The “Aquatecture” installation underscores the significance and importance of water in architecture and the health and well-being benefits this infusion can bring.
An integral part of this experience is the GROHE SPA Aqua Talks, a captivating series of discussions, where renowned architects, and leading designers, converge to explore the interplay between water, architecture, and well-being. The three talks will delve into the impact on personal and social wellness, by uncovering designs that transform spaces into reflective environments of tranquility and revitalisation, offering a complete multi-sensory experience.
Tuesday 16 April 2024, 5-6pm CET: Revitalisation
With Jean-Jacques L’Henaff, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, LIXIL Americas and César Giraldo, César Giraldo Design
Wednesday 17 April 2024, 5-6pm CET: Redefining Luxury
With Paul Flowers, Leader, LIXIL Global Design & Brand Identity and Steve Leung, Steve Leung Design Group
Friday 19 April 2024, 11am–12pm CET: Regeneration
With Patrick Speck, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, LIXIL EMENA, Daniela Baldo, Founding Partner Studio Marco Piva and Tina Norden, Partner Conran and Partner
SBID Members earn 1 x CPD point (per talk) for attending!
GROHE will showcase selected pieces of its premium sub-brand GROHE SPA at the world’s biggest annual design event from 16th – 21st April. Crafting a sanctuary of well-being in the heart of Milan, the immersive experience based on “Aquatectures” fuses water and architecture to bring the GROHE SPA “Health through Water” concept to life. The installation at the prestigious Palazzo Reale is paying tribute to the history of the former royal palace’s courtyard garden.
With over 30,000 visitors, the Red Dot “Best of the Best” awarded GROHE SPA installation at the Pinacoteca di Brera left a lasting impression on Milan Design Week 2023. Building on this success, GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, is returning this year with a new immersive experience in one of Milan’s most prestigious locations: The Palazzo Reale. The former royal palace near the Duomo serves as a cultural nexus and is home to international art exhibitions – the ideal scenery for GROHE SPA’s celebration of the revitalising power of water.
“We are proud to be a part of Milan Design Week once again. This occasion offers us an ideal platform for meaningful engagement and exchange with architects and designers, fostering mutual inspiration. Our objective transcends a mere product presentation; rather, we aspire to cultivate a holistic experience that underlines the essence of GROHE SPA: the belief that water is the source of vital energy,” says Karl Lennon, Leader GROHE SPA, LIXIL EMENA.
From 16th-21st April, the courtyard of the Palazzo Reale itself will undergo a metamorphosis into an exhibition space. Conceived by the in-house LIXIL Global Design and Brand Identity team, the installation pays tribute to the history of the building by evoking its past and interweaving it with the contemporary GROHE SPA “Salus per aquam” concept.
“Inspired by the former courtyard garden and in line with the motto of the Fuorisalone ‘Materia Natura’, we are aiming to blend nature and architecture to create a sensory journey focusing on the element of water. Visitors will be taken through our innovative concept of ‘Aquatecture’ spaces, experiencing the essence of our brand and our carefully curated bathroom solutions. We intend to elevate the significance and importance of water in architecture and the health and well-being benefits this infusion can bring. Each ‘Aquatecture’ represents one of the four tiers that bring GROHE SPA to life. From tier one the most exclusive and customisable solution utilising 3D metal-printing to create bespoke designs, to luxury material collaborations and trend setting colours, materials and finishes,” explains Patrick Speck, Leader, LIXIL Global Design EMENA.
Architects, designers, and visitors can experience the installation and GROHE SPA firsthand at the Palazzo Reale, from 16-21, April 2024.
The installation will be open to the public on: 16/17 April from 10:30am-7:30pm CET 18 April from 10:30am-5:00pm CET 19/20 April from 10:30am-10pm CET 21 April from 10:30am-6:00pm CET
On April 15 the installation will be exclusively open to media from 12pm-6pm CET.
