An ever-popular part of the show, the annual programme of talks showcases the latest thinking within the architecture and design community.
As well as the 200+ product innovations, material curation plus networking opportunities, the talks area is a must-visit part of Architect@Work’s London event, which takes places 22-23 March at the Truman Brewery in the east of the city.
This year’s theme is Energy and Ecosystems, a topic that is expected to provoke timely and lively debate over the two days. The keynote discussion for 2023 comes from Groupwork founder Amin Taha.
Starting proceedings on the Wednesday is a session entitled ‘Positive About energy saving’ and features speakers including Gary Thornton, associate lighting director with architectural lighting specialists Nulty+; Sophie Werren, lead architects with flexible workspace specialists The Office Group; Kiru Balson, sustainability consultant with engineers Max Fordham. Chaired by design journalist Helen Parton, the debate will look at the energy buildings consume and how that challenges architects, designers and developers in terms of balancing the needs of tenants, funding of projects and design elements from landscaping to lighting.
Online bathroom retailer Victoria Plum recognises that when it comes to designing your home, making it suitable for a range of mobility issues is a priority for thousands of households.
People can live with a wide spectrum of mobility issues making everyday tasks and the ability to move around the home more challenging – particularly in older age.
Trying to strike a balance between functionality and style is key to any bathroom design, but even more so when buying a bathroom for an elderly relative who is living independently.
Maintaining independence is extremely important and when it comes to the bathroom there are a wide choice of adaptations that can be made that vary from quick fixes to more complex renovations.
Whether you’re looking to adapt for ease of mobility, better access or want to future-proof for your senior years, an accessible bathroom could be just what you need.
Ruth Foster, interior designer at Victoria Plum shares some practical advice and her top design tips for creating an accessible and modern bathroom that is both functional and stylish for independent living.
Ruth says: “When people hear the term ‘accessible bathroom’ it conjures up images of sterile rooms with clunky obtrusive items, that wouldn’t look out of place in a hospital – a distant cry from the beautiful space you’d envisaged for your home.
“However, it is possible to get the contemporary bathroom that you want and have it meet your accessibility needs at the same time.”
Simple modifications
“An accessible bathroom can be fully customisable with as much or as little as you need. Trying to strike a balance between functionality and style is key to any bathroom design, but even more so when buying a bathroom for someone with a disability or an elderly relative who is living independently.
“Day to day independent living can be hugely impacted by the addition of items such as walk-in baths, grab rails and bath and shower seats.
“Advanced toilets are also an easy adaptation, with comfort height settings and built in personal hygiene jets and dryers. Opt for an electronic bidet toilet with a control panel, automatic flush and seat opening and closing mechanism.
“A walk-in shower bath or shower enclosure with large easy to use controls are ideal for those with visual impairment or hand mobility restrictions. Wet rooms are especially accessible for wheelchair users and those with impaired vision. With no steps or shower trays to worry about, trip hazards can be greatly reduced for those less steady on their feet.
“Consider lowering your shelving so that accessories can be reached more easily and angle your mirrors lower too. A pivot mirror is great for shared spaces as it can be tilted to the perfect angle as required.
Minimalist greys
“Minimalist design continues to lead the way when it comes to choosing an on-trend look for the bathroom with a colour palette of greys and earthy tones.
“This trend works well for an accessible bathroom as it is simple and uncluttered. Adding patterned tiled and textured floors or walls can make a lovely feature and can help to identify zones in the bathroom for visually impaired users.
“Sleek and sturdy chrome grab rails will help you move around with ease while a folding shower seat is ideal if you find standing for an extended period a strain.
Bold, blue and easy to use
“A splash of colour can be most welcome in the bathroom, and you can create some real impact by painting walls rather than tiling everywhere.
“Shower wall panels are fast becoming a popular for accessible bathrooms as they are easy to install and clean with no grout lines where mould can develop. Use them around key splash zones to create contrast.
“If a full wet room is beyond your budget, then a walk-in shower enclosure will still give you easy access to your shower.
“At just 40mm in height walk-in shower trays are ultra-low meaning stepping in and out takes no effort at all. Choose an anti-slip tray and matt for extra safety.”
Black framed and beautiful
“Black framed shower screens are a huge trend in bathrooms right now giving a nod to industrial style interiors, whilst metro tiles are an enduring popular option.
