Soak it up

Soak it up

New designs from Inax mark the next level in bath time indulgence

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE

When it comes to designing homes, bathrooms aren't always top priority. But these are the places many of us go to find solace after a hard day's work. Sure, we can enhance our bathroom experience with aromatic candles, essential oils and green plants. But nothing can ensure a satisfying bath time quite like some quality bathroom fixtures.

S600 Line: Japanese spatial aesthetics at their best. Lixil Thailand

If your tub, wash basin, taps, shower and even the tiles were imaginatively and thoughtfully designed with sophistication and technology, wouldn't that make you look forward to your shower more than ever?

Companies that manufacture bathroom fixtures all promise the ultimate blissful experience. But one that has been leading the pack recently made its presence felt at Milan Design Week earlier this month.

Lixil Group Corporation, maker of pioneering water and housing products, unveiled two of its new Inax bathroom collections for the global market. Lixil's brand portfolio includes Grohe and American Standard in addition to Inax.

Inax is a century-old Japanese brand that manufactures innovative sanitary ware and artistic ceramic tiles. It is known for its sophisticated and thoughtful designs. Since it fired up its first kilns in the 1920s, Inax has been at the heart of Japanese bathroom innovation, including the creation of revolutionary technologies such as Japan's first shower toilet.

Milan is the first time Lixil has given the world a preview of Inax design concepts prior to entering production. Visitors were introduced to the S400 and S600 lines, reflecting the ultimate in Japanese spatial aesthetics, and looking to revolutionise bathrooms across the globe.

Behind Inax's innovative designs are Yasuhiro Shirai and Yoichiro Tomioka. The S600 Line, they said, was inspired by how the Japanese balance a traditional approach to utilising space with a modern ambience. Each stage of the design process was meticulously conducted, resulting in creations that address the most fundamental comfort needs of the consumer.

"Our designs do not just rely on in-depth research on consumer behaviour, but also our concerns about our ageing society, so a lot of thought went into each process," Tomioka said. "The biggest challenge when working with an international team of designers is to respect each other's ideas. We managed to do that wonderfully, and in the end, the results speak for themselves."

Both designers had in mind the creation of a bathroom arranged with beautiful objects that can positively influence a person emotionally, offering deeper levels of relaxation, vitality and well-being.

S600 Line: up close and personal. Photos courtesy of Lixil Thailand

Inax, they believe, has perfected the Japanese use of spatial design to bring beauty and new value to the modern bathroom. The S400 Line describes its products as spaces offering an interplay of light, shadow and straight lines, developed with purpose.

Japanese architecture is not new to creating spaces of unparalleled beauty through the coming together of shadows. Rays of light penetrate tiny windows, casting shadows on the floor, walls and fittings to evoke a sense of serenity and relaxation. This, the designers explain, creates an unblemished and elegant bathroom space, which cannot be done with just a single product.

"How do you make this possible?" asked lead designer Shirai. "Well, for one, through careful attention to detail in designing the light, architecture, and products, including tiles and toilets, in their totality. This is what the S400 Line offers."

Japan's water rituals come to life in Inax's new line of designs. This was intentional, according to the designers. Tomioka said it was a moment of great pride to introduce to the world this particular aspect of his culture.

"Japan is truly a land blessed with water," he said. "Its waterscapes, from the white north to the green and blue south, are vast and deep. For the Japanese, water is at the heart of our culture. For centuries, the Japanese have utilised water to purify themselves physically and spiritually, from cleansing their hands and mouths before entering shrines and temples, to taking baths at the end of a tiring day to wash away fatigue and prepare us for a new day. Water renews and revitalises."

During Milan Design Week, Lixil Group Asia–Pacific CEO Bijoy Mohan also shared his favourite items from the new collection.

"For me, it is the S600 one piece toilet," he said, "because it is petite but big enough. It has got proportions that are unique. Many toilets, after some time, tend to start to look the same.

"The other one that I really like is the intelligent control shower. The combination with the head shower and the touch controls, we have them in some of our other brands, but here just the proportions and colour, the whites that were used give a very calming sense, which is what you want when you are in the shower. It is the kind of design that really calms you."

The new Inax collections are expected to be launched in many countries including Thailand, starting next month.

S400 Line: attention to detail and sophistication. Lixil Thailand

Design enthusiasts from around the world were treated to an array of innovative creations by the best in the business at the Salone del Mobile Milano 2019, held this year between April 8 and 14, in Milan, Italy.

Commonly known as Milan Design Week, this 58th edition of the globally popular event attracted an impressive 386,236 attendees from 181 countries, a 12% increase from 2017.

The event featured over 2,400 exhibitors from 44 different countries. Among those participating were 550 designers under the age of 35. Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea and Indonesia, were there in full force to showcase fresh designs combining nature, technology and tradition, adding to the glamour of the event.

The fair's popularity increases year on year, thanks to its diversity and inclusiveness. Milan Design Week is a catalyst for top designers, artisans and communication and cultural professionals to keep producing and processing innovative products that serve to boost the value of design objects.

Among the many popular displays this year was AQUA. Water. Leonardo's Vision, a large installation marking the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death. Located in Conca dell'Incoronata, the display was conceived in partnership with Balich Worldwide Shows. It featured the recreation of a large expanse of water, dominated by a large LED screen that acted as a window onto the future of Milan. The installation attracted over 2,000 visitors a day.

Also paying tribute to da Vinci was DE-SIGNO. The Art Of Italian Design Before And After Leonardo, an immersive installation created by Davide Rampello and designed by architect Alessandro Colombo, exploring how the great man's ideas influence contemporary Italian design. The work was narrated by Diego Abatantuono.


The next edition of Milan Design Week will be held from April 21-26, 2020.

S400 Line: perfect combination of sophistication. Lixil Thailand

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