Designing a bathroom with a cloak, not just for the face value

The objects of bathroom design have always been metal and ceramics? It seems that the situation may not be that simple now. In addition to pursuing a smooth line appearance, designers are keen to "wear a coat" for the design of bathroom products. As for the material of the outerwear, it is not an exaggeration to describe it in a variety of ways.

At the recent China International Kitchen and Bath Show (KBC), which ended in Shanghai, Chinese and foreign sanitary design brands have come together to compete for the “outerwear” for their new products. From the glazed titanium-steel enamel to the dazzling gorgeous Swarovski crystals, the thick and luxurious leather materials, to the new soft-cloth fabrics, and even the blue-light "ice blue PVD composite technology" and "outerwear" The variety of people is simply fascinating people's eyes.

KBC is the largest kitchen and bathroom exhibition in Asia and an important design trend for the entire industry. Like many of his peers, interior designer Lai Yanan also comes here every year to "step on the proof" to capture the latest design trends. In the face of this year's design of new products have added "outerwear" phenomenon, Lai Yanan is not without doubt. "This trend is sudden. At last year's kitchen and bathroom exhibition, we didn't find any clues. Originally, designers usually consider the problem of cleaning when conceiving bathroom products. Because they have been used in humid environments, bathroom products. The basic function is to be easy to care for, to resist corrosion, to prevent water stains and mold accumulation, and to increase the 'outer coat' is a design taboo. But now, many design peers are on the contrary, and the reasons are worthy of play."

In fact, there are not a few designers, buyers and viewers who have similar questions with Lai Yanan. The speculations about the reasons behind the addition of “outerwear” to the bathroom design competition have also surfaced. Is the minimalist trend to the end, the bathroom design can not wait to turn the direction, began to force the complex design? Or is the era of consumption upgrading in Chinese society, people need to break the conventional bathroom design? What medicine is hidden in the gourd of the bathroom design?

Luxury "outerwear", from the value of the value to the sublimation of the artistic conception

Cooperating with Hong Kong's big-name designer Liang Zhitian, Weibao, known as “Hermes in the bathroom”, has brought the luxury and complexity of bathroom design to the extreme. Liang Zhitian's "Crystal Series" Emperor Star wash basin and Skaoliya bathtub are not only wrapped in a black leather outer layer, but also inlaid with three diameters and a total of 5,000 Austrian-originated Swarovski stars. Rose Crystal, when it was unveiled, attracted a lot of praise.

However, according to Liang Zhitian, luxury is only a superficial article of design. He is more concerned with the expression of Chinese artistic conception in design. Despite the fact that the leather mosaic crystal is an “unprecedented” bathroom design method, it is easier to create a topic. However, it is undeniable that the Chinese freehand landscape in the “Crystal Series” still has a certain degree of recognition. In Liang Zhitian's words to explain: "Black leather is like a canvas, crystal is equivalent to ink. I use a luxurious Western design element to draw a piece of ink in the bathroom space." It is said that Liang Zhitian in a few days of meditation, according to The characteristics of the crystal imitate the scatter-and-spoke method of free and easy in landscape painting, focusing on the outline of mountains and water.

Another home luxury leather "outerwear" masterpiece is the Armani/Roca series. Fashion brands and bathroom brands have joined forces to make bathroom design a luxury fashion. The designer happily spreads the golden leather to the entire bathroom and the outer layer of the bathtub, creating a modern and retro style of the bathroom. In fact, if you don't look carefully, you can only feel that there is a golden color that is not glaring, and when you really touch these leather "outerwear", you will suddenly realize it. Originally, this kind of glare-free retro golden light was created, which was the original elephant-patterned leather of the Armani/Roca surface. The staff standing on the side told the media that on the opening day of the KBC exhibition, some Japanese buyers who came from afar felt that the touch experience of the products was quite unique, and even they did not pay attention to the chemicals on the spot in the bathroom basin. The corrosion resistance test was carried out, and the blade was also scratched on the surface, hoping to find out what the outer layer of the leather is. “It’s a secret, so they’re all gone.” The employee who was responsible for explaining the new design to the visitors was obviously a bit proud. Obviously, the luxurious leather outer layer earned enough attention for their new design. The buyers who came to consult were in a constant stream.

Bette, the German sanitary ware brand that first landed in KBC, brought the world's first fabric-wrapped BetteLuxOval Couture titanium steel bathtub and washbasin combination. According to Belle International Sales Director Santa Maria, the design team at BetteLuxOval Couture has indeed broken the traditional design of the bathroom when creating this trendy product.

The previous bathroom design always gave people a hard feeling. How to add some flexible elements in the bathroom space has become the focus of many product designers. Santa said: “For BetteLuxOval Couture, the designer’s inspiration comes from how to bring the comfort of the living room and bedroom into the bathroom, which makes people more relaxed, and also makes the bathroom more harmoniously integrated into everyday life.” Indeed, From a visual point of view, this layer of fabric soft bag has made the bathroom space a bit more "tender". Unexpectedly, these soft fabrics not only have multiple colors to choose from, but they can still be removed and cleaned. This has given a good solution for people who like to change their soft clothes according to the season and have cleanliness. In Santa’s market research, there are many people in the urban population who have these two characteristics.

"Invisible" outerwear, high-tech to escort

The design appeals are different. The major brands have made a lot of efforts in the design of the bathroom “outerwear”, but there is no designer or design team who will simply improve the appearance of the product and become a bathroom product. Design "outerwear". “The combination of function, appearance and artistic conception is the key to the success of sanitary ware design. Although Western designers may not be able to explain what is artistic conception, they still more or less reflect the elements of artistic conception from their design works.” Song Yang, the editor of the design magazine, described the trend of “wearing clothes” in the field of bathroom design. "Don't underestimate this layer of 'outerwear', which allows designers to have more room to interpret the concept of bathroom space."

From this point of view, ZeVa's "Eternal Ice World" bathroom new product, the function combined with the artistic design is quite in place. Although Lifan's design is captured by an international team of designers from all over the world, the products are hand-built by the craftsmen of the German factory, but this does not affect their use of the "outerwear" of the product to create the "ice world" mood.

In fact, the “outerwear” that Lifan has given to the new bathroom is only a thin layer, but it represents another trend of bathroom design – using high-tech “invisible outerwear” to protect the daily bathing and washing. The new product is covered with a blue "coat" like ice, which is actually a layer of ice blue PVD composite film with "ice film technology".

According to Rivan's design team, this layer of composite film technology gives them a new design inspiration. This subversive technology that replaces the traditional faucet coating process is very similar to the Arctic ice crystal condensation. The surface material of the faucet produces a physical change during the filming process, thereby removing the frictional forces that should exist on the surface of the material. When the filmed faucet is in contact with the liquid, the water drops do not stay on the surface of the faucet. This composite film not only has a crystal clear but not glare-like appearance in appearance, and functions as a permanent self-cleaning function, and does not have the effect of hiding dirt. Therefore, according to the technical characteristics of the products, they customized the design theme of “Eternal Ice World” for the new products.

Perhaps the “outerwear” of the bathroom design is not the “hidden place” for dirt and water stains, as many designers have imagined. According to the annual report of the sanitary design industry, in the future, high-tech glazes such as glass glaze, titanium steel enamel, and simulated composite leather will continue to be popular in sanitary ware design, becoming the popular fabric of “outerwear”. Today's bathroom "outerwear style" may be just the beginning. When Lai Yanan and other designers saw more bathroom draped in "outerwear", probably would not be surprised by the confusion.