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VitrA publishes 4th Design Update: The Wellness Issue

VitrA Bathrooms has published its fourth Design Update Magazine.  Focusing on Wellness, VitrA invited a number of high-profile designers and architects to contribute to this increasingly influential design-led publication.

The design professionals include Professor Sadie Morgan OBE, who focuses on her motivation behind the Quality of Life Foundation and Arik Levy, the internationally renowned designer of VitrA’s Voyage bathroom range, who examines bathroom spaces for wellbeing.   Charles Holland, a respected architect, and commentator reflects on the ‘smallest room’, and Public Health and Design is discussed with hygiene expert Dr Lisa Ackerley.  Child-centred design is explored with Cristiana Caira of White Arkitekter and Seyhan Cicek of VitrA’s Innovation Centre.   Readers are also treated to a pre-launch glimpse of the new Global Flagship Showroom VitrA is opening in Clerkenwell, London.

Margaret Talbot, European Marketing Manager, for VitrA “Wellness is at the front of many people’s minds at present, whether that be physical health and safety or making better use of time at home or work – relaxing, unwinding, and practising self-care.  There are vital areas where psychological Wellness and physical hygiene come together. This Design Update is aimed at finding those touchpoints and creating thought-provoking content from some of the leading voices.”

Read VitrA’s Design Update 4 – The Wellness Issue here

VitrA is part of the Eczacıbaşı Group, one of Turkey’s most prominent industrial groups. Founded in 1958, VitrA is a leading bathroom manufacturer, which in recent years has expanded into international markets with over 70 per cent of VitrA’s total output now being sold outside of Turkey. From 13 production facilities in Turkey, Germany, France, and Russia, VitrA produces a full range of bathroom products including over 5.6 million pieces of sanitaryware a year along with complementary bathroom furniture, brassware, and accessories ranges, which are distributed to over 75 countries on five continents.

VitrA UK, based in Oxfordshire, has been supplying the UK bathroom market for over 25 years and is an active member of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) and the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI).  In January 2021, VitrA will open a flagship showroom in Clerkenwell, London – a creative hub for architects, designers, and thinkers with dedicated areas for product specification, events, and workshops.

www.VitrA.co.uk                                                                                                            

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European Promotion for VitrA’s Margaret Talbot

Margaret-Talbot-European-Marketing-Manager-for-VitrA-Bathrooms-

Margaret Talbot, Marketing Manager for VitrA bathrooms in the UK, has been promoted to Regional Marketing Manager – Europe.

Margaret joined the Oxfordshire based bathroom company, which is part of Turkey’s largest industrial groups, the Eczacıbaşı Group, in 2016.  Following a successful career in telecoms and IT, Margaret and her team have played a vital part in VitrA Bathrooms UK’s growth in recent years. Margaret’s new role sees her responsibilities broaden to include the development of the marketing communication strategy and management for, France, Germany and Italy whilst overseeing the UK plans.  These include the opening of the global flagship showroom in Clerkenwell, London due to launch shortly.

Margaret says “I am thrilled to be offered this new opportunity.  The marketing team, here in Oxford, have been a key part of our success, and I look forward to building on these relationships with our customers and teams across Europe.  The new showroom will be a creative hub that will be used by VitrA and its customers globally.  I look forward to playing my part.”

 About VitrA

VitrA is part of the Eczacıbaşı Group, one of Turkey’s most prominent industrial groups. Founded in 1958, VitrA is a leading bathroom manufacturer, which in recent years has expanded into international markets with over 70 per cent of VitrA’s total output now being sold outside of Turkey. From 13 production facilities in Turkey, Germany, France, and Russia, VitrA produces a full range of bathroom products including over 5.6 million pieces of sanitaryware a year along with complementary bathroom furniture, brassware, and accessories ranges, which are distributed to over 75 countries on five continents. VitrA UK, based in Oxfordshire, has been supplying the UK bathroom market for over 25 years and is an active member of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) and the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI). In January 2021 VitrA will open a flagship showroom in Clerkenwell, London – a creative hub for architects, designers, and thinkers with dedicated areas for product specification, events, and workshops.         

www.VitrA.co.uk                                   

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Casa/Studio Passive House selects Duravit

The Casa/Studio Passive House by Margherita Potente und Stefano Piraccini is situated in the Italian city of Cesena and claims to be the first of its kind anywhere in the world. An international jury has awarded PIRACCINI+POTENTE SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE for this project with a The Plan Award 2020 in the category “Home Efficiency & Technology”.

