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Module 1: Bathroom Design History

Dima Al-Dayriyeh

dima.dayriyeh@gmail.com

Assignment-1

21st March, 2017

1. Analyze and Contrast the below pictures in terms of Style, Layout, Color scheme, and

Features.

Picture A

Picture B

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• In Picture A: Minimalistic Bathroom Design

The bathroom is modern with the minimalistic touch. The design is simple, clean

and elegant. Noticing the clean and handless cabinets, with a clear white floor

and walls. Unlike classic or traditional styles, the main thing that makes the

design looks very minimalistic is that it lacks patterns and motifs. On the other

hand, the layout follows Ludwig’s famous concept that “Less is more”. And in

picture A, we can see that the sink, wall cabinet, and pouf are placed far away

from each other with an indirect connection between them which is the vibrant

red color that is highlighted on them. Moreover, thinking of a monochromatic

color scheme with the “red” as a primary color acts as a highlighter, makes the

design relates more to nowadays minimalistic bathrooms.

Minimalistic bathrooms tend more to break the traditional way to visualize

designs and layouts. Unlike classic designs, minimalistic designs are more likely

to embrace new technologies and features. For example, in the above picture we

can notice under mounted bathtub that looks like a swimming pool is being

placed inside a bathroom. This feeling comes as the bathtub is placed in the

middle of the bathroom and not on a corner (As usually seen and placed). More

of the non-traditional minimalistic features are: the oval organic shaped mirror,

the exposed wire wall light, and the chandelier that is placed above the bathtub.

• In Picture B: Classic Bathroom Design

By no doubt, picture B shows a classic bathroom design. It is clearly known as we

see patterns and motifs almost everywhere in the bathroom including walls,

ceiling, floor, carpet, wallpaper, and furniture. Using a split complementary color

scheme, makes the whole bathrooms looks even more classic. It reminds us of

an old period of time or an old era, especially when you see the combination of

the green, orange, and yellow color scheme. The bathroom layout is very

traditional, as we can notice the placement of each facility on a separate wall

side or corner. By keeping the middle area empty for a better circulation; in

which, it is highlighted and decorated with a round patterned rug with a very

classy chandelier that act as a focal point.

Classic designs are timeless and royal. You don’t need to consider high-tech

features nor to minimize the number of facilities used in a particular bathroom.

Therefore, we can see in picture B the two “his and her” sinks; in addition to a

classic vanity dresser. This makes the classic bathroom experience looks even

more luxurious and royal!

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2. Top 5 Bathroomware manufacturers:

Kohler is an American manufacturing company that is founded in 1873 by John Michael Kohler

in Wisconsin. He’s an Austrian immigrant and businessman. He purchased a foundry that

produced a variety of cast-iron and steel products. Later on, Kohler took a product in his line

and he called as a horse scolder. He furnished this product with four legs to serve as a bathtub.

The company’s philosophy is to enhance the customers sense of gracious living. Gracious living

is marked by qualities of charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit.

Today, Kohler is known for maintaining leading brands in kitchens, bath, power system,

interiors, and hospitality. In terms of bathroomware, Kohler manufactures products such as

Bidets, Bath Tubs, Shower enclosures, Lavatories, Suites, Toilets, Fittings and faucets.

Kohler Veil K-6299-0 Hung

Toilet Seat

Kohler Iron K-5403-P5-0

Oval Sink

Kohler Loure K-14661-4-CP

Sink Faucet

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The company is always inspired by a desire to improve everyone’s life with better product

designs and innovations. In fact, it changed the perception of how a bathroom should be and

the way it is used.

TOTO was founded by Kazuchika Okura; in which, he established a ceramic sanitary ware

laboratory to develop a better, cleaner, and healthier living spaces. In 1917, Okura founded

Toyo Toki which is known now as “TOTO”. It was founded on a commitment to provide

comfortable products to the users with respect to the protection of the water and the

environment. On the other side, TOTO products were always inspired by the rich artistic

Japanese heritage and this was the reason to shape their philosophy.

The company’s philosophy is all about creating a great company that is trusted by people

around the world and to contribute to the betterment of the society. This can be achieved via

providing high quality products, protecting the global environment and creating more

comfortable lifestyle.

Moreover, TOTO is a well-known name in the bathroom industry as it manufactures Toilets,

Bidets, Lavatories, Bath Tubs, Accessories, Showers and Washlets. They also launched the

“Tornado Flush” for toilets in which it has better cleaning and flushing functionality compared

to the traditional ones.

TOTO Washlet S300e Toilet

Seat Elongated with ewater

TOTO Neorest Vessel

Lavatory with LED Lighting

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Roca is a spanish sanitary products manufacturer that was founded in 1917 in Barcelona. It is one of the leading bathroomware company in Spain and it is found in around 135 countries. Always attentive to the changes in society related to water culture, the main natural resource Roca works with, the company assumed in 1936 the challenge of producing vitreous china bathroom appliances. After that, in 1954 Roca started the production of brassware.

In the 90s the Group developed a first step of international expansion, mainly based on setting up commercial branches and signing agreements with local leading brands. Besides Portugal and France, Roca’s presence started to spread over the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Russia, Morocco, Argentina, Brazil and China.

In 2005 Roca announces an ambitious strategic plan focused on bathroom spaces, achieving the world leadership of the sector in 2006.