About GROHE
GROHE is the world’s leading provider of sanitary fittings and a global brand, dedicated to providing innovative water products. GROHE manufactures premium bathroom and kitchen fittings, offering complete bathroom solutions from brassware, ceramics and accessories to some of the most innovative shower and toilet systems, as well as a diverse range of sinks, taps and innovative WaterSystems for the kitchen. GROHE prides itself on being specified in some of the most prestigious and iconic hotel and holiday resorts across the world, renowned for its innovative technology, sustainable credentials and superior quality and design.
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Leading supplier of complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings for hotels, resorts, and hospitality projects globally, GROHE, is delighted to be exhibiting for the third consecutive year at HIX 2023.
The leading hotel design exhibition will take place at London’s Business Design Centre and welcome over 3,500 guests and 200 exhibitors to showcase all things hotel design and experience this November. This year’s exhibition is under the theme ‘a room with a point of view’ and seeks to bring together the entire hotel interior community, providing two days of networking, discussions, celebration, and collaboration.
For the third consecutive year, GROHE is returning this November to exhibit its premium range of bathroom products, with a particular focus on both its dedicated GROHE Professional portfolio and premium sub-brand, GROHE SPA, comprising of renowned designs such as Atrio, Allure Brilliant, and ICON 3D.
This year, GROHE’s showcase will hone in on quality design and product innovation with several key product ranges available to sample, along with offering guests an exclusive preview of two new luxury finishes due to launch in 2024.
Catering to the increasing demand for personalisation within bathroom design, GROHE will showcase its new Phantom Black finish from its Professional portfolio. Alongside this, the customisable Private Collection of taps and handles, and the state-of-the-art 3D printed tap collection, ICON 3D, from the premium sub-brand, GROHE SPA, will also be displayed. Elsewhere, visitors will be able to see GROHE’s full spectrum of 11 PVD colour finishes with their colour swatch display.
To encourage visitors to relax and unwind while taking in the exhibition, GROHE will have a working barista-style coffee bar for guests to enjoy complimentary hot drinks throughout the day. Additionally, an exclusive prosecco bar will open at 4PM on Thursday 16th in celebration of the debut day.
“Once again, we’re delighted to be returning to HIX this year, following two triumphant shows” says Ebru Bircan, Leader, Marketing Activation UK, LIXIL EMENA and GROHE UK. “This year we’ll be highlighting our Professional Portfolio and our premium sub-brand, GROHE SPA, with emphasis on bathroom design concepts that evoke individuality, personalisation, and customisation. Luxury bathroom design is becoming more and more steeped in personalisation and bespoke requirements, and the hotel bathroom provides users with a truly unique experience, one of ultimate relaxation and enjoyment, but also inspiration.”
GROHE can be found on Stand 5 at HIX on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th November 2023.
Nothing compares to water – the elixir of life. Whether it’s the soothing sounds, or the feel on the skin, through our experiences with water we can switch off from the noise of the outside world – to find peace for body, mind, and soul. Whether in people’s homes or hotel rooms, it is usually the bathroom that serves as a personal space of retreat. It’s the place for precious me-moments of indulgent bliss where we find hidden strength and new energy. The renaissance of the bathroom and its increasing significance as a zone of regeneration has been accompanied by heightened client expectations with regard to bathroom planning – for private houses as well as hospitality projects.
Guided by the underlying belief that water is the source of vital energy, GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, has revitalized its GROHE SPA portfolio. The word SPA originates from the first letters of ‘Salus Per Aquam’, Latin for ‘Health Through Water’. This is the founding concept behind GROHE SPA. Transforming the bathroom into a home spa is not just about using individual products, but about creating holistic experiences that embrace the positive effects of water on the body and mind. GROHE SPA curates exclusive products to create unique luxurious wellbeing areas that allow the user to become immersed in soothing water rituals.
The broad GROHE SPA portfolio ranges from elaborate tap collections, customisable ceiling showers and intricate ceramics to complementary accessories. GROHE SPA redefines what is possible in terms of design, technology, and precision. Customers who wish to bring a new, bespoke kind of luxury to their private home spa will feel GROHE’s passion for water in every detail.