“Passive House” is the name given to buildings that significantly reduce ventilation-induced heat losses and do not require a conventional heating system.

Energy-efficient buildings of this type are certified by the Passivhaus Institute Darmstadt – an internationally renowned institute for the research and development of building concepts, building components and planning tools. Certification is awarded when specific requirements regarding architecture, technology and ecology are satisfied.

The project demonstrates that the energy performance of a Passive House can be achieved not only in new, insulated buildings but also in conversions and renovation projects. Using the Passive House guidelines, buildings in need of renovation are upgraded and made more energy-efficient and earthquake-proof.

The building features a mix of building elements – wood (laminated and XLAM), steel, reinforced concrete masonry, and armed concrete. Attention was paid to the natural properties of each material to ensure optimum interaction between them. This enabled the building’s construction costs to be kept at a market-compatible level without neglecting qualitative aspects.

Most of the heating needs are drawn from passive sources such as solar radiation and the heat given off by people and technical devices. The Casa/Studio Passive House is not connected to the gas network and simply has a mechanically controlled ventilation system, which enables clean and filtered air fed in from outside to be enriched with heat from the extracted used air. By foregoing any combustible energy sources, the building does not contribute any emissions to the atmosphere.

This extraordinary building includes, amongst other things, the Duravit lines ME by Starck, Starck 1, LCube, Happy D.2, Luv, and Sensowash® Slim. A highlight is the DuraSquare washbasin with metal console in Black Matt, which stands out with its clear, pared-down design. For Stefano Piraccini it is not just an architects’ studio, but also his home. The architect had the washbasin installed on the bedroom terrace so he can enjoy the view of the Savio river during his morning routine.

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KEUCO introduces colour & branding for sanitiser dispensers

Since the middle of 2020 hand sanitiser have become a must for washrooms, hospitality and retail venues. KEUCO’S dispenser has an elegant yet straightforward, linear design, along with superior technical features that have been invisibly integrated into the design.

Keuco disinfectant sanitiser branded

KEUCO’s sanitiser dispensers #are available in bold and bright or subtle chic, suitable for an extensive variety of areas, locations and situations: homes, hotels, supermarkets, shopping malls, offices and airports. These new dispensers meet the highest hygiene requirements, whilst combining functionality with a distinguished design.

Keuco stripy sanitiser

There are size options too: the free-standing sanitiser dispenser variant is slim and stable the round head provides an elegant finishing touch whilst ensuring ease of use. The top is simple to remove, just pull upwards and the supply bottle is revealed ready to be refilled. The large base plate ensures stability and catches stray drops of sanitiser during use. A smaller variant is available for table, desk and countertops or for use in cars, boats or bicycles. A third option that can be attached to wall is also available.

Simple to operate: just press the big buzzer to dispense the sanitiser. The storage container is discreetly hidden inside the column and can be easily refilled with a liquid or gel sanitiser of your choice. KEUCO offer an extensive variety of colours and colour-combinations including plain coloured, multi-coloured, black and white or elegant metallic; for multi-site requirements there are bespoke options with specific branding.

www.keuco.co.uk

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BMA calls for household water efficiency measures in Government plans

The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) is calling for household water efficiency measures to be included in the upcoming Government spending plans.

In a pre-budget submission, the association has identified a number of ways public spending can be used to help drive down domestic water use and protect this natural resource.

Water scarcity is a crucial issue for the UK, as climate change and population growth are predicted to create a structural deficit in water resources by 2050. Government has launched a National Framework for Water Resources – a strategy which outlines a goal to reduce our average water use from 143 to 110 litres per day. But this will require action in every home in the country, as well as behavioural change.

BMA is calling on public policy makers to incentivise water saving on a national scale and reverse the upward trend in water usage.

