The internationally renowned designer Patricia Urquiola has recently designed her first bathroom range for Duravit. Architectural shapes and clear lines create a unique aesthetic with high recognition value, while exuding warmth and accessibility. The Balcoon ceramics, bathroom furniture, bathtubs and faucets create a fascinating combination of innovativeness and enduring elegance, with a strong design identity. We had five questions regarding the development, design process, and materials for the range…
Ms. Urquiola, how did the bathroom range come about?
The Balcoon bathroom range is not a high-end project, but rather the result of an intensive exploration around a product in the medium price segment. Duravit had a gap in its portfolio at this price point and asked me to design something that stands out from the crowd. They wanted a simple, quick project with a clear and direct design language – while simultaneously lending a degree of dignity and recognition value to the medium segment.
What approach did you take?
I started with two essential forms: a cubic base and a cylindrical basin. These two very pure geometries form the basis of the project. We then incorporated some offsets, extended the form, and played with perspectives to create an architecture that is still compatible with an affordable price point. All elements are based on this double geometry. While the volume of the objects is strictly controlled, but there is a degree of leeway with the proportions.
What motivated you to inject colour into the bathroom?
This was a deliberate departure from the minimalistic aesthetic of pure White or Black. We aimed to use clay as a material to create a kind of canvas that lends the sanitary objects more depth. The new ceramic colour Clay Terra Matt is a true innovation within the range – inspired by traditional craftsmanship, it is central to the overall design. The earthy terracotta shade and the nature-inspired colour scheme of the bathroom furniture, with nuances of White, earthy shades of Brown, and Anthracite, herald a new openness to colour in the bathroom.
Balcoon is a highly architectural project – the furniture is primed to interact with other design elements…
The furniture elements have a modular structure. The concept includes both open and closed elements – a versatile design that can be adapted to a wide range of room concepts and design approaches. While vanity units in the medium price segment are usually simple cuboids, Balcoon bucks this trend. The design language and the harmonious colours would also be a perfect match for other living areas.
