Bathroom highlights of the Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone events, which formed Milan Design Week 2024.

International interiors exhibition Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone events form Milan Design Week, a creative hub for innovation design, with the bathroom space a focus in 2024.

The biennial International Bathroom Show, which forms part of Salone del Mobile, measured nearly 18,000sqm with 185 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations

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This was complemented by a calendar of talks, openings and events taking place across the city in the Fuorisalone, themed Materia Natura (Matter Nature).

We handpicked  just 11 bathroom events,  from exhibition stands to showroom openings and product launches, which reshaped bathroom design.

1. DURAVIT

At Salone del Mobile, Duravit celebrated its long-standing anniversary with Philippe Starck, as well as a new design partnership with Antonio Citterio.

Celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the barrel vanity, Philippe Starck signed a model in Sunny Yellow which was sold in a silent auction, with the funds presented to a charitable cause.

Duravit also unveiled the Aurena bathroom range for Duravit, using the Golden Ratio as a source of inspiration for the washbasin area.

Commenting on the show, president Europe Plus at Duravit Jutta Langer said: “For us as a design brand, the Salone del Mobile offers the perfect setting for presenting our brilliant innovations and Artisan concept to architects and designers, project developers, and trade partners.

“With our international team we’ve been able to provide a tailored response to individual requirements and engage in some very constructive discussions. That’s why the Salone del Mobile is an important international platform where Duravit can acquire new customers and expand existing relationships.”

2. HOUSE OF ROHL

Exhibiting at the International Bathroom Showroom, House of Rohl held a number of product launches for its brands.

However, taking centre stage was Victoria + Albert, which presented Seros, its new bath and basin collection, designed by British sculptor Sophie-Elizabeth Thompson.

The ‘Seros’ design has organic, fluid forms, suggesting the energy and movement of water, with asymmetric line work flowing around the tub offering a combination of shape and shadow.

A first Victoria + Albert is the complementary podium basin, with a twisting, elemental shape and concealed waste, to maintain the purity of the shape. 

This was joined by Ledro freestanding bath that it reports uses 30% less water than its best-selling compact model – Barcelona 1500. Both were previewed at Kbb Birmingham 2024 but were officially launched at the Milan show.

Head of communications marketing for House of Rohl Nigel Palmer stated: “Our family of brands are available worldwide and our ambition is to continue the strong growth of recent years.

“Salone del Mobile is unique in scale, audience and reputation, attracting key decision makers from across Europe and the Middle East especially.  Exhibiting requires serious levels of investment and planning, but elevates the brands into a prestigious elite. “

3. RITMONIO

Offering wider style choices and customisation to create a wellness space, Ritmonio introduced The Colour Project and Elementap concept (pictured), during Milan Design Week.

The Colour Project sees all Diametro35 brassware now available in the entire NCS palette, offering over 2,000 colours in gloss and matt options. According to the company it provides ““A freedom of choice, that of Ritmonio, which elevates the taps to a haute couture work of art, destined to leave its mark.”

This was joined by Elementap, which adds to the existing accessories in the Elementa range, including shelves, soap holders, rods and supports for towel holders and robe hooks.

Ritmonio has created a moduar system with the water supply integrated with a variety of bathroom accessories, allowing a designer to create  tailor-made spaces.

4. KALDEWEI

In collaboration with Frankfurt-based interior label e15 and British designer Bethan Laura Wood, Kaldewei invited guests to Casa Flash Art in Palazzo Durini, as part of the Fuorisalone 2024.

As part of its Bath[o]philia installation, Kaldewei showcased a new collection of furniture and accessories – e15, which was designed by Stefan Diez and Avocado Dreams by Bethan Laura Wood.

The furniture of the new e15 collection, including tools and benches, a footboard, a towel holder, and a bath tub bridge, was all made of oiled oak.

In addition, e15 includes accessories made of soft, water-repellent leather, with a towel hook which can be magnetically attached to the edge of the steel enamel tub.

The natural materials of the e15 for Kaldewei collection complement Kaldewei products made of glazed titanium steel and offered in a wide colour palette.

Completing the event was Avocado Dreams, a series including bathtub, shower area, and washbasin in psychedelic patterns.

5. DURAT

Sustainable sold surface material and furniture manufacturer Durat combined with designer Linda Bergroth to create the installation Porta Dei Colori at Villa Bagatti Valsecchi.

Showcasing colours and geometric forms, it introduced Durat Plus, which it called a major milestone for the company, as part of the circular economy

Durat Plus combines recycled PET resin and recycled solid surface to create a surface with up to 80% recycled materials, available in 300 colours and with grit effect.

The silky textured surface, which is reported heat and water resistant and can be used for residential use – indoors and outdoors – public bathrooms, retail and offices, comes complete with an EPD certifiation

Speaking about the location which was an old quarantine station relocated in the late 1800s, Bergroth said: “For personal and historical reasons, it seems meaningful to set up Durat’s installation in Milan and in the surroundings of Villa Bagatti Valsecchi.

“Like the Durat material based on recycled plastic, the Lazzaretto’s Porta Nord as a building is ‘upcycled’.“

“The installation intertwines both my own vision as a designer and Durat’s role as a material manufacturer in a longer arc as part of a continuum of architecture and design.”

6. GROHE

Having debuted at Milan Design Week in 2023, Grohe returned to the Fuorisalone with an installation at Palazzo Reale and focused on the Grohe Spa theme of ‘health through water.

