The Splash Lab and the power of a well-designed bathroom

Recent research carried out by The Splash Lab, a bathroom brand specialising in high-quality designs for the washrooms of corporate, commercial, public, hospitality and leisure spaces, revealed a passionate response to questions about the nature of the perfect public washroom. Modern, uncluttered, spacious, high-quality materials, unique designs, smoothly functioning touchless features, a full-length mirror, waterfall taps and hidden plumbing – opinions were loud, strong and many.

But one powerful message in particular resounded. ‘It makes the biggest visual impact and tells the story of the whole restaurant,’ said one participant, reflecting on the importance of the washroom design in hospitality. And many others echoed the sentiment. ‘It reflects on the quality of the food prep and the care that goes into the food.’ There’s little doubt that if you get this part of the building right aesthetically and functionally, the glory will reflect on a user’s experience of the place as a whole, adding value to the entire project.

For a successful outcome, conversations need to start early with a project’s design team, as in The Splash Lab’s collaboration with ATELIERwest, when they helped deliver the washrooms of the Bottles wine-bar in East London.

The architects envisioned a unified interior exuding authenticity and minimalism balanced with warmth and a sense of luxury. The Splash Lab was able to lean into this, meeting it with brass-finished pieces such as the Radius Sensor faucet and a custom finish Monolith basin, something the architects described as ‘materiality, colour, texture and illumination coming together in exactly the right ratio to achieve comfort and harmony.’

Raising the function and form of sanitary fittings and furniture – to align with the architectural ambitions of the rest of the public space – will likely leave visitors marvelling as much at the cantilevered wash basin as the spectacular lighting feature, or the menu.

© Architonic

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