Architonic Live Talks: diving deep at ISH 2025

Sustainability, innovation and cutting-edge design – ISH 2025 was the place where the future of HVAC and water solutions took center stage. From 17 to 21 March, Messe Frankfurt buzzed with over 2,000 exhibitors and thousands of industry professionals eager to explore the latest in energy-efficient heating, state-of-the-art bathroom concepts and next-gen smart home tech. Under the theme ‘Solutions for a Sustainable Future,’ this year’s fair didn’t just showcase the trends – it set the agenda for a greener, smarter built environment.

One of the biggest highlights? The debut of eight ‘solution fields’ designed to give visitors a more focused and dynamic experience. Whether it was cutting-edge heat pump tech, futuristic bathroom designs or AI-driven energy management, these zones ensured that attendees could dive deep into the specific innovations shaping the industry. It was all about making complex challenges – like achieving carbon neutrality – more approachable and solution-driven.

But conversations weren’t just happening on the show floor. ISH 2025’s Building Future Conference delivered powerful insights on the road to climate-neutral buildings. Experts, thought leaders and policymakers came together to discuss the intersection of digitalisation, decarbonisation and the evolving regulatory landscape. The message was clear: the industry isn’t just adapting to change; it’s driving it.

Speaking of driving change: another fixture of the fair was once again our programme of inspiring Architonic Live Talks. Perched atop the Design Plaza stage, Editor-in-Chief Simon Keane-Cowell spoke to six Interior Design heavyweights about current trends and future prospects in the sanitary industry: How can the sanitary rooms of tomorrow be designed? What technology is setting new standards? And what trends are shaping interior design in the bathroom?

First up was Lotte Kristoferitsch, Managing Director of EOOS Next, the renowned Vienna-based industrial design studio known for its focus on social and sustainable design. Lotte dove into EOOS’s extensive work over the past 15 years in toilet design, specifically innovations aimed at improving sanitation in informal settlements and creating user-friendly designs while addressing the complexities of diverse human anatomies. Their conversation revealed fascinating insights into the design process, including retrofitting existing toilets with new technologies to lower water usage while improving sanitation efficiency. Lotte also speculated on future trends in toilet design, envisioning more sophisticated sanitation solutions that could monitor user health while promoting more sustainable practices.

For his following conversation, Simon spoke with multidisciplinary designers Gesa Hansen and Christian Haas about their innovative ISH booth design for Villeroy & Boch. The duo, known for their collaborative work, aimed to create a spatial design that embodies a family-like atmosphere, inviting users to experience the brand in an emotional and intuitive way. They emphasised the importance of storytelling in design, particularly within the context of personal spaces like bathrooms, which should evoke a sense of comfort and security, while also articulating the challenges of creating a visually stimulating yet functional space amid the constraints of a time-sensitive fair environment.

Next up: a chat about bathroom design in hospitality projects with Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk and Peter Joehnk of JOI-Design. With over 40 years of combined experience, they specialise in creating functional yet aesthetically pleasing bathroom spaces for hotels. The two addressed the balance between guest comfort and practical cleanliness needs, emphasising the importance of hygiene, mockup rooms for feedback from housekeeping staff and the use of natural materials in designs. They also highlighted common design mistakes and the necessity of catering to user experience while keeping budget constraints in mind.

Kicking off day two: Ali McQuade, founder and creative director of Toronto-based Futurestudio, who unveiled the creative process behind her innovative New York wellness space project Othership. She emphasised creating a communal atmosphere that fosters social interaction amongst participants through a design that prioritises user flow, comfort and sensory impacts. Key design principles revolved around the careful selection of materials that meet both aesthetic and functional requirements, like durability and hygiene. Throughout, McQuade expressed enthusiasm for the future of wellness spaces, highlighting an emerging trend in which wellness takes precedence over nightlife as a social outing.

In the next engaging dialogue, Constantina Tsoutsikou, founder of Studio Lost in London, shared her innovative approach to bathroom design, particularly in hospitality settings, emphasising their role as personal sanctuaries rather than mere functional spaces. She advocated for adventurous, escapism-driven layouts that blend aesthetics with practicality and spoke about her collaboration with GROHE that explores the balance of luxury, nature and light in hotel and resort spaces. Highlighting safety considerations and design coordination, she also discussed emerging wellness trends, reinforcing the importance of bathrooms in enhancing relaxation and luxury experiences.

For his final conversation, Simon spoke with Armando Bruno, co-founder of Studio Marco Piva in Milan, about the evolution of bathroom design. Bruno shared insights stemming from his extensive research into the relationship between humans and water, touching on various historical perspectives of bathrooms from ancient civilisations to modern times. The dialogue highlighted the significance of wellness and hygiene across different eras, reflecting on how cultural practices, social norms and technological advancements have shaped the design and functionality of bathrooms and wrapped up with a look towards the future of sanitary design, emphasising sustainability, innovative technologies and comfort.

© Architonic

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