With GROHE SPA, architects, designers and planners now have the freedom to select from a carefully curated bathroom portfolio which offers customisable options to match customers’ personal needs and their individuality. The brand-new GROHE Atrio and Allure Brilliant Private Collections allow a choice of different colour, material, finish, and handle options to help design one-of-a-kind bathroom pieces. In order to enable end-consumers to enjoy an authentic marble style with a high-quality finish, GROHE is partnering with Caesarstone, the global pioneer of premium countertop surfaces, to craft tap handles in the brand’s timeless and durable quartz designs. Caesarstone has a long-standing reputation for designing and producing high-end engineered surfaces, used in some of the most exclusive residential and commercial buildings around the world. Caesarstone surfaces can be combined with GROHE SPA Private Collections for a truly bespoke design.
Thanks to the GROHE SPA Aqua Rainshower Ceiling Shower Modules, the shower experience can also be tailored to the user’s personal preferences. In this way, unique spaces are created that stand out and bear the signature of the designer.
“The products sit at the intersection of premium quality, cutting-edge technology, unrivalled precision, and progressive design. We are driven by a spirit of redefining what is possible, leveraging industry-leading production techniques like 3D metal-printing, to create exclusive designs.
Addressing the rising macro trend for Health & Wellbeing, GROHE SPA is designed to enable architects, designers, and planners to create the ultimate water experience for their bathrooms and spas”, explains Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design, EMENA.
In addition to this versatile but coordinated product portfolio, GROHE offers expert consultation to guide architects, designers and specifiers, as well as project developers, through the whole process.
Architects and designers can experience GROHE SPA first-hand at Milan Design Week, taking place from 18th – 23rd April 2023. Located in the Brera district, GROHE SPA will be showcased by way of a water surface installation – designed by the in-house design & brand identity team LIXIL Global Design – which will reflect the stunning architecture of one of the world’s most prestigious art museums, the Pinacoteca di Brera, while expressing the overall GROHE SPA Health Through Water concept. The exhibition will be complemented by outstanding bathroom designs occupying four immersive cubes nestled within the space, each expressing one of our four tiers: exclusive 3D metal-printed products, the new bespoke Atrio and Allure Brilliant Private Collections, trend-leading GROHE Colours, and a multi-sensory experience for the brand’s modular shower solutions.
The installation will be open to the public on
GROHE is a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings. In order to offer “Pure Freude an Wasser”, every GROHE product is based on the brand values of quality, technology, design and sustainability. Focused on customer needs, GROHE thus creates intelligent, life-enhancing and sustainable product solutions that offer relevant added value – and bear the “Made in Germany” seal of quality: R&D and design are firmly anchored as an integrated process in Germany. GROHE takes its corporate responsibility very seriously and focuses on a resource-saving value chain. Since April 2020, the sanitary brand has been producing CO2-neutral* worldwide. GROHE has also set itself the goal of using plastic-free product packaging by 2021.
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You’re invited to join GROHE’s 2023 digital summit “Caring For Water” exclusively on the experience site GROHE X. Sign up to experience topical live discussions designed to inspire all in the architecture and design industry!
The summit will be hosted across three days, 7th – 9th March 2023, and explore thought-provoking themes within society and the design industry including: Urbanisation, Sustainability, and Health & Wellbeing.
GROHE has curated a panel of industry figures to provide engaging discussions and factual sound-bites on the themes whilst highlighting the importance of our finite natural resources such as water. Guest experts include Gudy Herder, Futurist, Steve Collinge, Insight Retail Group, Anna-Vera Deinhammer, Head of Int. Affairs & Municipalities, OGNI, Dr. Alan Dilani, PhD Architecture / Public Health, and Lionheart. Artist, Poet & BBC Radio Presenter.
7th March 2023 – Urbanisation – Living in an ever-changing world: How to envision the home of tomorrow?
8th March 2023 – Sustainability – A planet in need: How to build for a sustainable tomorrow?
9th March 2023 – Health & Wellbeing – Impactful environment: How to help a stressed world with healing architecture?
To register simply select all the talks you are interested in attending and then you will be sent diary reminders so that you can join from the comfort of your desk.
To join the summit, please register before 7th March 2023. If you’ve joined for GROHE X events previously you may already have an account – this will be advised when you sign up!
