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Ideal Standard and Armitage Shanks partner with experts to create washroom whitepaper

ATTACHMENT DETAILS IS_Multisuite_Multiproduct_

Thought leaders from across the architecture, design, education, engineering and plumbing industries have come together to discuss the future of washroom design in a unique whitepaper.  

Washroom Design for Tomorrow, from leading washroom manufacturer Ideal Standard and Armitage Shanks, features a wealth of insights and expertise from nine industry-leading voices. Discussing key topics within the washroom sector, the report covers a range of themes from the growing importance of the circular economy and sustainability, making washrooms accessible to all, and the necessary changes to promote comfort, durability and hygiene within these spaces. 

Speaking on the whitepaper, Anil Madan, Non-Residential Marketing Manager at Ideal Standard and Armitage Shanks, said: “The washroom sector is in a period of transition, with greater scrutiny on making these spaces as well-designed as possible. Sustainability is, of course, central to the development of both new washrooms and the products within them. But beyond this, there are also new rules and regulations to consider around accessibility, infection risk management and grey water, and how these factors can be properly incorporated into washroom solutions. 

“By working with thought leaders from across a variety of industries, we were able to create a whitepaper that looks to the future of commercial washrooms, and identified the need for a more holistic approach to the design, specification and maintenance of these spaces. We’re thrilled to finally be able to unveil the finished report and thank all those who lent their voices to such a unique resource.” 

Washroom Design for Tomorrow features contributions from Meehan Green, TOT Architects, Inspired Washrooms, CubicWorks, Liverpool John Moores University, ISG, AS Mechanical and Electrical, Crusoe Architects Ltd, and Good and Tillotson. 

To download the whitepaper, visit: https://www.idealspec.co.uk/resources/whitepapers.html 

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GROHE strengthens role of professional partners

Grohe_Bathroom LIXIL Dow Jones Index Sustainability

Inspired by the latest trends, consumers create a vision of their dream bathroom, which is completely in line with their individual lifestyle, but needs to be brought to life by trusted professional partners.

GROHE Professional was created together with professional partners to be a unique product and service proposition. The dedicated GROHE Professional range encompasses over 700 products that the brand sells exclusively through the traditional wholesale channel – from reliable bestsellers like GROHE Eurosmart and the new BauEdge ceramics, to the Colors Collection and concealed shower solutions. Thanks to additional comfort features which speed up installation, this allows for the hassle-free planning and implementation of holistic bathrooms.

The professional’s everyday work is further facilitated by a comprehensive service and training concept that lets experts stay ahead of the competition.

In April 2023, GROHE is launching a campaign celebrating the partnership between consumers and their professional partners in realizing individual bathroom concepts – envisioned by the consumer, executed by the expert.

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Cyncly’s Global Inspiration Contest opens soon

Ready, set, design! Cyncly is excited to announce it will soon be accepting submissions for its Global Inspiration Contest. Open to all Cyncly professional design customers around the world, this contest is a continuation of its Compusoft + 2020 brand’s competition. 

From traditional kitchen spaces to innovative hybrid offices, designs in multiple categories can be uploaded in any version of Cyncly’s 2020, Compusoft, Virtual Worlds or M3B software, and must be created using only Cyncly software. 

The submission window opens on April 11, 2023, with all participants asked to enter their designs for consideration by May 15, 2023. Winners in all categories will then be announced on June 7, 2023. 

Designers can enter as many times as they wish, but each submission must be unique, and participants are only eligible to win once.  

A panel of judges will determine the best design in each of these categories: 

  • Cyncly – Any Space (using colors from the Cyncly palette)  
  • Kitchen 
  • Bathroom 
  • Closet and organization 
  • Educational and classroom 
  • Flexible office space 

As well as having their design featured at trade shows around the world, winners in each category will receive a $750 Amazon gift card and promotion on social media and in an upcoming eBook. Runners-up will receive a $500 Amazon gift card and have their design featured on social media. 

A special Voters Choice award will also be decided based on a combination of votes from the public and input from Cyncly’s panel of judges. Along with the other prize winners, this designer will receive a grand prize $1,500 Amazon gift card. 