Baths and showers are accountable for the highest water consumption in the home, at around 34%, with a further 30% of total water used to flush toilets. About 20% of a typical gas heated home’s use is warming water for showers, baths and taps. These figures mean any drive to improve the nation’s green credentials must include turning our attention to our bathrooms.

We are lobbying Government to consider prioritising water efficiency retrofit measures as part of a wider package of domestic retrofitting over the next two decades.

Recent research carried out by the BMA showed consumers are aware of the need to save water, and around half of those surveyed want to improve their household water efficiency. But worryingly, four in ten adults are not sure how to decrease their water usage. 

A Government commitment to systematically roll out change would signal the importance of protecting our water infrastructure and address the legacy issues in the UK’s existing housing stock.

Retrofit is an activity with multiple benefits for Government, society and the environment, creating jobs and boosting the economy in the wake of the pandemic.

To achieve the Government’s zero carbon target by 2050, a national programme is needed, with a central Retrofit Delivery Agency. We must ensure these programmes include water-saving measures to address the ever-increasing pressure on supply.

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GROHE launches new RIBA approved CPD module

GROHE has launched its third RIBA approved CPD module, Hygiene Optimisation for Sanitary Facilities, in response to the increasing demand for hygiene-optimised solutions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its aim is to facilitate greater awareness and provide inspiration to multiple stakeholders and industries working within the built environment, from architects and designers to housebuilders, retailers and plumbers.

The latest seminar-based training module is the first on RIBA’s CPD database to look at hygiene in both the kitchen and bathroom, allowing participants an in-depth look at residential design under a hygiene lens, alongside its increasing importance in commercial settings.

GROHE first identified a seismic shift in the demand for hygiene-optimised products at the beginning
of 2020, which reached new heights once the first wave of the pandemic hit the UK.

“Whilst in the UK commercial market the transition to more hygiene-focussed public spaces and
business environments has been in motion for some time, there has been increasing demand in the
consumer markets, in such a way that has never been seen before“, says Karl Lennon, Leader Projects
Channel – A&D, LIXIL EMENA. “Ongoing conversations with our partners and clients over the last year
has signified to us that there is a real demand for more knowledge around hygiene and what solutions
are available. The pandemic is likely to impact both the short- and long-term implications of the way
our buildings are designed and how we live and work in them. The design community are eager to
expand their horizons in order to be able to adapt“.

To mark the release of its new CPD module, GROHE has partnered with leading hospitality design platform, Hotel Designs, to host a virtual launch event for architects and designers on Tuesday 9th February 2021. Hosted by Hotel Designs‘ editor, Hamish Kilburn, and presented by Karl Lennon, Leader Projects Channel – A&D, LIXIL EMENA, the launch event will give attendees a first look at the new CPD session. GROHE will also be hosting a prize draw for all those who register, with twenty of its brand-new Rainshower SmartActive 130 hand showers to give away.

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Creating drama in the bathroom: Bette baths in matt black

The bathroom is becoming more dramatic, with black and inky tones on furniture, tiles and painted surfaces helping to create contemporary and stylish spaces.

Eighteen Bette freestanding baths are now available in Ebony, a matt black colour to complement the use of darker tones in the bathroom. The baths, from the BetteLux, BetteStarlet and BetteArt collections, also include some which are perfect for smaller bathrooms, as they are designed to be positioned against a wall or into a corner.

Like all Bette baths, it is made from glazed titanium-steel, comes with a 30 year warranty and is 100% recyclable. It is durable and easy to clean because the glass-hard surface makes it difficult for dirt and bacteria to adhere. It is also not affected by chemicals or even the naked flame or hot wax of a candle, which means that Bette’s baths in matt black are easy to keep looking their best. The surface is also UV-resistant, so the elegance of the matt black colour remains unaltered over the years.

Pictured is the BetteStarlet Oval Silhouette, which is available in five sizes from 1500 x 800mm to 1950 x 950mm.

For further information on Bette see www.my-bette.com/en or telephone 0844 800 0547.

