Opening up: Bette's first floor-level shower tile

Humans and nature seem to have grown even closer together during the Covid pandemic. Even in the most remote of places, people can be found sitting, jogging or walking, looking for their own island to retreat to in complete harmony with nature. And no wonder: the need for harmony and simplicity has become even greater during the past year.

A new short film from Bette stages this longing for soothing minimalism in a particularly convincing way, removing people from the flow of images, entirely. The main roles are played by nature, shrouded in morning mist together with sensual, sculptural architecture that blends into the wide, flat water landscape as if it had emerged from there. From the flat surface of the water to the shore covered in seagrass and the open bathroom, everything seems to flow naturally into a single living space.

The fact that true freedom can be found above all in retreat and reduction is a trend that was reflected in many areas even before the pandemic. Here, there is a minimalist flow instead of material abundance, especially in architecture. Less is more, but with aesthetic finesse, high quality and precision craftsmanship.

Which brings us back full circle to the clip, because this is not about a new weekend getaway, but about the first shower tile of its kind – one with an island feel. BetteAir is the name of the square island that makes life easier in every respect. From its clear, understated form to its sustainable production and versatile function.

The minimalist product innovation from Bette is made of glazed titanium steel and is so smooth that it could almost be overlooked at first glance. Available in 31 different colour options, It is only noticeable if you want it to be. It creates a restrained or deliberately accentuated design element that opens up the room while revealing maximum design freedom.

The renowned family-owned company from the German town of Delbrück is known for bridging the gap between high architectural design standards and technical sophistication to develop bathroom elements that blend harmoniously into our living spaces. With BetteAir, the bathroom specialist has once again succeeded in the evolution of the shower area.

Far removed for the 1970s, when users were still often required to athletically step into 30-cm-high shower trays, in 2006, Bette ushered in a new era of seamless, floor-level showering with BetteFloor. This successful shower surface now goes one step further and integrates directly into the floor as a flat tile. This allows body and mind to glide into the day in a relaxed manner without any risk of tripping.

‘BetteAir has all the advantages of a tile without its disadvantages. With the shower tile, the floor of the shower is immaculate and beautiful, free of joints and thus absolutely hygienic and easy to clean,’ is how designer Dominik Tesseraux of Tesseraux & Partner describes his design.

BetteAir owes its description as a shower tile not only to its minimalist design, but also to its innovative installation technology. The edge height of the robust product has been reduced to ten millimetres. The installation height is also only 97 mm, so that the shower tile can be installed flush with the floor and glued directly to the screed like a conventional tile.

The drain has also been rethought and enlarged. From the outside, the only thing which is visible is a thin, circular gap in the middle of the brilliant surface, under which the water drains away. The lid can be easily removed and replaced for cleaning – if even necessary, as there is a miniature cleaning unit in the form of a self-cleaning drain already built in beneath the discreet tile.

What’s more, BetteAir not only makes things easy in the bathroom – both visually and functionally – it is also pleasantly quiet for others in the home. In order that free spirits who happen not to live alone on remote lakesides can also shower at night, the advanced tile is also equipped with basic sound insulation.

Anyone wondering about the sustainability credentials of this innovation will be impressed, as bathroom elements in glazed titanium steel are made in Germany from natural raw materials of glass, water and steel and are completely recyclable.

All that’s missing from the video clip are the ducks walking from lake to bathroom, free from thresholds and undisturbed by humans who are out of the house, communing with nature.

© Architonic