Register to attend
Considering the fact that carbon emissions from buildings and construction constitute almost 40 percent of global carbon emissions, knowledge of a building’s environmental impact is becoming key to enable the construction industry to work towards the necessary green transformation. Accordingly, a number of states have already established national lifecycle carbon limits for new or public buildings. Some states require carbon reporting as a minimum standard, while others have generally enacted more stringent requirements for new construction projects.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are considered by the European Commission as a suitable means of evaluating the sustainability of a building since the materials and products used in it significantly determine a building’s impact on the environment. In order to provide its customers with transparency regarding the ecological footprint of its products, the sanitary brand GROHE will release EPDs for 18 product groups that cover more than 600 single products by the end of October. The first batch, published at the end of July 2022, includes basin and kitchen mixers, thermostats, and shower rail sets. A second wave will follow by the end of October 2022 and will comprise special fittings, hand showers, installation systems and flush plates.
“With the launch of EPDs for a wide range of our portfolio, we offer our customers easy orientation and transparent comparison options with regard to the life cycle assessment of our products. On this basis, they can make informed statements about the environmental impact of buildings, which is often a cornerstone for sustainability certifications such as DGNB, LEED or BREEAM, or even a prerequisite for new building permits in many European cities. With increasing pressure on the construction industry to make buildings ever more sustainable, information of this kind will be a selection criterion for products in the future, on a level with price, design or quality,” says Jonas Brennwald, Leader, LIXIL EMENA.
An EPD is a comprehensive, independently verified, and registered product pass. It reports transparent and comparable data on the environmental impact of a product’s life cycle (Life Cycle Assessment). The life cycle is considered from the extraction of raw materials through to production then the use phase to disposal, including the impact of the individual transport routes. Tomas Kvillström, Leader, Commercial Regulation, LIXIL EMENA underlines how important it is to analyze a product’s entire life cycle: “We also looked at the usage phase, which has sometimes been neglected by the industry in the past. The long use phase of our products is the main driver for water and energy consumption and therefore a crucial piece of information for building management companies and hotel operators in particular. However, this knowledge is not only elementary for our customers, but also a good benchmark for us to further increase the sustainability of our value chain and products.”
Environmental Declarations are based on the international standard ISO 14025, and with regard to the construction industry EPDs are particularly based on EN 15804 for construction products, services and processes.
Today, the focus for sustainable product requirements is primarily on Global Warming Potential (GWP). Through the collection and validation of EPD-relevant data, GROHE is striving to develop increasingly low-emission product strategies in the long term while continuously improving its own carbon footprint. Potential for improvement could be identified, for example, in aspects such as sourcing materials closer to the plant or strengthening GROHE’s approach to green transportation. Since 2020 all eight LIXIL fittings plants, including the plants in Hemer, Lahr, Porta Westfalica (all Germany), Albergaria (Portugal) and Klaeng (Thailand), along with Jiangmen
(China), Danang (Vietnam) and Monterrey (Mexico), where GROHE products are also manufactured, as well as the German logistics centres, are CO2-neutral. In 2021, the European outbound logistics became CO2-neutral. All fittings plants and German distribution centers have switched to green energy. The collected EPD data shows CO2 peaks and can therefore support the goal of further avoiding and reducing emissions, and also in turn minimize the share of compensation to be paid. As a brand in the LIXIL portfolio, which is a Japanese manufacturer of pioneering water and housing products, GROHE’s efforts contribute to the corporation’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. “To preserve our planet, we need to change the way we create our built environment. We welcome EPD as the industry’s ‘new normal’ to foster the transformation towards low environmental impact and low energy consumption projects. They are the prerequisite for sustainable, future-ready building concepts,” says Jonas Brennwald.
Cover image: GROHE Eurosmart Kitchen – Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Gold Level
As a contrast to the hectic outside world, consumers are looking for valuable me-time to relax body, mind, and soul. At home, the bathroom is often a vital place for finding a moment of peace.
Providing the right products to meet customers’ high demands and helping them to create their own personal retreats is key, with awareness around wellness and health at an all-time high. In response to the growing health and wellness trend, GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, is extending its premium product portfolio with the reinvented GROHE Allure line and the new GROHE Rainshower Aqua Body sprays for an enhanced shower experience. No matter if you are designing a spa landscape for a resort or a private bathroom, GROHE offers the freedom to tailor the space to your customers’ needs.