About Bette

Bette is a specialist in bathroom products that are made of a special metal in a unique manufacturing process: titanium steel sheets are shaped under high pressure and then finished with a thin coating that is related to glass – hence the name “glazed titanium steel”. This composite material is perfect for the bathroom (it is skin-friendly, hygienic, durable and robust), and Bette uses it to make its baths, shower areas, shower trays and washbasins. The Bette family company was founded in Delbrück in North-Rhine Westphalia in 1952, and specialises exclusively in this manufacturing process, because it allows the products to be shaped smoothly with the maximum skilled precision. The manufacturing and administrative headquarters employs around 390 people. The CEO, Thilo C. Pahl, is a member of the owner family.

The range includes baths, shower areas, shower trays, washbasins and bathroom furniture, all made in Germany. Unique items that can be made in various colours and dimensions and open up inspiring interior design ideas for the bathroom. Bette’s assembly processes combine high-tech industrial production techniques with tailor-made manufacturing where it benefits the customer. More than half its products are customised to customer preferences. The company offers over 600 different baths, shower trays and washbasin models in a tremendous range of colours.

The natural raw materials glass, water and steel are used to manufacture high-quality products that are completely recyclable. They are verified to the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) as per ISO 14025 and to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

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Hotel Fjordgaarden spa refurbished

HighLine Custom Drains


Following a refurbishment, Hotel Fjordgaarden in Ringkøbing now boasts an exclusive new spa that is already attracting visitors from near and far. According to the hotel, aesthetics were a top priority in this project which is reflected in the luxurious solutions chosen; these include the elegant linear drains, covered with custom-cut tiles that blend almost invisibly in with the flooring.

West Jutland has a new attraction to tempt tourists

Situated next to the Ringkøbing Fjord is the Hotel Fjordgaarden; originally built in 1967, the hotel has undergone an expansion and total refurbishment and now includes a luxurious new spa.

COVID-19 and travel restrictions may have slightly affected visitor numbers, but guests have still been flocking to Fjordgaarden, and the hotel recoreded its busiest summer ever. The majority of this success can be attributed to the spa, which opened in June and was officially inaugurated in August.

“With the refurbishment, we wanted to attract a new segment of customers to the hotel; the spa definitely helps with this. We want our guests to feel that Fjordgaarden is worth the journey, and we think they will when they see our new super-elegant spa,” says Fjordgaarden’s manager Brian Madsen.

Luxurious style – exclusive details
According to Brian Madsen, every detail of the spa has been carefully considered. The style is well-thought-out, with large, rustic tiles, wood panelling as well as sand and lyme grass:

“The refurbishment has a strong focus on aesthetics; from the outset this was the top priority throughout the hotel. We want visitors to experience sheer luxury and elegance; this is reflected both in the design and the materials used. We’re delighted to report we’ve already had a lot of positive feedback from the guests.”

The spa was fitted with linear drains from the design company Unidrain, which is renowned for its stylish, minimalistic products. The hotel chose Unidrain’s HighLine Custom drain, to suit the spa’s fashionable look.
“Invisible” linear drains provide a stylish finish/ The solution provides a discreet drain, where the familiar grate is replaced by custom-cut tiles that match the surrounding floor:

“We’re extremely pleased that our drains were chosen to help create the right experience in the spa. Our Highline Custom drain with the tile covering produces an elegant finish and a beautiful style. It’s barely noticeable because it slopes so discreetly into the floor,” says Anders W. Christensen, Unidrain’s Area Sales Manager.

The discreet drain has been installed around both the pools as well as in the sauna and shower areas. The lounge area is also equipped with the stylish linear drains, which have been placed with great care: “Based on drawings of all the rooms, we made recommendations on the length and number of the drains. We also provided advice on their optimal location. The focus was on creating a result that merges form and function. We took water drainage into account to make sure the drains had the right capacity. In addition, we took care to create the right slope without cutting the tiles into pieces. This creates a solid, seamless look that’s extremely stylish,” concludes Anders W. Christensen.