The panel of judges includes: 

  • Colin O’Neil, Design PUGS 
  • Alexandra Tseffos, DesignPOP 
  • Emma Hedges, KBB Focus 
  • Justin Sol, Kitchen Win 
  • Elke Oechsner, SanitärJournal – TGA Contentbase 
  • Laura Peidró – IM Cocinas & Baños 

For more information on the 2020 Global Design Contest, visit https://contest-cyncly.com/global-design-contest/ 

About Cyncly 

Cyncly transforms the way customisable products and spaces are imagined, designed, sold, made and managed. By bringing together the best brands in the industry, Cyncly connects designers, retailers and manufacturers to put consumers at the heart of their business. 

For more information, visit www.cyncly.com. 

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Kate Foster joins Utopia

Kate Foster Utopia

Kate Foster has joined leading bathroom furniture manufacturer Utopia as business development executive with responsibility for the Midlands and North Wales region.

With extensive background experience in sales, Kate joins Utopia from Middletons Moblity where she was Regional Support Manager. Prior to that, Kate spent five years as Senior Showroom Manager for Bathstore, so has an in-depth knowledge of not only the bathroom sector but also a great appreciation of the workings and needs of the retailer and the requirement to be very customer focused.

Commenting on her new role, Kate Foster says “I am delighted to be joining such a major player in the bathroom market and very much look forward to working with our retail partners.  Utopia has a tremendous product portfolio”.

Alex Patterson, head of retail at Utopia, commented “We are delighted to have Kate on board, her knowledge and experience will put her in good stead to build fantastic relationships with her customers moving forward.  Kate also joins us at an incredibly exciting time as we have a host of new products and initiatives launching this year.”

More from Utopia

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Soho House creatives among experts revealing design intelligence at CDW 23

This year’s edition of Clerkenwell Design Week (23-25th May 2023) will see a plethora of design secrets revealed at the festival’s dedicated talks programme: ‘Conversations at Clerkenwell’. The jam-packed schedule of eighteen talks across the three days is always a big attraction at the UK’s leading design festival.

The programme will open with Designer and Artist Morag Myerscough and highlights include: Soho Home’s Design Director James Patmore and Soho House’s interior designer Domhnall Nolan; British/Canadian designer Philippe Malouin; Design Council CEO Minnie Moll; Note Design Studio; Pantone; Doshi Levien’s Nipa Doshi and Pentagram’s Experience and Sound designer Yuri Suzuki.

Themes that will be explored include: ​ The meaning of ‘taste’, sound design, colour trends for 2024, defining Scandinavian design, communicating design circularity, diversity in design, Maximalism, and the future of wellness within the hospitality sector. The role design and designers play in the climate emergency will be explored throughout the programme and a ‘Sustainable Living’ series will see one talk each day dedicated specifically to the topic. ‘Conversations at Clerkenwell’ is curated by Brand Consultant Katie Richardson, will be housed in an AirClad structure and sponsored by RAK ceramics.

Throughout CDW there are hundreds of other talks, events and installations to explore ​ in showrooms and spaces all over EC1.

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LIXIL achieves top level evaluation in Global ESG Indices

Grohe parent, LIXIL, was selected as a FY2023 Nadeshiko Brand by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and The Tokyo Stock Exchange. This is the seventh time that LIXIL has been selected.

LIXIL has been promoting comprehensive initiatives in areas of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I). The evaluation is in recognition of this, and as a company that demonstrates excellence in advocating the empowerment of women in the workplace,

The selection criteria for the Nadeshiko Brands were even tighter than usual this year, placing a new level of criteria not only on the number of initiatives, but also on whether each company had established a system of advocating the empowerment of women in the workplace that was linked to its management strategy, and was implementing the initiatives in line with that strategy.