“If climbing in and out of your bath is a chore a large black framed shower is the ideal alternative. Marble effect shower panels will help bring a luxury feel to the décor and are cost-effective to install. Black accents in the form of taps, shower, fold down seat and grab rail provide a super stylish look.
“Break up the space with a feature wall around the basin – again this can help with identifying the different zones in the bathroom.
“A lowered mirror and wall mounted single handed mixer tap will make using the sink area easier while a fold away grab rail for the toilet will retain the aesthetic of the room as well as providing extra support if needed.”
GROHE has announced its first GROHE X Summit “Caring for Water” a great success in every regard. The 17 different events broadcast over three days on the GROHE X digital experience hub recorded over 14,000 video views.
From 7th – 9th March thousands of GROHE X visitors were presented with multi-media formats, from keynotes to masterclasses, from fact snacks to panel talks. The GROHE X digital experience platform turned into a hub of knowledge transfer on the topics of water, living and future homes. The various conversation formats revolved around three essential questions: When do we call a place home – today and tomorrow? How can we make buildings more sustainable? And water as an experience – a new mindfulness? A total of 17 sessions filled with first-hand insights, research-based data and analysis, expertise and know-how took all our registered guests on a journey with the goal of understanding the future of water and our relationship with it.
Professional partners, installers, architects, designers and end-consumers were at the center of the various sessions that took on the potential challenges and issues to be addressed when working, living and interacting with water. The Summit covered issues ranging from interior design trends and the development of innovative products to the improvement of customer relations and how GROHE has put its customers’ needs at the forefront of its go-to-market strategy.
GROHE Everstream: recirculating shower technology cleans, reheats and reuses water
Not only did the GROHE X Summit “Caring for Water” look at the business-centered challenges ahead. GROHE also presented its highly anticipated GROHE Everstream technology that cleans, reheats and reuses water. The shower system uses as little as a quarter of the water and a third of the energy typically required by traditional showers, translating into a cost saving of up to 65% a year for a four-person household, and up to 70% fewer CO2 emissions, depending on individual showering habits. GROHE Everstream technology will change the way we use water without compromising on comfort. It will be available from spring 2024 as the brand aims to have all GROHE concealed showers water recycling ready by 2030.
After introducing GROHE Everstream, the summit moved on to analyze how the construction ecosystem can contribute to having positive effects on the environment and on the people that call these spaces their homes. Day three focused on the way we experience water as a new aid to mindfulness. As a matter of fact, architecture and innovative design can help heal stressed societies, say interior designers, architects and researchers alike. With its SPA sub-brand GROHE can address the increased demand for personal relaxation within the comfort of private bathrooms that – as discussed during various sessions – are increasingly transforming into spaces of personal well-being and self-care.
The bathtub collection, from Spanish brand Acquabella, consists of six different models capable of adapting to any need and all style preferences.
The minimalism of the design, combined with the characteristics of high-quality materials, allows bathtubs to become an essential feature in contemporary bathrooms. In this sense, Acquabella offers a complete selection of freestanding bathtubs to suit any style, but with a common factor: the elegance of their shapes.
Bathtubs with an elegant minimalist design The Chrea, Lech, Levi, Vars and Venet bathtubs are presented as freestanding bathtubs. One of the latest additions, the Chrea bathtub, is distinguished by its welcoming, rounded design: the diagonally cut rim accentuates the asymmetrical and dynamic lines, as well as making it more ergonomic and comfortable. The Levi model, inspired by the sinuous movement of the waves of the sea, embodies the sophisticated curvature of the edges for a soothing visual harmony. The Vars bathtub is more daring, but retains the welcoming roundness of the other models, while the Venet model, with its rigorous and elegant look, presents bevelled edges on the base. Finally, the Lech bathtub (pictured very bottom) has a deep, curved design that makes it unique.
Levi bathtubVars bathtubVenet Bathtub
The Voss bathtub (pictured very top) is the latest addition to the bathtub family, and is offered in a semi-freestanding format. It’s designed to make the most of the space in our bathroom, becoming the best option when it comes to small bathrooms.
New generation material The exposed products are made of Dolotek®, Acquabella’s material that allows to model the most complex shapes. Dolotek® provides a silky, smooth surface for a flawless appearance. This material, made from dolomite stone and resin, is extremely resistant to wear and impact, with superior performance than traditional materials, which is why it is often referred to as “21st-century ceramics”.