Today, Roca is a global brand with presence in more than 170 markets, supplied by its 78 production plants and over 22.000 employees worldwide. Beside Roca’s beautiful designs and innovative products, they always raise the topic of sustainability to be incorporated in their manufacturing process.

ROCA Circular Freestanding

Acrylic Bath with Hydro-massage

ROCA Thesis Faucet. Built-

in Mixer with Chrome finish

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Dornbracht has evolved from a family firm established several decades ago into the market

leader for high-quality bathroom fittings and accessories. Quality, functionality and good design

are the cornerstones of the corporate philosophy that suitably encapsulates Dornbracht's

aspirations. Aspirations that have brought the company notable successes and serve as a daily

challenge. Dornbracht celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2000 and now enjoys the position of

market leader in many countries worldwide. Their product range also includes fittings and

accessories for kitchens, as well as Dornbracht Interiors, a series of exclusive designer furniture

and accessories.

Dornbracht Vertical Shower

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BagnoDesign is a subsidiary of the Sanipex Group, a market leading supplier of bathroom fixtures and fittings, tiles and plumbing materials. Established in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 1995, as a representative to a handful of European manufacturers, the company today conducts business in over 30 countries across four continents and represents over 50 of the world’s leading brands, including its own highly successful BagnoDesign and Aquazone brands.

The company’s vision is to expand the BagnoDesign retail network across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa and Europe, through a mixture of wholly owned and franchised showrooms, that provide medium to high end designer bathrooms to a discerning client base. They aim to work with ISO 14001:2004 certified suppliers, and they seek to promote recycled products that are manufactured environmentally.

BagnoDesign bathrooms fittings varies in the showroom. It includes Toilet seats, Bidets, Bath Tubs, Freestanding showers, Faucets, and Accessories.

BAGNODESIGN Antigua

Countertop Wash Basin

BAGNODESIGN Farringdon

Acrylic Freestanding Bath Tub

BAGNODESIGN Mezzanine

Chrome Towel Ring

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3. Where is located the oldest flush toilet in Europe?

The oldest flush toilet was found in Knossos, Crete in Greece. The flush toilet dates back

to 3000-1500 B.C; in which they had plumbing systems that collect rain water, one to

provide drinking water, and the other to eliminate the results.

The Minoans were the first civilization to use clay pipes for water supply and sanitation.

They also took advantage of the steep land they have so they constructed a drainage

system with manholes, lavatories and sinks. Therefore, we find the earliest flush toilets

in Knossos; in which the water is screened off by partitions and flushed by rain water.

Queen’s bathroom is decorated with frescoes. You can find plaster stand for washbasins

and five-foot long bathtub terracotta painted. Later on, the used dirty water is discarded

into a floor hole which is connected to the main drainage and then eliminated to

Kairatos river.

Queen’s bathroom at Knosses

Stone drainage channels

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4. Present the house and bathroom that is designed by Luigi Colani.

Hanse Colani Rotor House designed by Lugi Colani. It is a 36 square meter house that

includes the basic facilities that any normal house could have such as a kitchen,

bathroom, bedroom and a living room. However, the concept of this house shows a

furturistic and minimalistic design of how you can incorperate rooms in such as small

house. Below is the house floor plan:

You can notice the main feature in the house is the six square meter cylinder on the

corner. This cylinder includes the three main rooms which are a bedroom, a kitchen, and

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a bathroom. It can be rotated to the left and right bringing the desired room by

controling it using a remote of the rotor technology.

The above picture shows the three rooms that are designed in the cylinder. We can notice that

the bathroom is designed very similarly to the Buckminster Fuller bathroom concept, which

represent a smaller space with the same bathroom facilities. This what we call space-saving!

I believe such a concept should be considered more in the future. Especially for small

apartments and studios, designers should always think of smaller spaces with more rooms and

facilities that work efficiently with the home users.

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Reference

Ancient Wisdom, “2013”, Mysterious Minoans Were Europeans According to DNA. [Online]

Available at: http://www.ancient-wisdom.com/greeceknossos.htm

[Accessed on 22 March, 2017]

Archivenue, “2010”, Hanse Rotor House By Luigi Colani. [Online]

Available at: http://www.archivenue.com/hanse-rotor-house-by-luigi-colani/

[Accessed on 22 March, 2017]

BAGNODESIGN, “n.d”, Products. [Online]

Available at: http://www.bagnodesign.org/

[Accessed on 21st March, 2017]

Dornbracht, “n.d”, Bath and Spa. [Online]

Available at: https://www.dornbracht.com/en-ae/products/bath-and-spa/

[Accessed on 21st March,2017]

History Wiz, “2008”, Minoan Engineering. [Online]

Available at: http://www.historywiz.com/minoanplumbingandheating.html

[Accessed on 22 March, 2017]

Kohler, “n.d”, About Us. [Online]

Available at: http://www.corporate.kohler.com/#family

[Accessed on 21st March, 2017]

Roca, “n.d”, Collections. [Online]

Available at: http://www.roca.com/catalogue/collections

[Accessed on 21st March, 2017]

TOTO, “n.d”, Products Gallery. [Online]

Available at: http://www.totousa.com/about-toto/toto-way

[Accessed on 21st March, 2017]