Trend 6
Water, light and warmth at the push of a button and the wave of a finger
Photo: Hansa
Background: Grohe
Twisting knobs and pulling on levers is out – these days, washbasin mixers and shower fittings are operated with a gentle push instead. The influence of the little technology revolution taking place in the bathroom was apparent in many of the new products from the fittings sector on show at the ISH 2015. Touchless actuators and controls were also very much in evidence and are rapidly gaining ground in the private spa segment.
With numerous innovations in the field of “digital water control”, Germany is undoubtedly the trailblazer when it comes to the digitisation of the bathroom. Besides the targeted selection of various water modes, programmes and individual functions in the shower and elsewhere, the field of bathroom lighting is now rapidly gaining ground as well. Thanks to modern LED technology, light can be used to emotionalise the bathroom and take its spatial quality to a whole new level. Electricity is also needed for the numerous touchless fittings that are becoming increasingly popular not just in public buildings but in private homes as well – partly because of their slender proportions.
There are also many new products that are operated by pushing a button. Besides their ergonomic advantages, they offer many other benefits as well. A single button is all it takes to alter the spray mode of the hand shower, the water outlet can be positioned independently of the controls and, with a thermostatic mixer, there’s no longer any need to fiddle about trying to get the temperature right with soapy hands – that too can now be done at the push of a button.
Other types of technology are making their way into the bathroom via apps and mirror cabinets These days there is an app that will run a bath for you when you’re getting near the end of your jogging session and another that displays the morning weather report on the mirror cabinet.