ISH 2023: New Bathroom Launches

Sustainability was in the spotlight at ISH, with forward-thinking innovations helping both brands and consumers conserve resources to reduce emissions and costs.

German brand Hansgrohe presented a conceptual bathroom that boasts a 90% reduction in water, energy and carbon, compared to conventional designs. It features a 10-litre shower with pH-neutralised water, which forgoes the need for shampoo and shower gel. The showerhead uses a lighting system to communicate how much water is left, and it captures all spent water for toilet flushing. The toilet also uses a pivoting lid to separate solids from liquids to reduce the need for unnecessary flushing. The manufacturer’s new commercial showerhead, the Pulsify Planet, also uses only six litres of water per minute and is made from post-use plastic.

Kaldewei (also from Germany) presented a shower channel with a heat exchanger that recycles the heat from spent shower water to warm up cold water on its way to the fixture – reducing the need for electric heating.

Launches also reconsidered manufacturing. Emirati brand Rak Ceramics revealed that it is now using 3D printing to construct its ceramic wash basins. This process does away with production waste, has a faster turnaround than conventional methods, enables small-batch collections, and allows clients to specify designs for their projects.

Elsewhere, Finnish start-up Woodio developed a sanitary collection made from a biocomposite derived from locally sourced timber waste. The material enables pieces to be built using a moulding process that creates 99% fewer carbon emissions than ceramic firing methods.

Designs drew cues from other interior categories to cast the bathroom as an inviting and expressive part of the home.

Spanish brand Roca used clever accessories in tactile materials to introduce welcome softness to the bathroom space. Its Tura collection includes a cushioned fabric headrest for the bathtub that drapes over the basin’s edge and is made from a quick-dry antimicrobial material, as well as felt storage boxes with cork lids.

Manufacturers prioritised open layouts to create bathrooms that seamlessly blend into other living areas. The freestanding wash basins from Agape and Antoniolupi (both Italian) can be positioned away from the wall, making them suitable for open-plan spaces. Similarly, German brand Bette’s flat shower tray can be adjusted to any dimension and creates an open, barrier-free area that’s also more accessible.

Multifunctional innovations came through to reduce clutter and support organisation. Germany’s Duravit launched the Bento sink with an inner wash basin and an outer storage area for keeping personal care items close at hand. Meanwhile, Axor (also German) presented a shower panel that comprises a showerhead and a control panel (with various functions) made from an ultra-thin metal sheet. The design gives all functional elements a cohesive form language for a sleek look.

Brands also harnessed bold colours, evocative shapes and quirky details to unleash personal styling. Roca’s Nu taps hide the dots describing hot and cold underneath the handle to create the appearance of a smiley face when it’s pulled back. Some designs emulated the natural world, harnessing its restorative and soothing effects. German manufacturer Villeroy & Boch’s Antao collection is shaped to have the organic appearance of dew drops. Elsewhere, Swiss company Laufen remade its Ilbagnoalessi collection in its strong Saphirkeramik material to achieve more fluid and sculptural silhouettes.