The modern bathroom is the embodiment of retreat into a world of one's own, far removed from everyday life. In future, as the core area of a private home that is increasingly becoming the focal point of life, the bathroom will gain even more significance – as an isolated bubble within a permeable living cocoon.
One reason why nature is such an attractive theme for the retreat embodied by the Bathroom Bubble is of course that our modern lifestyle has become so far removed from it. Unspoiled nature is the counterpoint to our reality, which is dominated by an urban feel and the ubiquitous presence of other people, noise and architecture. In the Bathroom Bubble we seek solitude, tranquillity and often also natural, authentic-looking surroundings.
We want to have it even better in our bathrooms in future. And we want the ultimate in technical convenience too. But without any complicated gimmicks, if you please, so that everyone can use it and we can all live barrier-free lives. It should be natural too, of course - and ecologically compatible. An exciting task for the industry, its designers and architects.
For some time now, the merging of the bathroom and bedroom to form a wellness zone has been the subject of much discussion. But is integrating bathing and showering pleasure into the sleeping area really a realistic concept? According to the interior architects of Livinghouse, it is – provided it is based on careful planning. Besides delivering the proof, the concept they have developed for a fully integrated “bedroom-bathroom” also aims to bring the comfort and luxury of a 5-star hotel into the home.
On the invitation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Austrian design firm EOOS, together with the Eawag aquatic research institute of ETH Zurich, present a revolutionary new sanitation concept: the “diversion toilet”. In the competition the project was awarded with a Special recognition and $40,000 for their outstanding design of a toilet user interface.
Whether it's news, traffic, appointments, emails, weather or even your blood pressure: With the "b in touch" app, you can keep an eye on everything while shaving or putting on your makeup. It only takes one touch, and your mobile companion puts the news, weather and sports right onto your bathroom mirror.
Toilets in the bathroom and intercoms on the door were the innovations of yesteryear. In future, our houses will be equipped with a level of comfort that still seems like science fiction to many of us today. But even now, household appliances deploy a wealth of sophisticated technology to save energy and make our lives easier. This potential can be further increased with a central control system.
Seamless walls and floors not only make it easier to spring clean or renovate the bathroom, kitchen and entrance areas. Thanks to the new PUR-Loft coating technology, they can also be used to create flowing transitions and a consistent overall look in the interior and outdoor areas as well. A patchwork of rooms with different wall and floor coverings can thus be transformed into an aesthetically appealing residential or business unit.
With their Horizontal Shower, fittings manufacturer Dornbracht present for the first time showering in a horizontal way. With this technique Dornbracht wants to fulfill the longing for natural elements and a natural water experience in order to set a new trend in the shower area.
Peter Wippermann specialises in communication strategies for trend-based brand management and is consulted wherever future issues are involved – at the VDS Trend Forum, for instance, the key convention of the German Sanitary Industry Association (Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitärwirtschaft e. V., VDS), where Wippermann gave a lecture outlining his visionary interpretation of demographic developments.