ISH 2023

Boxed In

FRENCH DESIGNER PHILIPPE STARCK EXPLAINS WHY THE NEED FOR CLEAR THINKING INSPIRED HIS LATEST BATHROOM DESIGN FOR DURAVIT…

Arranged like a Japanese lunchbox, the Bento Starck Box bathroom series for Duravit features several internal compartments to enable items to be organised within the piece. With divided wet and dry areas, the basin and bathtub are intended to offer customisation in the way the user arranges their most-used toiletries and accessories within easy reach.

Presented for the first time at ISH 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany, the product was shown as part of Duravit’s Artisan Lines series, alongside other distinctive creations from Sebastian Herkner, Christian Werner, and Studio F.A. Porsche.

Bento Starck Box includes washbasin, toilet sets and a bathtub, and is designed to be combined with the dimensions of the furniture and taps of the Starck-designed White Tulip series. The 650mm-wide washbasin is made from DuraCeram and offered alongside countertop basins in a range of sizes, all available in white and white satin matt.

Starck said: “I have been in Japan for periods of my life, and I was always so happy when I saw my bento lunch box arrive each day, because it was clear, it was serene. You know exactly where you will find the rice, the soup, or the sushi. It is perfect and simple.

“Too often, people think that creators should exist in fertile clouds, and that this is where the ideas are. It’s not true; the clouds are like a desert. Instead, you have ideas when you are empty and free of other distractions.

“I have had bento boxes in my house for 50 years now. When I am in my bathroom, I want to be able to keep my mind very clear, so I considered how something like this could help with making a place for everything you need without thought. That’s why organisation is freedom, especially when it is also elegant.” duravit.co.uk, starck.com

Revisiting A Classic

BATHROOM BRAND LAUFEN HAS REVEALED A NEW INTERPRETATION OF ITS ICONIC ILBAGNOALESSI COLLECTION, HARNESSING ADVANCES IN MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY SINCE THE ORIGINAL RANGE...

Designed by Stefano Giovannoni, ILBAGNOALESSI is one of the brand’s longest-running and most successful collections. In cooperation with design brand Alessi, Laufen has reinterpreted the range utilising Saphirkeramik, a material that enables thinner ceramic shapes. New washstands and washbasins have been created by Giovannoni, including basins with rounded forms in different sizes leading to the distinctive new Tuna washbasin whose long, organic form has been accentuated with a slim new profile. It is available in a countertop or built-in version, in a variety of finishes.

The new ILBAGNOALESSI range also comprises a series of new furnishings, including cabinets with squared geometric lines, and handleless drawers with borders at a 45-degree angle. New wood varieties and the warm, earthy tones of the coloured laminated versions have been created to complement the stoneware surfaces, creating chromatic effects and creative material juxtapositions. The colour palette offers a range of over 30 hues and three special finishes, with metallic options such as copper, titanium and gold.

Another highlight is a striking frame structure made of black aluminium, which accompanies the mirror and furniture as a connecting element and sets the scene for the unusual shapes. This structure is equipped with an LED lighting system which offers a choice of mood settings which can be controlled via an app or remote control. laufen.com

Perfect Partners

GLASS DESIGN HAS BROADENED ITS OFFERING, ADDING VANITY UNITS DESIGNED TO MATCH ITS RANGE OF HIGH-END BASINS...

Inspired by the creativity of Italian design capital Milan, MilanoBath offers numerous configuration options for open or closed storage sections, as well as accompanying accessories such as mirrors and lighting.

The furniture is available in a range of material options, including Bamboo in various finishes, combined with brass, or porcelain stone in either Calacatta or Nero Marquinia marble effect. glassdesign.it

TEA-TIME INSPIRATION

FRENCH BATH AND KITCHEN FITTINGS MANUFACTURER THG PARIS LAUNCHED A NUMBER OF NEW COLLECTIONS AT ISH...

...including Estrella, created by US-based designer Alexandra Champalimaud, who said: “I love the challenge of taking the mundane and making it innately extraordinary. The collection with THG Paris is largely inspired by teapots, especially from the Art deco period.

“Visually, I started seeing the angles and its spout as faucets and fixtures. On a conceptual level, the beauty of teapots and tea service elevates the simple ritual of drinking tea. That’s what we’re doing here for the bathroom, elevating the experience.” thg-paris.com

Balancing Act

BETTE INTRODUCED ITS NEW BETTEBALANCE WASHBASINS WHICH OFFERS FOUR VARIANTS OF ONE SLENDER BOWL DESIGN...

Made from glazed titanium steel, the basins are lightweight yet long-lasting.

Developed for Bette by Tesseraux & Partner, there are four built-in and surface-mounted variants, each with a circular inner body with a diameter of 395mm. The undermounted and built-in washbasins are the classics for installation in bathroom furniture, with the slender rim created in only the thickness of the material itself. A cylindrical countertop washbasin and a washbasin bowl complete the range, which is available in numerous colours, including matt and sparking effect finishes. my-bette.com/en

Diva Intervention

THE DIVA COLLECTION IS A NEW FURNITURE RANGE FROM ITALIAN MANUFACTURER SCARABEO

Designed to complement the brand’s Moon washbasins, DIVA has a tubular metal structure and is available in three main finish options: matt black; grey; and dove grey as well as a new refined brushed gold. scarabeosrl.com