A modern reinterpretation of the classic tap: DÉCA by TONI Copenhagen and BIG

For designers seeking to evoke a sartorial expression of ‘quiet luxury’ through an interior, a necessity to a minimalist palette is the addition of a sculptural object – one that catches the eye, glints like a jewel, and nods towards understated refinement. For kitchens and bathrooms where functionality reigns, how about capturing that moment of chic tension – that je ne sais quoi – with a radical faucet?

It’s a bold proposition from an unexpected source: Denmark’s oldest manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom fixtures, TONI Copenhagen, founded upon a legacy of craft 105 years ago and renowned for its scrupulously traditional products – the last time it launched a new faucet line was in 1985. Now, DÉCA is here to ‘rock the boat’, says Bjarke Vind, Creative Director, a new icon for today designed by progressive global architects BIG.

Launching at 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen (June 12-14), the modular system of single-handle faucets for bathroom and kitchen forges a monolithic and precise geometry with a simple brass spout that connects to a mounting nut and grip with 10 edges – a unique activation that challenges all preconceptions. 'It’s the most architectural faucet I’ve ever seen,' confirms Vind, and we have to agree. 'The function of a faucet has stayed the same for 100 years, yet here the main body and handle are merged in a unified, holistic and sculptural way I have never seen before. This goes beyond function, it’s radical.'

The magic lies in the unlikely combination of BIG’s visionary approach at a scale that has imagined 3D printing on the moon and ski-slopes on power stations, and TONI’s artisanal heritage rooted in the detailed precision of 19th-century sanitary fittings. 'In this distance lies a very interesting energy,' explains Vind, 'Our history and legacy is not our destiny, and that’s why we dared to ask BIG to interpret an icon for us.'

As a result, DÉCA stands out on a market of polite fixtures and fittings designed to blend in and homogenise. 'I have always regarded TONI faucets as a jewel that you might add to an understated wardrobe,' says Vind, 'the faucet has the same ability to catch light, attention and compliment a design vision.' This captivating quality enables TONI to shift for the first time from prestigious heritage settings, to bold and minimalist contemporary and modern interiors where it can be framed to shine – and contract projects (thanks to DÉCA’s competitive pricing).

As a crucial touchpoint for daily life, this jewel is honed to the highest quality from the Frederiksberg factory with tried and tested methods in use since 1918. Easily installed and maintained, the system entails four handles and six bodies that offer a vast array of options, plus surfacing options of brass, chrome, nickel and browned brass, with custom finishes available, all hand polished by expert grinders. Similar to a door handle, says Vind, it’s designed to be comfortably grabbed and gripped, with the same strength and purpose as the ‘SP’ faucet, installed extensively in Danish hospitals in the 20th century.

Just like the SP, described as both ‘industrial’ and the ‘Rolls Royce’ of faucets, DÉCA’s radical nature exists in its contrasts. A jewel and a door handle, a handcrafted product with the presence of a piece of architecture – that’s what makes it so iconic. 'We made a rule that we cannot touch our classics, they are timeless and off limits,' declares Vind, 'yet this is a new contemporary expression, a reinterpretation of the virtues TONI is built on, transformed into a new design for today.' Decide if you can handle the alluring power of DÉCA with TONI Copenhagen during 3daysofdesign at Pakhus 11 as part of the Design/Dialogue exhibition.

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