Progressive designs and carefully chosen materials, finishes, and colours, combined with high-end technology, will stand out in any bathroom project.
“These exclusive new products are especially dedicated to architects and designers who want to transform their clients’ bathrooms into a holistic wellness oasis at home that becomes a perfect hideaway to recharge body, mind, and soul. GROHE Allure is defined by a progressive design that allows full design coordination, creating unique bathroom experiences. These memorable, unique spaces will stand out in any project. In addition, a palette of carefully curated colours and finishes enables architects and designers to add a personal touch,” says Patrick Speck, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, EMENA.
The popular GROHE Allure tap line has been updated. The design statement captivates with its minimalist and extraordinarily slim design – now even more appealing due to its refined aesthetic. By combining state-of-the-art water technology with German craftsmanship, the tap offers a distinctive highlight. Thanks to distinct haptic feedback, the precision control of the three-hole basin mixer offers a unique tactile experience and improves interaction.
The new GROHE Allure offers designers and architects the opportunity to create a perfectly harmonious bathroom experience according to their customers’ personal tastes. The versatile range also encompasses floor-mounted taps and waterfall spouts for the bathtub, which allow for a holistic, coordinated design. For tasteful accents in the bathroom, the Allure line offers a choice of different colours and finishes: Chrome, Brushed Cool Sunrise, Brushed Warm Sunset, and Hard Graphite – all perfectly coordinated with GROHE Allure Accessories.
With the Rainshower Aqua Body sprays GROHE launches a showering highlight which upgrades the daily routine with a pulsating water massage. Control is intuitive via a pop-up design: when the water is activated, the body sprays pop out of the cover plate, allowing users to switch between the Rain and Active Jet spray easily by simply turning them. When the water is turned off, the body sprays pull back and blend into the shower surround completely, resulting in a slim, minimalist design for optimised space in the shower.
Full freedom of choice is guaranteed with round and square designs, available in different GROHE Colours to match any bathroom style. Additionally, the new body sprays enable eco-conscious water usage thanks to water-saving GROHE EcoJoy technology. GROHE Rainshower Aqua Body sprays make it easy to successfully combine responsible consumption with a luxurious showering experience.
This July SBID members showcase their latest product news with flexible bathroom interior solutions, exclusive trade offers for interior designers and unique, halo-inspired architectural luminaires. Featuring innovative solid surfaces, stylish matt-black finishes and digitally-enhanced taps.
Creativity comes out on top with RAK-Plano
RAK-Plano countertop surfaces from RAK Ceramics combine elegance, durability and practicality, transforming the RAK-Joy or RAK-Joy Uno vanity unit into a versatile piece of bathroom furniture. Available in three different TECHWOOD finishes and in the manufacturer’s innovative matt white RAKSOLID material, RAK-Plano is a one-piece vanity top, without joints that can be drilled and cut (if necessary) directly on site. This gives designers complete freedom in positioning the washbasin and mixer. Available in a range of colours, the countertop combines easily with any décor, responding to trends in bathroom design; from Matt White, Grey Elm, Scandinavian Oak and Mokka Walnut.
RAK-SOLID is an incredibly durable solid surface material, composed of a mixture of natural minerals and resins, exuding consistent quality and performance. Just as hardwearing and simple to care for, TECHWOOD is a wood effect material that gives the tactile impression of real timber, produced from polypropylene recyclable material.
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Powell & Bonnell introduce the halo-inspired luminaire, Celeste Sconce
The iconic depiction of the halo in Romanesque art served as the visual origin point for the Celeste Sconce. Designer, Jake Oliveira set out to create a luminaire that would honour a mother’s protective, enveloping embrace of her child. This imagery was interpreted as a marriage between two pure and simple silhouettes which draw attention to the interplay of light and shadow. The first stand-out feature of the piece is it’s composition, which consists of an ethereal resin bulb that floats effortlessly within the shade. The immaculate fusion of both elements was the result of endless hours of engineering and iteration, utilizing 3D printed and polyurethane tools to stablish an angled shade with architectural overhang.