RAK Ceramics, a leading global ceramics brand, announced today a USD 14 million investment in its sanitaryware production line in the UAE, upgrading the facility with the latest cutting-edge technology kilns and elevating sustainably the company’s sanitaryware operating model.
RAK Ceramics aims to begin the installation of the new machinery in 2023 and plans to go online in the first half of 2024. The investment will allow the sanitaryware line to incorporate the latest technology into the heat exchanger system of kilns, with capabilities for future conversion to hydrogen fuel and waste heat recycling via advanced features. Once operational, the Company will be able to optimize efficiency during production, enabling the realisation of savings in energy consumption and carbon emissions. Additionally, the process allows for an enhanced yield during production, reducing waste and increasing capacity utilisation.
Commenting on the investment, Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO, RAK Ceramics said: “As a responsible manufacturer and as the fourth largest ceramics player in the world, we have an important role to play on the global stage to make the industry more sustainable. This investment and the launch of this project in our sanitaryware business truly anchors our commitment to sustainability and our drive to long-term value for our stakeholders.”
“For this year, we aim to stimulate sustainability further through our functions and businesses, as we established a clear commitment to prioritise and support sustainable investments, and we are currently working alongside experts in the field to help us in our sustainability journey.”
Over the years, RAK Ceramics’ emphasis on sustainable production has expanded as the demand for distinctive and sustainable ceramic items develops and as the company continues to reap the benefits of sustainable long-term investments on the environmental front.
The Company has outlined in its 2023 Priorities that it is working on defining and implementing a sustainability strategy for the short-to-medium term, incorporating further ESG practices and initiatives and adopting them across all its operations.
New BetteBalance washbasins offer range of installation options – with four variants of one slender bowl design.
As a material for washbasins, glazed titanium steel offers significant advantages in terms of resilience and ease of cleaning. It also allows the creation of extremely slender, but durable products, with defined edges and almost weightless lightness in design. With BetteBalance, Bette is introducing four new bowl washbasins made of this material, which is as robust as it is elegant. With them, different areas of use and styles can be realised in one design language.
Developed for Bette by Tesseraux & Partner, there are four built-in and surface-mounted variants of BetteBalance. All have an ergonomically optimised, circular inner body with a diameter of 395mm, with the interior optimised both in terms of visual appeal and to minimise the splashing of water.
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. This system of creating four variants from one bowl shape reduces manufacturing costs – and means the washbasins can be priced competitively compared to other materials.
The BetteBalance bowl basins are available in four styles and in numerous colours, including matt colours and sparkling effect colours.
The central waste outlet with enamelled cover, echoes the large waste outlet of the successful BetteAir shower tray. To create a flawless, easy-care surface, the basins do not have an overflow hole, with the waste remaining open, although covered, at all times.
PJH, a UK KBB distributor, has announced the appointment of Dawn Kennedy as its new Learning and Development Manager.
A newly created role, Dawn has been appointed to lead PJH’s learning and development function. Her team is tasked with providing all employees with the knowledge and skills to fulfil their role effectively and with empowerment to support PJH being their customer’s First Choice. A core tool in the Learning and Development strategy is the recently launched internal learning and development platform “ELSA” – “Engage, Learn, Support & Achieve” which Dawn will be championing across the business.
Dawn brings to the role a wealth of experience having joined the company in the Customer Experience team in 2000. She has worked in numerous roles across many departments gaining in-depth knowledge of the whole business. As such Dawn has the perfect combination of experience and knowledge plus a real passion for the development of people, which is essential for the role of learning and development manager.
Speaking about the appointment, Richard George, CEO of PJH said: “Much of the success of PJH is down to the continued investment in its employees – we are committed to being our Employees’ First Choice. Having Dawn leading our Learning and Development strategy will ensure all employees have the skills and knowledge to undertake their individual roles. She will focus on adding to the many various training resources PJH already offers, driving the success of the ELSA initiative and ultimately improving our ability to be our Customers First Choice.”
Dawn Kennedy, speaking about her new role as learning and development manager said: “I’ve always loved supporting people, to help them grow and develop in their role within PJH. This new position allows me to continue this ‘love’ helping potentially everyone within the company to achieve their full potential.”
