Something old, something new: LAUFEN

In creating his new collection for Swiss bathroom brand LAUFEN, Marcel Wanders sought to marry old-world refinement with modern functionality. And the result? The New Classic.

Deur LAUFEN BATHROOMS en Harriet Thorpe vir

LAUFEN BATHROOMS

November 24, 2020 | 11:00 pm CUT

The romantic and ergonomic form of The New Classic bathtub designed by Marcel Wanders studio for Laufen

When working on the interiors of The Mondrian Doha hotel in Qatar, Dutch designer Marcel Wanders wanted to create an indulgent freestanding bathtub for two with a soft, rounded curve. Seeking the highest expertise in bathroom design and manufacture, he called upon Swiss brand Laufen, which offered a bespoke service for complete customisation across their full portfolio.

Design details of the bath show Wanders’ historic inspiration from classical forms and fine porcelain

The partnership – which saw the creation of 270 bathrooms across the hotel – was symbiotic, and would later result in another collaboration: Laufen’s bathroom collection ‘The New Classic’ designed by Marcel Wanders studio. Taking a neo-classical approach, this collection seeks to combine the elegance of history with the functionality of modern design.

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Seeking the highest expertise in bathroom design and manufacture, Dutch designer Marcel Wanders called upon Swiss brand Laufen, which offered a bespoke service for complete customisation across their full portfolio

Designing ‘The New Classic’, Wanders was still interested in pursuing the soft, rounded curve, with which he would sculpt washbasin bowls, toilets, a bidet and bathtub. Alongside this, inspired by Laufen’s acclaimed products, he designed stronger more geometric shapes for the accompanying faucets and furniture. His search for harmony was about designing versatile products that could suit all types of interiors – modern or traditional.

The New Classic collection encompasses washstands, washbasin bowls, toilets, a bidet and bathtub, faucets, mirrors and accessories, as well as furniture

Laufen’s collaborations with renowned designers such as Wanders seek to yield new approaches to SaphirKeramik, a Laufen-engineered lightweight and resilient ceramic material. Some have emphasised its lightness, while others pioneered three-dimensional surfaces. With The New Classic, Marcel Wanders studio worked with Laufen to create the slimmest ever profile of SaphirKeramik, resulting in a decorative washbasin shape that combines the qualities of fine porcelain basins from history, with modern technology.

The silhouette of The New Classic faucet is reminiscent of monumental porticos from the Roman Empire

Yet if there was one piece that might best encapsulate the collision of Wanders’ creativity and Laufen’s expertise, it would be The New Classic polished chrome faucet. Slender, conical and geometric, with a slim spout, the faucet can match with any Laufen product. High precision manufacturing methods enable exacting functionality and environmentally-friendly technology. An exemplary creation from a sustainable collection designed to stand the test of time not only physically, but aesthetically too.