Since contrast was such an essential ingredient in the Celeste Sconce’s makeup, careful material selection and the union between the chosen materials was paramount. The shade is fabricated from porous sand-cast metal, specifically brass, bronze, or aluminum. Sand-casting is a forgery technique that has been used since 704 BC. With an organic nature and human aesthetic, the artful finish carries the story of the hands that made it. This is paired with a sleek resin bulb which is poured via the modern technique of silicone slip-casting. A highly refined, polished lip on the shade’s edge helps to coalesce the pitted nature of the metal with the sculptural smooth bulb. The bulb can be cast in any of Powell & Bonnell’s resin colours, allowing for a dynamic pop of colour.
GROHE supports energy and water saving with first digitally-enhanced tap, GROHE Plus
With its brand new GROHE Plus basin taps, global bathroom and kitchen fittings brand GROHE now offers users the possibility to accurately control the water temperature of their basin tap using the innovations of digitally-enhanced design. The digital upgrade within the existing GROHE Plus collection not only enables safe water enjoyment, but also supports users’ increasing desire for sustainable living. Using the principle of “nudging”, a concept from behavioral economics, users are made aware through a visual colour change displayed on the spout of the tap when hot water is flowing – often unnecessarily – in order to encourage users to avoid wasting energy. This design approach promotes responsible use of the valuable resource of water and saves energy at the same time.
The eco-friendly functionality of GROHE Plus is reinforced by its accessible Eco Spray setting. To switch from the standard spray to the more refined Eco Spray of just four litres per minute, which reduces water consumption without compromising on user comfort or experience, users can simply swipe their hand over the lit icon on top of the spout to activate the sensor-controlled system which will change the water flow. The GROHE Plus collection is also future-oriented in its hybrid design language, which skillfully combines cubic and organic shapes. This makes the range a real statement for every modern bathroom, both in terms of sustainability and progressive design elements. At the same time, the design supports ergonomic comfort and invites interaction with a 90-degree swivel spout to increase functionality and user-friendliness.
KEUCO Black Concept collection adds an elegant touch in a modern bathroom
When it comes to modern furnishing, black surfaces and finishes catch the eye, offering a luxurious and stylish appearance. If black is destined to be a key colour in your bathroom designs; KEUCO has an extensive range of products within their Black Concept collection.
KEUCO’s EDITION 11 bathroom furniture is available with a stylish black metallic-pigmented lacquer finish. The vanity units, sideboards, storage units are all designed handle-free with a soft-touch closing system. This noble matt-black look exudes an air of elegance and extravagance, yet the velvet matt quality of the bathroom furniture ensures the room maintains cosy in atmosphere. The modern yet honest design elements of EDITION 11 shower heads, fittings and accessories in brushed black chrome create a minimalistic look with an elegant contrast when combined with white ceramic washbasins. The Black Concept collection offers a range of interior solutions for any darkly accentuated, colour coordinated bathroom design with matt-black surfaces and metallic optics which results in a sleek and sophisticated space.
John lewis & Partners Business support designers with exclusive trade discount
John Lewis & Partners Business support Interior Designers, Architects and Home Stagers to procure items for your projects. The supply chain has presented many with challenges over the past year and John Lewis & Partners Business have also had to navigate through this turbulent time. Their priority is helping design professionals access John Lewis & Partners home collections, whether that be dining chairs, mattresses, wallpaper or tea towels! Offering immediate visibility of what is available, if it’s in stock on johnlewis.com then a dedicated trade team at John Lewis & Partners Business can hand hold your purchase. In addition for 2021, they are exclusively offering interior designers an increased trade discount of 20% when ordering full price pieces from the Home assortment*.
*Discount not applied to reduced or special buy prices and excludes electrical, technology and bespoke orders.
Email [email protected]
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This month’s product news highlights SBID Accredited suppliers working to improve the negative impact of our interior environments, with the latest sustainable products and innovations in interior design. From circular production models in sanitaryware and new recycled materials for upholstery, to smart technology in the bathroom and ecological, air purifying paints.
