Laufen

Kartell by Laufen brings together plastic and ceramic in a design-led way

Working with some of Europe's leading architects and designers, including Stefano Giovannoni, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, Wiel Arets, Phoenix Design and Andreas Dimitriadis, Swiss manufacturer Laufen offers complete bathrooms and modular concepts, all of which combine form with function.

From a brand that is synonymous with quality and innovation, the Laufen portfolio includes a wide range of sanitaryware and furniture that will add a sense of luxury to any bathroom setting. Emulating the sense of relaxation and sanctuary only normally experienced in boutique five-star hotels, Laufen's latest collections bring spa-like luxury into the family, or en-suite, bathroom.

Bringing together plastic and ceramic in a design-led way in the bathroom for the first time, the Kartell by Laufen Collection combines the material essence and technological innovations of Italian furniture company Kartell and its use of plastic for furniture and accessories, and Swiss specialist Laufen with its expertise in the production of ceramic bathroom pieces. Designed by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, the collection brings these two unlikely materials together to create flexible and stylish bathrooms.

The Kartell by Laufen collection features washbasins made from Laufen's revolutionary SaphirKeramik, a lightweight material that brings innovations in terms of the physical properties that can be created with ceramic. With SaphirKeramik designs that were previously deemed only suitable for solid surface pieces can now be achieved.

This new material allows for fixtures to be super thin and half the weight of normal ceramics - enabling the production of easy to clean ceramic basins in much larger sizes than previously possible for greater flexibility in bathroom design.

SaphirKeramik is 40 per cent lighter than fine fireclay and produces a distinctive brilliant white finish. Where vitreous china is prone to shrinking and fireclay also has its limits when it comes to producing larger pieces, SaphirKeramik overcomes these issues, creating the soft, round and flowing shapes that hotel designers are looking for.

The Kartell by Laufen collection includes accessories in a range of bold, transparent colours that bring glamour to the bathroom

Designs that were deemed to be only suitable for solid surface pieces can now be achieved in ceramic, meaning that all the benefits which ceramic has in the bathroom can be exploited: not only can absolute hygiene be achieved, the material is also not harmed by abrasive or chemical cleaning agents. Available in a range of sizes, the Kartell by Laufen washbasins feature a hidden overflow for a streamlined finish.

The washbasins are complemented by a range of furniture options, plus a variety of modern accessories including stools, shelving and mirrors available in a range of bold, transparent colours that bring glamour to the bathroom and can be chosen to create different moods. For the ultimate wellness experience, a solid surface bathtub with LED lighting in the overflow completes the collection.