Balcoon combing elegant geometric shapes with a natural colour palette

Striking design from Patricia Urquiola.

The Balcoon bathroom range from Patricia Urquiola for Duravit.   This is a fascinating combination of modernity and timeless elegance with a strong design identity.  

The objects in the range unite simple geometric forms with clear lines, creating a pared-down, aesthetic that exudes both warmth and accessibility.  “The design plays with differences in height, projections and the overlapping of materials and textures, from which the name ‘Balcoon’ is derived,” explains Patricia Urquiola.

 Form, colour, and material to outlast short-lived trends

Above-counter basins create a sculptural focal point in the room.  By placing round and oval washbasins on a square plinth, the designer created a specific architectural feeling.  Playing with two different levels in this way is a constant across the entire collection.  Which includes the wall-mounted washbasins through the toilets and bidets up to the furniture elements and bathtubs.

Patricia Urquiola created an earthy terracotta shade for the Balcoon ceramic objects.  This brings their tactile and material qualities to the fore. “Clay Terra Matt is the central colour of the new collection. A shade that makes the ceramics look more authentic and handmade,” says the designer.

Everyday furniture solutions with an aesthetic flourish

The console with its integrated rear panel is one of the striking details within the Balcoon washing area.  It brings with it a feeling of space, whilst the console has the fronts of the storage solutions beneath.  Patricia Urquiola created this unusual, partly asymmetric arrangement of drawers and open shelves, beautifully offset  by the combination of contrasting colours.    “The furniture is given a very special upgrade with consoles in a sophisticated terrazzo look and ribbed furniture fronts,” says Patricia Urquiola.

Plus the Balcoon acrylic built-in bathtubs skillfully pick up on the interplay between two levels.  And they and feature two visually striking details: the oval, raised edge of the tub sits on a seamless acrylic panel which extends into the corners , whilst the ergonomically shaped interior invites you to indulge in a relaxing bathing experience.

Matching faucets for the washing area, bidet, shower, and bathtub complete the range.   Follow the cylindrical handle as it transitions into the faucet body in a gentle curve,  this makes it particularly pleasant to hold. There are three surface variants of Chrome, Matt Black, and Stainless Steel.  These in turn complement the harmonious colour spectrum of the range. The Balcoon faucets offer resource-saving functions in the form of Fresh Start and Minus Flow that save energy and water.

Winter trends in the bathroom

A great thing about the cold season is that you can luxuriate in a bath, such as the Cape Cod bath from Duravit; immerse yourself in a warm bath to unwind relax and loosen tight, cold muscles. Designer Philippe Starck intuitively placed well–being at the heart of his creation. 

Hygge in the bathroom

 The icing on the cake of any dull, grey, winter day is to create some “hygge” – the Danish art of homeliness into the bathroom. Ideal companions for the baths are furniture and accessories that exude a sense of nature and warmth through their colour and shape. These include untreated woods and authentic decorations in subdued tones.

Light in the bathroom

Alongside natural candlelight, dimmable mirrors and mirror cabinets are ideal as lightening in the bathroom that can be adapted to any requirement. They create a lightening accent in the room and bathe the washing area in a pleasant light. The latest innovation in the field of mirror lighting is the seamless adjustment of the light colour.

Red Dot Award for Duravit C.1 tap series and Luv bathroom range

Both the Duravit C.1 tap series and Luv, the complete bathroom range have received the 2018 “Red Dot” award for outstanding design.

The C.1 design range by Kurt Merki Jr. perfectly reflects Duravit’s design language. The ergonomic handle with a recess underneath is comfortable to hold and permits precise operation.

The unusual design of Luv by Danish designer Cecilie Manz combines Nordic purism and timeless, emotional elegance. Gentle forms follow a stringent geometry. The selection of materials and colours is testament to her sense for touch and nuances.

The Red Dot award for “Product Design”, which can trace its origins back to 1955, seeks out each year’s best products. In 2018 designers and manufacturers from 59 nations entered more than 6,300 objects in the competition. True to the motto “in search of good design and innovation”, a jury – around 40 strong – evaluated the products individually as originals. The expert committee only awards the internationally renowned quality seal to products with an impressively high design quality and that satisfy stringent evaluation criteria.

Duravit C.1 tap fittings win the iF GOLD AWARD 2018

March 2018, Duravit has received the iF DESIGN AWARD for the 41st time. The iF GOLD AWARD acknowledges the design excellence, execution, consideration of environmental standards, functionality and innovations of the new C.1 tap fittings range. This award again confirms Duravit’s high level of design expertise. In addition, Luv, Vero Air c-bonded and the BioTracer were honoured with the iF DESIGN AWARD.

The C.1 design range perfectly reflects Duravit’s design language. The ergonomic handle with a recess underneath feels comfortable in the hand and permits a precise operation. Sophisticated details, such as the gap between the base plate and handle which has been reduced to a minimum, add to the elegant look.

Four different heights for a range of basin dimensions, three-hole tap fittings in two heights and wall-mounted fittings with a spout in two lengths provide comfort at the washbasin as well as matching design. C.1 also offers an ideal tap fitting solution for the bidet, shower and bathtub.

C.1 single lever floor-standing bath mixer