  • Unidrain Spa Fjordgaarden Linear Drain
    The elegant linear drain from Unidrain is covered with tiles that match the rest of the floor in Fjordgaarden

Unidrain: Established in 2003 this design company has gone from inventing the linear floor drain to creating a leading international brand, spreading Danish design ethics and Nordic minimalism to the rest of the globe. From five star hotels in the Maldives, to the Award-winning Herman K in Copenhagen Unidrain products and accessories play a key role in the look and feel of these stylish bathrooms.

About Unidrain

More news from Unidrain

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Architect@Work returns as a digital summit

Architect@Work

The Architect@Work talks programme has returned for 2021 as a digital summit. Over the past decade, this European trade show and exhibition has developed a reputation for tackling issues facing the profession, touching upon different materials and the environment that surrounds us.

This year the organisers have dispensed with a specific theme but many of the panel discussions will be centred around our physical and mental wellbeing in a post-pandemic society. Without drawing specifically on design resolutions to a situation we don’t yet fully understand, the talks at A@W2021 will address a future vision on the places where we will live, work and socialise. They will explore how we care for the most vulnerable and the fact that good design and the environment do not have to be sacrificed in the process.

It is important to gain a full picture of the built environment and so all the panels will feature speakers from a design background, as well as a client perspective – including commercial clients and local authorities. Some highlights include:

• Healthy office environments as highlighted by the wellbeing expert Ben Channon and the
head of design at The Office Group, Nasim Koerting;
• Creating better homes for the elderly according to renowned architect Sarah Wigglesworth
and Guy Flintoff from Retirement Villages;
• Ways that we can make housing more equitable, featuring Sue Morgan – head of the Design
Council – and rising star Yẹmí Aládérun from Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association;
• The changes we will see to design outside that includes Transit Studio who organised the
successful pedestrianisation project in Soho;
• Considering the changing role of the suburbs with Peter Murray of the NLA and Georgie Day
from Enfield Council;
• And hear from two designers of the most recent Maggie’s Centres – Ab Rogers and Alex de
Rijke – alongside the woman that commissioned them, Dame Laura Lee.

The six panels will take place on 27th and 28th January and anyone can register for free at
www.architect-at-work.co.uk

Pictured Top: Alex de Rijke of dRMM will discuss his Maggie’s Centre in Oldham with Ab Rogers and Dame Laura Lee

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Unidrain appoints new Marketing Project Manager

Leading Danish design company, Unidrain has engaged Lisbeth Smed Nissen as their new marketing project manager.

Unidrain known for their award winning, elegant line drains, have been looking to expand their marketing team for a while. 2020 ended with a positive note as Unidrain appointed Lisbeth Smed Nissen as their new marketing project manager. Her responsibilities include the marketing for all of Unidrain’s products in addition to their B2B and B2C marketing activities.

Lisbeth has worked in marketing for 16 years, with responsibility for customers such as the plumbing wholesaler Brødrene Dahl, part of Saint Gobain Distribution Denmark a leading distributor of products and solutions in the construction sector. Until recently she was Marketing Manager at the paint manufacturer Flügger A/S so Lisbeth is familiar with all sectors of the building and design industry.

“There are a great many parallels between my previous jobs and this one and I’m delighted to be able to use this knowledge in my new position. I have over 20 years of experience in marketing and I look forward to bringing this expertise into play at Unidrain. My main tasks will be to develop and run a wealth of exciting projects, campaigns alongside other marketing activities,” says Lisbeth Smed Nissen.

Focus on product marketing and exports
“Lisbeth will be focussing on product marketing and exports to our international markets” said Kim Maretti, Unidrain’s Chief Marketing Manager “ Her previous experience means she already has a good understanding of our industry and we are delighted to have her on board as a new member of the Unidrain team.”

“I’m really looking forward to working with – and becoming part of – the stylish and exclusive Unidrain brand; getting to know the brand, its wide range of products and to work in conjunction with all customers, installers, architects and interior designeres” concludes Lisbeth Smed Nissen.

Unidrain: Established in 2003 this design company has gone from inventing the linear floor drain to creating a leading international brand, spreading Danish design ethics and Nordic minimalism to the rest of the globe.

From five star hotels in the Maldives, to the Award-winning Herman K in Copenhagen Unidrain products and accessories play a key role in the look and feel of the most stylish bathrooms on the planet.

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