This year, 17 companies, including LIXIL, have been selected for the Nadeshiko Brands, which have been significantly reduced from approximately 50 companies in the past. LIXIL has introduced various measures in order to achieve its company-wide strategic D&I goals, which are to by 2030 achieve and equal the ratio of male and female directors and executive officers, and to increase the ratio of women in management positions to 30%. We have also set a regional goal for Japan of maintaining at least an equal ratio of male/female new graduate hires by 2030. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, 53.8% of new hires were female. We are also promoting efforts to create and inclusive environment for all employees. This includes placing emphasis on D&I during all processes from when employees join the company to when they leave, working to correct gender imbalances in training and promotion processes, and strengthening connections between employees through global employee resource groups.

LIXIL President and CEO Kinya Seto commented as follows: “We are delighted to have received these positive evaluations from MSCI and other ESG index providers, reflecting the progress that LIXIL is making on our ESG commitments. To achieve long-term sustainable growth, it is crucial that we incorporate ESG into our business strategies, then grasp growth opportunities while appropriately dealing with risk. I believe this external recognition is a result of our progress in strengthening governance and addressing environmental and social issues, as well as our track record of communicating with stakeholders via transparent disclosure. LIXIL will continue to pursue its purpose of “making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere,” and strengthen our positive environmental and social impact, today and for future generations.”

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Hyatt Celebrates a Decade on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” List

Hyatt Hotels

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) has been recognized as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For,” an annual list of U.S. companies with outstanding workplace cultures according to global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work and Fortune. Hyatt has earned a spot on this list every year for the past decade.

“At Hyatt, we are committed to caring for our colleagues to be their best—and everything we do is through the lens of our purpose of care,” said Pete Sears, group president – Americas, Hyatt. “This recognition every year for the past decade is a testament to the tremendous ways our colleagues come together each and every day to lead with empathy, care and respect. As we continue our transformative growth as a company, we remain inspired by the resilience and dedication of our colleagues. There has truly never been a more exciting time to be a part of the Hyatt family.”

Hyatt continues to adapt and meet the evolving needs of its stakeholder groups through creating a culture rooted in care, belonging, and discovery, where colleagues are celebrated for who they are and can thrive in every stage of their career. Guided by its purpose of care and people first culture, the company differentiates itself through personalized experiences, wellbeing-focused programs and distinct benefits designed to support colleagues in being their best and authentic selves.                                                          

Deeply embedded across all areas of its business, World of Care brings Hyatt’s purpose of care to life through our actions in advancing care for the planet, people, and responsible business. As part of the company’s efforts in caring for people and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, Hyatt’s Change Starts Here commitments are focused on taking bold action to accelerate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by 2025 with actionable goals across three areas: who we employ, develop and advance; who we support; and who we buy from and work with.

The 2023 Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work For” recognition adds to a growing list of workplace accolades Hyatt received in the past year, including:

  • 2023 America’s Best Large Employers – Forbes
  • 2023 World’s Most Admired Companies – Fortune
  • 2023 America’s Most Innovative Companies – Fortune 
  • 2023 America’s Best Employers for Diversity – Forbes 
  • 2023 America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women – Newsweek 
  • 2023 America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity – Newsweek 

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Utopia employees celebrate 25th anniversary

Utopia employees

Four Utopia employees recently celebrated 25 years with the company. Seen here are Steve Heap (Press Department), Steve Pitt (Solid Surface Department), John Edgington (Mill Department) and Wayne Bailey (Transport Department).

Joint MD Dave Conn congratulated the men saying “We have always known our employees are our greatest strength and we’re delighted that so many have been with us for years. Many congratulations to Steve, Steve, John, and Wayne on reaching this tremendous milestone.  We have a wonderful workforce here at Utopia and the support, commitment and dedication that our staff shows is second to none.”

As the four proved to be shy and retiring when offered a formal ceremony to mark the occasion, they were each rewarded with an anniversary gift of their choosing instead.

More news from Utopia

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GROHE announces new 2023 UK head

Kristine-Skauge-Leader-UK-GROHE-

Grohe has announced the appointment of Kristine Skauge as its new leader for the UK as of April 2023. Kristine joins from within the Grohe business following a ten-year rise through the ranks in which she most recently led the brand’s marketing efforts across the Middle East and North Africa region. Kristine has also held senior posts within Grohe’s marketing functions in Northern Europe, spearheading the planning, development and implementation of major marketing strategies and initiatives.

