Saturday, March 7, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Modern Bathtubs




Jacuzzi Nova, created by Carlo Urbinati for Jacuzzi®
Gamma Jacuzzi
Hydrospa Seaside - Tueco
Jacuzzi Morphosis - Alpha
Red Diamond bathtub, worth $47,000.


Thursday, February 19, 2009
Innovative and Sexy Shower and Bath Designs
‘Tis the season to truly appreciate a ready supply of steaming hot water you can stand in after coming in from the wind, rain and snow. For the innovation-minded, there are a host of creative, stylish new ways to bath or shower in that blessed warmth…as these 18 examples illustrate. Soak them up, and have a blast! “Hydrotherapy” is the keyword behind the arresting-looking (and arrestingly-priced) SilverTAG shower unit. Once you’re standing in place, a series of computer-controlled jets soothe and pummel you from a number of startling directions (make sure you are prepared for the one directly under your feet. If you like the look, start saving now - asGizmodo puts a price of $100,000 on each unit. The SilverTAG raises a good question: from what direction should a shower fire water at you? The creators of the RainSky think Nature has it right, emulating the streaming curtain of a waterfall. Approaching the problem from the other end, the Viteo fires the water up from under your feet - but how efficient is this? In eco-conscious times, a device that has to overcome gravity will get a black mark against its energy-thrifty credentials. It might recover some ground by relying on the new practice of introducing pockets of air to pad out and accelerate the water, bringing water consumption down by a third while retaining the same look and feel - the Oxygenics Elite Skincare shower nozzle is an example of this technology put into practice. Is it a shower or is it lighting? An irrelevant question for the futuristicGessi Private Wellness shower array, employing shifting colors for a “chromatherapeutic” spa experience. Changeable sprays complete the picture - and provide the potential for an arresting indoor or outdoor water feature (as long as that water can be recirculated, that is). Speaking of conserving water, one popular eco-friendly tip is to limit the time you spend in the shower. Instead of setting an alarm (or buying a waterproof watch), a more fun method of time-spent feedback is the Eco Drop: the floor tiles are a series of sculpted rings that raise themself up when you’ve moved from cleanliness to pure self-indulgence. In theory, there is nowhere to stand, propelling you out of the shower - although itmight be possible to stand on tiptoe if you are feeling rebellious… There is nothing time-limiting about the Elegance (top) and Balance“energy cocoons” from NeoQi. These are super-sophisticated bathtubs that offer bubble bath, steaming and infrared sauna functions - and for a really long soak, you can flip the lid down until only your head emerges, and doze yourself glowingly clean. But if glowing is what you are looking for, it’s hard to be the LLTIlluminated LED bathtub. $1,500 will buy you this dramatically inner-lit polyethyline tub, inset with a fully programmable multicolor LED light array (or available without, if you choose). Okay, so what exactly is this? In theory it is both bath and shower, although we suspect another more versatile definition is required. You can stand up in designer Ron Arad’s Rotator, or you can sit down and fully immerse yourself in the water-retaining curved base. Then, after a few fruitless minutes searching for the plughole, you discover that to drain the water away, the entire device tips rotates around until its disk is tipping gently forwards. See it in action here. Enough with all the modernism and technology. Winter is all about getting back to basics and basking in the warm glow of traditionalism. It’s also about rediscovering stone (particularly in roaring fireplaces) - and if that is your thing, Stone Forest’s hollowed rock bath and BoxArt’s upright stone tub will satisfy all your natural urges. If you’re looking for a bath tub more refined-looking than the naturalistic examples above - let is introduce the Banera. At first sight, it’s a table - and once you’re immersed in your favourite luxury bath-salts, you can lean to one end and have lunch, read a book or anything else you’d normally do at a table (non-electrically, w should add). Like the Banera, the Ladybird borrows functionality from other household furnishings. In the corner of your kitchen, it will function nicely as a glossy modernistic sink until you yourself need a good scrub - at which point you lift the sink-top away, fill it with hot water and clamber in. At once cutting-edge (it’s just been released) and engagingly rustic, theStone Drops Feeling’s body is made from an array of tiny pebbles held in a