Graphenstone’s Spring Update highlights its collection of air purifying paints
Many people’s homes will emerge from the pandemic transformed – and now you can actively clean your air with one of the world’s most certified eco paints. Three full 15 litre pots of Graphenstone’s Cradle to Cradle Gold Standard lime paint, Ecosphere Premium will absorb as much CO2 as a tree (as well as Nitrogen Oxide and Sulpher Dioxide).
Plastic free, toxin free and fully sustainable these unique paints incorporate Graphene technology to make it super strong and longer-lasting, whilst being fully breathable. This allows moisture to flow through the paint surface, which helps to reduce condensation, mould and mildew, creating a much healthier indoor environment. Graphenstone paints are now available in a range of sizes, over 1000 colours and varieties for all areas and surfaces in both interior and exterior projects.
Aiming for a world without waste – GROHE launches Cradle to Cradle Certified ® products
To tackle resource overconsumption and waste in the bathroom sector, the global brand is taking the step away from a linear model, towards circular value creation (the economic model of the future) by launching four best-selling products as Gold-level, Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified ®. After switching to CO2-neutral production, with targets to replace all plastic components in product packaging, GROHE is reinforcing its commitment to a sustainable transformation. In contrast to a linear model, the C2C concept enables GROHE to drastically reduce the use of new resources: a product is designed and manufactured with the intent of using its components in its end-of-life-phase for the creation of new products. Cradle to Cradle Certified ® products have thus been assessed for use of environmentally safe, healthy, and recyclable materials.
“There is a massive opportunity for innovation in the building sector, since it accounts for more than 50% of the worldwide material consumption”, said Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart, who developed the C2C design concept together with William McDonough. “GROHE plays an important role in setting a precedent that circularity in the sanitary industry is indeed possible.”
Linwood introduces more sustainable fabrics with its range of recycled materials
Using offcuts from the fashion industry – Verde is Linwood’s new eco-friendly plain cotton collection woven with 80% recycled cotton – an exciting addition to their sustainable fabric offering. Sales Director, Warrick Gloyn says: “We are striving to produce fabrics that last, feel good and that don’t harm the earth. This is our first launch for 2021, but we are working on a new generation of recycled fabrics.”
The chemical-free cotton fabric is double brushed and comes in a comprehensive palette of 46 colours from off whites and classic neutrals to fresh pinks and blues. The durable fabric is ideal for curtains, loose covers and upholstery, and is easy to maintain. This range sits alongside the Lana wool collection made using 85% recycled yarns, as well as a leather upholstery range, Saddle II using off cuts from shoes and bags which are usually sent to landfill.
Roca transforms bathroom experiences with innovative Smart Shower technology
Roca developed a Smart Shower to revolutionise daily shower routines. The innovative shower uses smart technology to provide unique showering experiences with customisable settings and ease of use, the Smart Shower is a beneficial addition to any bathroom design. The intelligent control has a sleek, simple interface and allows up to three users within the same household to pre-set their desired settings. They can set shower duration, maximum temperature and flow rates all based on individual needs. The interface features a colour LCD display and touch sensitive controls with soft turn dials to ensure it is extremely easy to use and control.
One of the smart benefits to the digital shower is that it can be controlled via an app. The app helps with energy and water saving, enabling users to monitor water and energy consumption to run their shower more efficiently. “It may seem like a luxury, but the Smart Shower is not just for convenience,” comments David Bromell Head of Marketing at Roca. “In addition to providing a luxe showering experience, the intuitive system will actively work to reduce water wastage, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly choice for the bathroom.”
Sensa by Cosentino® introduces 5 new colours to its’ natural stone collection
A global leader in the production and distribution of innovative surfaces for the world of architecture and design, launches five new colours for its innovative range of protected natural stone, Sensa by Cosentino®: Siberia, Platino, Vancouver, Silver Grey and Graphite Grey. These new designs in quartzite and granite have been carefully selected for both composition and resistance to stains. “With this launch, we intend to respond to market demands by adding to our portfolio soft colours and tones, different matte finishes and, above all, exclusive and distinctive materials”, says Francisco Guzmán Gutiérrez Martos, Product Manager of Sensa by Cosentino®.