Architects and designers participated in a series of a discussions, exploring the interplay between water, architecture, and well-being.

The installation featured satin finishes,;Satin Steel and Satin Graphite across the Allure and Atrio basin mixer designs, as well as matching showers and accessories.

In addition, it included the new Allure Gravity Private Collection which will be available for specification in the UK from late 2024.

Blending a slim square silhouette, it features fittings with exchangeable cover plates crafted from glass, mirror, or marble. This product line also continued the brassware manufacturer’s partnership with Caesarstone.

Completing the installation were conceptual designs such as the Atrio Outdoor Shower and ICON 3D Rainshower with ultra-thin, stainless-steel silhouettes.

Leader Grohe Spa and Lixil International Karl Lennon commented: “Every year Milan Design Week showcases many innovative and unique design concepts which provide inspiration and insight to all professionals of the KBB industry.

“The showcase is all about truly immersing within industry and looking for inspiration and forward thinkers that can provide valuable information.

“With our Grohe installation this year, our goal was to showcase our commitment to our brand’s ambition of ‘Health Through Water’, multi-sensory experiences ​that are soothing, memorable, and distinctive.”

 7. DORNBRACHT

Using the occasion of Milan Deisgn Week, Dornbracht opened a new two-floor showroom, measuring 260sqm, in the Brera design district.

It played host to the launch of Aquahalo, created by Michael Neumayr and modelled on a chandelier and Serenity Sky, with five flow modes, created by Sieger Design.

In addition, the showroom played host to an interactive installation implemented by Dornbracht, together with creative agencies Meiré und Meiré and Vitamin Arte.

As guests entered the showroom, they were able to create a video portrait of themselves, in which the virtual and real world are skilfully merged

CEO of Dornbracht Stefan Gesing commented: “The atmosphere was amazing. We feel more than comfortable in this vibrant, creative district.

“During Milan Design Week, our new showroom became somewhere to meet and exchange views.

“We were delighted to welcome our partners to the venue, and show them our new products. The live presentations of our shower innovations in particular were not to be missed.

“The photos barely do justice to the fascinating presence of Aquahalo and the impact of Serenity Sky blending into the architecture. Inevitably, the opening was a complete success.”

8. RONAL BATHROOMS

Part of the Ronal Group and formerly SanSwiss, the recently rebranded Ronal Bathrooms unveiled its brands and new identity at the Salone del Mobile in Milan.

The Ronal Bathrooms division brings together its four brands Ronal, Glass 1989, Kudos and Karol and they were combined at the Salone del Mobile fair to showcase four concepts: Metal, Colour, Wellness and Space.

In the Metal concept (pictured), Ronal Bathrooms showed coordinated metallic surfaces from furniture front to top, through to shower enclosure and tray.

While the Colour concept presented furniture from Glass with 3D texture, and handle to precisely match the unit, and colour-matched shower tray by Ronal Bathrooms.

The Wellness concept showcased a Chillout modular solution of Sauna and Hamman with Insens smart shower, but the centre piece was the  Nami bathtub by Glass 1989 with air pool system and perimeter light, launched at Salone del Mobile

Completing the concepts was Space, which demonstrated how designers can optimise a bathroom even if co-located in unconventional areas, and featured reduced depth furniture, frameless Pinnacle 8 shower enclosure and Ultimate tray by Kudos to maximise space and light.

9. RAK CERAMICS

Among the product highlights of the RAK Ceramics stand in Milan was RAK-Batu, a new washbasin collection with a glaze featuring particles of mica.

The washbasin is available in a choice of round, oval and rectangular shapes, each of which is offered in three finishes for a total of nine models.

Combined with natural materials like wood, stone and rattan, Mica White, Mica Warm Grey and Mica Cool Grey finishes have been created to give the bathroom a warm and inviting atmosphere.

10. KOHLER

 Global kitchen and bathroom manufacturer Kohler Co returned to the Palazzo Del Senato with its site-specific installation titled Terminal 02 for the Formation 02 smart toilet launch and exhibited at Salone del Mobile.

Designed by British artist and designer Samuel Ross of industrial design studio SR_A  both the installation and Formation WC were designed in a brutalist style, featured in the collaboration’s Haptic Orange colour and joined the Formation 01 tap launched at Design Miami.

Kohler Co has worked with international design studio Yabu Pushelberg to create a stand for its Kohler, Kat LKAFS and Kallista brands at the International Bathroom Show.

It featured the Rista 3D printed basin, Anthem digital shower and Teal, Fresh Green and Aspen Green sanitaryware finishes for Kohler.

Kast  showcased its specialist concrete basins, including its latest Holm collection, while KLAFS unveiled its sauna products, including its first collaboration with F.A Porsche

11. AGAPE

During Milan Design Week 2024, the Agape12 storefront hosted ‘Le Forme della Materia,’ an exhibition directed by architect Camilla Benedini and managed by Zenucchi Design Code.

It celebrated design thinking and brought together partners from the Italian creative scene to explore ways of living and experiencing the bathroom space.

This philosophy was embodied by the ‘Div’ partition system and ‘Nudo XL’, a modular boisserie of panels and mirrors designed by Benedini Associati.

Additionally, the event featured the sculptural and material exploration of Patricia Urquilo’s Cenote bathtub in lava stone (pictured) and the Marbles and Stones collection, with a reinterpretation of pieces from the Agape catalogue in new materials.