is just perfect for dreamy pool baths, and also has the option of being fitted with a Duravit whirl system. In order to maximise the showering zone, the 25-degree sloping backrest runs vertically in the lower area of the acrylic tub. The shower partition in transparent safety glass swivels up to 180 degrees while there is plenty of space on the 10-cm-wide tub rim for tap fittings.
“Alternatively, the rain shower can also come from a wall-mounted fitting. A step the width of the tub transforms the L-shape into a 163.5 cm by 141 cm rectangle, which gives a practical access support while providing a place to keep towels and toilet essentials,” says the spokesman.
Aesthetic lighting
As the right lighting makes all the difference in creating a suitable ambiance, the Germany-based designer Andreas Struppler has developed a lighting concept for Duravit that features contemporary light and electrical technologies and meets specific lighting requirements in the bathroom. This range, known as e-mood, is designed as a furniture range and consists of seven modules offering ideal lighting for all room layouts, says the spokesman. The e-board and e-wall are of particular interest in renovation work as they not only create aesthetic lighting but are also space savers.
Storage spaces
“The e-board is a welcome addition to the storage space above the wash basin and keeps the whole washing area tidy. The elegant aluminium body conceals a tissue box behind a wooden panel, as well as an e-box with triple socket that accommodates a “tangle” of shaver, hairdryer and electric toothbrush cables. There are also small-hinged compartments, with an alternative option of a soap dispenser.
“On the underside, a sensor measures the amount of daylight and, when it is dark, activates a small cone of light that greatly facilitates orientation for older people and children in particular. The e-board can stand alone with these features or have other lighting tasks with the mirror and mirror cabinet. The e-mirror and e-cabinet with functional lighting ensure adequate visibility when shaving or applying make-up, as two fluorescent tubes illuminate the whole face evenly, without a shadow or glare effect. On the other hand, separate lighting provided by LEDs on three sides shine onto the ceiling and walls, in a soothing blue, stimulating red or uplifting green or a programme with all colours in alternation, creating the right mood for its user,” says the spokesman.
Multifunctional furniture
The e-wall is a successful mix of small wall and furniture elements and at just 95 cm high and 22 cm deep, it can be mounted flat against the wall or projecting from it, which makes it ideal as a room divider or for screening off the toilet. The unit has three doors that are available in any of 11 different shades of wood. Inside, there are four glass shelves and functional lighting shimmering through a glass panel on the top.
Duravit has continued to enhance its standing in the international design arena, by offering aesthetic and functional bathroom designs and continuous innovation. All of Duravit’s products are manufactured to the highest quality standards at its factories in Germany, France, Egypt and Turkey.
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