Modern bathrooms are being built larger and feature many significant innovations in design, styling, technology and function. The growing desire for luxurious bathrooms is manifesting in a variety of ways.
V. Sethu, Director of Amset Ambience, who has marked his presence in the bathroom design and solutions industry for more than three decades, sees it as a reflection of changing life styles where aesthetics plays as important a role as value for money in designing a room.
With the fast-paced lifestyle, more and more people today prefer bathrooms as a prime area to unwind and de-stress themselves. The number of bathrooms in a typical home has also steadily increased, meaning this once shared room is now often seen as a private, individualised retreat that should be treated as an important space.
A good bathroom can be constructed for Rs. 25,000 onwards and there is no limit to where it can go. Planning of space is a top criterion, whereas proper ventilation and drainage facilities are indispensable elements to be considered while planning the initial phase of the bathroom.
In Kerala, since the availability and access to clean water is not a matter of concern, the health conscious population are able to give top priority to cleanliness. This is underpinned by the growing number of people who are turning their bathrooms into a lavish expression of style and comfort.
People often renovate their bathrooms prior to selling as they know this type of upgrade will increase the value of their properties.
Not only is the bath rapidly shifting form and style but so are the basin and toilet. Basins now come in all shapes, sizes and materials, with porcelain being only one of a variety of options. The humble toilet is also being upgraded with concealed cisterns and sleek European styling. Sanitary ware styling has also undergone massive modernisation in recent years, although the most popular colour choice remains white and tap ware is still predominantly chrome.
To lure the customers, leading brands like Hangrohe have taken their product experience and support virtually into the digital platform by offering an application for mobile devices. Users can take photos of existing washbasin or shower area, or even newly constructed bathroom space and then drag and drop a range of products and features from the portfolio available in the app with the swipe of a finger to create custom designs that caters to just about any taste.
The innovative bath wares are very much versatile these days. The select buttons on the hardware have different functions depending on where it is being used: change between shower spray types, select the thermostat function, and start and stop the water on mixers. Depending on the particular product, the select buttons can even be started with the back of a hand or an elbow. This makes the technology perfect for all ages, and in particular for people with limited mobility.
In today’s bathrooms, you can even control the shower remotely enhancing the spa-like bathroom experience. With the click of a button, your shower switches on and is warmed up and ready as you walk into the bathroom. LED lights can indicate the temperature of the shower stream before you enter; they can also be adjusted to provide mood lighting as well. The internet of things is no more a sci-fi, at least in the case of the bathrooms where everything and anything can be controlled electronically.
Technology is at the forefront when it comes to water-saving efforts, and is also playing a role in enhancing the spa-like bathroom experience. From product-related initiatives that include a focus on reducing carbon emissions to minimising the need for chemical cleaning agents, strict guidelines are followed by makers while manufacturing faucets to restrict the flow of water to 12 litres per minute.
At ISH 2015, the Japanese brand Toto introduced the revolutionary Tornado Flush system which is considerably quieter than the traditional pour down flush. The water-efficient system with both three litre and six litre options create a powerful jet of water vortex that cleans both rim and bowl effectively eliminating bacteria.
The future sees bathrooms becoming more streamlined and simplistic, while also growing bigger and more spacious. Toilets are becoming more efficient and eco-friendly, taking up less space and requiring less maintenance.
The evolution of the bathroom is by no means complete.
