KBB - April 2009 - (Page 36)

Abroad Dynamic Duo Hansgrohe and Duravit unveil new products A month before the latest bathroom and kitchen products were unveiled at ISH 2009, which was held this past March in Frankfurt, Germany, Hansgrohe and Duravit unveiled their latest collections in two separate, four-day events attended by architects, designers and journalists from around the world. Hansgrohe served up the VIP Forum, while Duravit presented Design Days 2009, both of which were staged at their respective headquarters in the Black Forest region of Germany. As part of the events, the two companies announced the debut of the PuraVida collection, a complete bathroom suite resulting from a collaborative joint venture with renowned design studio Phoenix Design. Consisting of faucets, showers, tubs, cabinets and vanities that are interconnected by a sleek yet sensuous aesthetic, the collection attempts to evoke a subtle emotional response with its soft, natural shapes and clean looks, thereby transforming the bathroom into a living area that appeals to the senses. “Bathrooms are increasingly regarded as living areas, as individual design ideas continue to assert themselves,” said Tom Schönherr, co-managing partner of Phoenix Design. “More form, more emotion—PuraVida introduces comfort and calm to the world of bathing. The goal was to design something we can experience with our senses.” To this end, Hansgrohe’s PuraVida faucets and showerheads combine white lacquered surfaces and glistening chrome, introducing striking dual-ﬁnish elements to the bathroom. The collection, which is set to land in the U.S. later this year, employs a new manufacturing technique that allows the two surfaces to merge seamlessly in an interplay of white organic forms and chrome accent details. The color white has been applied to the entire collection to convey purity. As a complement to Hansgrohe’s new ﬁttings, Duravit’s PuraVida collection features glossy white washbasins with gently arced interiors, as well as wall-mounted consoles, vanity units and tall cabinets, all with softly rounded edges. Also included is a built-in tub with a rim that opens to create a space through which a white LED shimmers. The entire line, said Franz Kook, chairman of the board for Duravit, is characterized by the same design philosophy of emotion Hansgrohe’s single-lever lavatory faucet (inset) from the PuraVida collection creates an impression of ﬂoating lightness. Duravit’s PuraVida collection (above, left) includes basins, cabinets and tubs. Also from Duravit, the Inipi sauna (above, right) offers a transparent visual design. 36 + K BB April 2009 July 2004 / www.kbbonline.com / The Ofﬁcial Sponsor of K/BIS www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - April 2009

KBB - April 2009
Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Focus
Trends
Products
Options
Profile
Abroad
Design
On the Hill
Mixed Message
Green
Tech
Additions
Education
Editorial Index
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - April 2009