The Cosentino Group collaborate with the Environmental Association, Sustenta to consolidate its vision as a climate leader through measures and transformative projects to achieve a more sustainable economic model. This commitment translated into improving waste recovery rates, the reduction of emissions and energy efficiency.
Not only natural, but supernatural: Martini Interiors introduces Essenza Supernatural
The latest addition to the Essenza collection, luxury design-oriented kitchen program by Martini Interiors, Essenza Supernatural is a kitchen composition that lays its foundations in innovation, technology and sustainability.
With the high quality of ‘Made in Italy’ craftmanship, the use of precious materials and numerous customisation possibilities always present in the brand’s DNA, Essenza Supernatural goes beyond its own limits, creating a product in which cutting-edge composition, technological and decorative solutions and attention to sustainability are the absolute masters.
In short, not only natural, but supernatural: the scheme utilises environmentally-friendly materials and innovative finishes in every detail; derived from certified forests and treated with finishes that enhance the natural grain of the wood, whilst remaining natural and non-toxic.
Leading global kitchen and bathroom supplier GROHE has reported unprecedented demand for hygienic touchless taps in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. At a time when the pandemic has pushed the everyday necessity of hand washing into the spotlight, it would seem finding solutions to optimise hygiene in both the workplace and at home is spurring the demand.
Leading figures within the design community are also considering how hygiene will come to the fore in the interior spaces of the future. Coen van Oostrom, Founder and CEO of EDGE, a company that specialises in developing a new generation of buildings that focus on the health of people and the planet, predicts that new health measures will play a key role in a new generation of workplaces. “Together with sustainability, health will define the way we build and design homes, offices and places where people meet. Touchless products and speech-driven technology will play a key role in making healthy and safe offices. Consumers will want to minimise contact to surfaces as much as possible”.
Having specified the healthcare, hospitality and commercial sector for many years, where hygiene-optimised products are already far more commonplace, GROHE is braced for the vast changes ready to hit the mass marketplace. “With our wide range of touchless and hands-free products, we at GROHE have the right response to the increased need of hygiene in sensitive areas such as kitchens and bathrooms”, says Jonas Brennwald, CEO LIXIL Water Technology EMENA, Deputy CEO Grohe AG. “Currently, we can say that we are already experiencing a higher demand for our hygiene enhancing products – from both our private and business customers.”
In the UK market, the transition to a more hygiene-focused workplace and business environment has already been in motion since the beginning of the year. Elina Enqvist-Twomey, Category Manager at GROHE UK says: “Feedback from the commercial market in the last three months tells us that hygiene is top of the agenda for specification, with a large proportion of projects specifying more hygiene-focused products such as infra-red taps , infra-red flush plates, and shower toilets. In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in customers purchasing infra-red taps as a result. Likewise, in the kitchen, several of our tap designs which use advanced technologies to minimise physical interaction with the handle of the tap itself such as our SmartControl kitchen mixer and Zedra Touch range have also seen an increased interest. When the industry returns to a sense of normality, we expect the increasing scrutiny of hygiene in the workplace and public buildings to continue. This pandemic has encouraged all of us in some way to rethink our hygiene practises and consider new lengths to protecting ourselves and those around us.”
Why an infra-red touchless tap is more hygienic
In recent years, the property market has seen a shift to include more alternative housing settings such as grandparents living with their children and families, or groups of young professionals co-habiting together. This is when infra-red technology first began to be demanded in the residential sector and its benefits have continued to strengthen demand ever since. Infra-red taps require minimal, if any, human contact with the tap itself unlike standard taps where germs from unclean hands could linger on tap handles, unless continual thorough cleaning was carried out after each use. The GROHE Bau Cosmo E, a strong robust design made using composite polymer, uses motion sensors to detect movement, which then activates the water flow. A mixing valve on the side of the spout can be used to adjust the temperature if required and a temperature limiter can also be installed if desired. Once the user removes their hands from the basin, the sensors will detect this and stop the water flow.
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SBID Accredited Industry Partner, GROHE is a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, with every product based on the brand values of quality, technology, design and sustainability.
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