matrix, the surface of which has been polished to a marble-like shine. The clear glass sides add a sexy twist! (A jacuzzi version would perhaps be too perfect). Like the Ladybird and Banera, there are shower designs that aren’t content to be one-trick ponies. The Utopia Steam Room System is, as the name suggests, a double, interconnected shower-cubicle, one containing a steam room. It’s perfect for the Classical Roman tradition of cleaning: sweat the day out of your pores and vigorously exfoliate with oils or a body-scrub before stepping into running water to wash away and freshen up. Lastly, a few designs that should make you a touch uneasy. There’s no denying the Inside tub’s gleaming, smoothly-lined charms - or, unfortunately, its resemblance to a certain common household throne. However, we definitely take our hats off to the ingenuity of the makers of the Shower Shower - which is a device you install above your shower to clean it. The possibilities - such as the Shower Shower Shower, etc. - are endless, prompting Gizmodo to speculate that it might destroy the universe. What a way to go.(Images via: Tag)
(Images via: Rixon & Green Shortlands Ltd. and Trendhunter and Amazon and Viteo)
(Images via: 100 Percent Design)
(Images via: I New Idea)
(Images via: neoQi)
(Image via: Generate Design)
(Images via: TrendsNow)
(Images via: Stone Forest and BoxArt)
(Images via: AQ Hayon Collection)
(Image via: Student Design Awards)
(Images via: Effepimarmi)
(Image via: Di Vapor)
(Images via: Intelligent Consumer Producs Inc. and Gruppo Treesse)
7 Beautiful Bathtubs and Bathroom Collections
Showers, bathtubs, etc., are no longer plumbing fixtures. They are pieces of beautifully designed and carefully crafted furniture that aren’t just meant to be utilitarian, they are meant to complement your personality and facilitate your lifestyle. The following collection is sometimes intricate, sometimes minimalist, but always beautiful and practical. Another design by Alessandro Lenarda, Milo is much more unconventional. With options of leather or wood headrests and drawers, this Japan-inspired tub experiments with combination of disparate elements while maintaining beautiful geometric symmetry and stylish craftsmanship. Why compromise when you can have the best of both worlds and be economical at the same time? With the all-in-one Twinline design from Artweger you no longer need to decide between a shower and a tub, or be forced into one option because your small bathroom can’t accomodate both. Small but beautiful and functional, Twinline allows you to enjoy a bath when you’re in the mood while giving you the option of a quick shower when you’re in a rush. The Alpha from Morphosis is a two-person whirlpool tub with an unforgettable design. Inspired by nature, the design aims to ‘envelop, charm, and amaze’, but is not all beauty, it also comes with hydrotherapy and hydromassage built-in. The arch of the tub embraces you in a protective gesture simpilar to that of a seashell. The Ebb bathroom concept is innovative, beautiful and practical. The incredibly modern design is formed by fusing together concepts of bath, sink, and shelving units into a natural symmetry and connectivity. The bathtub and sink are made from natural acrylic stone and both have semi-transparent glass side panels. The latest Seaside bathtub from Tueco is truly fantastic. Backed by studies and certifications, the bathtub is whisper quiet, ensuring the only sound you hear is the soothing sound of water flowing gently, allowing you to relax without any distractions. With patented hydrosonic ultrasound technology, Tueco’s bathtub doesn’t just bring superficial comfort, it massages 2/3 cm deep into the skin, 3 million times per second, and evenly distributes the effects throughout your body. Designed by Alessandro Lenarda, Calypso Wenge is an experiment with wood design. With no superstructure to support it, the wooden shape itself becomes the shelf. At 183×70x61/79, Calypso is a deep tub with a comfortable backrest which will truly help you relax. If you’re looking for a minimalist design, it doesn’t get better than this. While keeping it incredibly simple, the designers haven’t compromised on elegance and beauty. Predominantly using transparent glass (with touches of stainless steel) the finished product is both visually luxurious and deceptively simple at the same time. The collection includes wash basins, faucets and a tub.Gruppo Treesse - Milo
(source: gruppotreesse)
Artweger - Twinline Shower & Bath
(source: artweger)
Jacuzzi Morphosis - Alpha
(source: jacuzzi-morphosis)
usTogether - Ebb Collection
(source: ustogether)
Tueco - Hydrospa Seaside
(source: tueco)
Gruppo Treesse - Calypso
(source: gruppotreesse)
Santambrogio Milano - Simplicity Collection
(source: santambrogiomilano)