Dawn will be overseeing ELSA directly, the company’s learning and development offering, and which now provides all teams with the same access to learning opportunities, flexibly and at a rate controlled by them.
Visit 100 St John Street, London, during Clerkenwell Design Week from May 23 to 25 to see the latest bathroom and kitchen launches from RAK Ceramics.
On display at the Design Hub are new ranges of surfaces, brassware and sanitaryware, all designed to create luxurious yet highly practical modern living spaces.
One of the striking bathroom displays at the Hub showcases the RAK Ceramics Designer Collection by Patrick Norguet, RAK-Valet. This is a range composed of functional elements – available in matt and glossy finishes – that serve as veritable valets and hand us the objects of our daily wellbeing via functional surfaces and stylistic solutions of great visual impact: decorative forms with slender profiles for the washbasins, top-notch stylistic research for the bathtubs, elongated lines for the toilet bowls.
RAK_ValetMetamorfosi
For the kitchen there is CookingRAK – a one-of-a-kind hidden induction cooking system, creating a stylish impression and professional results.
Designed to create a multi-functional kitchen space ideal for daily use, the system is integrated into the countertop, opening possibilities for users to prepare, cook and dine in the same space; a seamlessly designed kitchen top made for dining and entertaining. The technology combines the high-performance of RAK Ceramics porcelain slabs, with an innovative induction system that operates through a magnetic field. Porcelain has always been the ideal choice for kitchen countertops as they are made of a durable material resistant to heat, stain, and scratch. They are also resistant to moisture and do not easily stain, making them easier to clean.
CookingRAK is exclusively produced with RAK Ceramics porcelain slabs in 14.5mm thickness and 135.5×305 cm size. The slabs can withstand high temperatures and with a surface hardness that resists scratching and staining. They are also an ideal material for kitchen countertops as they are very hygienic, food-safe, and less likely to harbour moulds and bacteria. To conveniently locate the cooking zones on the countertop, the RAK Ceramics slabs can be customised to add special markings in six modifications that will suit any kitchen style.
CookingRAK
Staying with surfaces, visitors to the Design Hub can also view the stunning Metamorfosi collection, a decorative porcelain surface that will make an eye-catching impression for any interior. Metamorfosi is a large-format surface, available in two sizes – 120x260cm and 120x120cm. Inspired by the colours and shapes found in nature and responding to this important interior design trend, Metamorfosi is highly durable and splash resistant, just as porcelain should be, yet visually striking in its appeal, with several design options to choose from.
An important destination on the Clerkenwell Design Week tour, the RAK Ceramics Design Hub at 100 St John Street, Clerkenwell is one of the largest in the area, with 7,276 square feet over two floors. The space gives visitors to the area the opportunity to explore the possibilities of choosing RAK Ceramics for their projects.
Designed to be an interactive and immersive environment to inspire creativity, the Design Hub includes a working kitchen display, working tap display, Virtual Worlds 4D Theatre and a Grab and Go sample area. New product launches are given their debut at the Design Hub, the company’s Mega Slab Maximus surfaces are highlighted, along with inspiring bathroom displays. The Design Hub also hosts seminars and events throughout the year and offers meeting spaces for designers and architects.
With a timeless design and premium quality, Duravit furnishing elements offer sustainable durability in the bathroom.
Durability is an essential factor of sustainability, and it starts at the planning phase: bathrooms that are designed with foresight taking account of future life phases, such as starting a family or catering for old age, ensure comfort and well-being for decades.
As a complete bathroom supplier, Duravit says it is mindful of its responsibility to the environment and future generations. and strives to select high-quality materials & raw ingredients for its products.
Duravit prides itself on:
• Timelessness as an approach to sustainable design
• Functional quality – high utility value
• Manufacturing precision and high-quality materials to maximize the lifetime of the bathroom products
• Lifetime warranty on almost all Duravit ceramics
Grohe, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, has revitalised its GROHE SPA portfolio. The brand-new GROHE Atrio and Allure Brilliant Private Collections allow a choice of different colours, materials, finishes, and handle options to help design one-of-a-kind bathroom pieces.
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.
Caesarstone surfaces
In order to enable end-consumers to enjoy an authentic marble style with a high-quality finish, Grohe is partnering with Caesarstone, a pioneer of countertop surfaces, to craft tap handles in 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.