Grohe is also announcing the appointment of Chris Dodds as its new UK commercial leader who will steer strategy across multiple sales channels. Chris brings a wealth of industry experience and most recently was managing director of Davroc Ltd, a major independent distributor of bathrooms. Previously, Chris has held senior posts in sales and management at Coalbrook and Ideal Bathrooms. Chris joins the business from 1st March 2023 and will report to Kristine.

Chris-Dodds-Leader-Commercial-UK-

Commenting on her appointment, Kristine Skauge says “I look forward to leading the UK business after years of developing the Grohe brand in other markets. The UK has always stood out to me as a particularly exciting, fast-paced, multi-channel market and I look forward to continuing to build on the good work of my predecessors and the current leadership team.”

Rogier van Dis, leader, North West Europe, LIXIL EMENA said: “I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Kristine and Chris, whose arrivals mark the start of a new and promising era for our UK team. Kristine has been a rising talent within the GROHE family and her astute marketing background across multiple territories makes her expertly placed to drive the brand forwards. Both Kristine and Chris bring vast amounts of industry-relevant experience, which will enable us to continue to cement our status as a strong commercial partner for our UK customers.”

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Qatego by Studio F. A. Porsche – a nature-inspired & customisable bathroom range

Duravit Qatego by_F.A._Porsche

The new Qatego bathroom series, designed for Duravit by Studio F. A. Porsche features wood, ceramic, and natural stone come together to create a harmonious bathroom design.

The range includes a bathtub, washbasins, WC, bidet and a variety of furniture options. The cabinets feature hinged doors, mirrors, and mirrored cabinets with a storage shelf. The open shelves with optional lighting break up the strict, geometric form of the furniture and introduce a homely atmosphere.

“With Qatego we took our lead from people’s requirements in the familiar and intimate surroundings of the bathroom. That’s why it was important for us to lend the objects a strong emotional quality that goes beyond mere functionality,” Henning Rieseler, design director at Studio F. A. Porsche describes the creative process.

The rounded form of the sanitary objects is striking when seen against the linear and minimalistic design of the cabinets. “As a material, ceramic tends to have softer forms due to the working and the firing processes, while our perception of furniture is generally box-like,” said the design studio.

Playing with colours & materials

The furniture of the Qatego bathroom range is made from sustainable PEFC*-certified wood, is available in eight colours ranging from High Gloss White, natural and reserved nuances such as Taupe Matt and Basalt Matt, as well as strong shades such as Graphite Matt. Additionally, wood tones such as Marbled Oak, Black Oak, Terra Oak, and Natural Oak round off Qatego’s colour spectrum inspired by nature.

Duravit_Qatego_by_F.A._Porsche
Duravit_Qatego_by_F.A._Porsche

Washbasins

The rectangular washbasins are available in four variants: as a wall-mounted model as well as an above-counter basin with a tap platform that offers adequate storage space. These are joined by a semi-recessed basin and a built-in basin with characteristically arched sides that is available with a matching, seamlessly integrated console vanity unit. The design highlight of the series is the above-counter basin measuring 600 x 400 mm which, in addition to the standard version, is also available in a variant with strongly arched sides.

Duravit_Qatego_by_F.A._Porsche

Bathtub

The freestanding bathtub is made from DuroCast Plus mineral cast with molded-in colour and a fine velvety surface. As with the acrylic built-in bathtub, an ergonomically shaped lumbar support supports the lower back area and guarantees pleasant sitting comfort.

Duravit_Qatego_by_F.A._Porsche

Toilet & bidet

A wall-mounted and free-standing toilet and bidet that blend seamlessly into the overall concept round off the sanitary objects. Pre-fitted hinges enable the toilet seat to be quickly and easily installed.

All ceramic elements are optionally available with the antibacterial ceramic glaze HygieneGlaze, which achieves a previously unheard-of hygiene standard. After just six hours, approx. 90% of bacteria (e.g. coli bacteria) are eliminated, with approx. 99.9% eliminated after 24 hours.

The Wave faucet series designed by Duravit is the ideal companion to sanitary objects and completes the sophisticated design concept with five different finishes.

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