Well-rounded: GROHE Atrio

Visitors to GROHE’s Fuorisalone exhibition during the Milan Furniture Fair last April would have encountered two surprises. The first of these was discovering the company’s recently renovated showroom. Here, in its courtyard, this world-renowned German bathroom fittings manufacturer presented a multimedia, multisensory installation that fused film, music and a water installation. Curious visitors entered a black cube that immersed them in the full experience.

Yet central to this dynamic presentation was another surprising, contrasting element: the brand’s redesigned Atrio collection, which, in its elegant simplicity and rigorous precision, embodies stillness and timelessness. Here the many interior designers, architects and design fans who congregated at Milan’s prestigious design week were able to admire GROHE’s pared-down yet versatile product range at first hand.

But as Michael Seum, Vice President Design at GROHE, eloquently puts it, Atrio represents a continuity with rather than an abrupt break from the existing Atrio line. The key difference between the two is that the new version has been greatly simplified. ‘This is not about risk-taking design but about really paying attention to details, being obsessive about proportions,’ reveals Michael. ‘The collection pays homage to the previous generation of Atrio yet is clearly a new direction.’

By extension, the subtle evolution of the Atrio collection is partly what gives it longevity: its enduringly timeless aesthetic will ensure that it appeals for years to come, rendering it both durable and sustainable.

One reason for the collection’s timeless, iconic character is its classical geometry and symmetry: its signature forms harmoniously combine elemental, pure shapes, such as circles, semi-circles, cylinders, lozenges and crosses, while the spout’s angle is consistently set at 7°. Crucially, thanks to a fruitful collaboration between GROHE’s in-house design team and highly skilled technical engineers, Atrio bridges aesthetics and technical precision.

The one feature that injects drama into the collection is its cross-shaped taps (as opposed to simpler lever handles). Bearing the large, upper-case letters ‘H’ or ‘C’ to denote hot and cold, the cross-shaped taps hint at tradition.

That said, while a little classical, Atrio is markedly more contemporary than its predecessor. Its lines, after all, are clean and unfussy. ‘Our relaunched Atrio series is firmly rooted in our contemporary design segmentation,’ continues Michael. ‘This was necessary for the products to remain competitive and relevant.’ The taps’ streamlined, contemporary quality is emphasised by the fact that their tubular body has the same diameter from base to spout.

Such attention to design doesn’t come at the expense of ergonomics, however: the taps have user-friendly handles that rotate smoothly and easily when turned on or off or when mixing hot and cold water. What’s more, thanks to GROHE’s state-of-the-art cartridge technology, its integrated jet regulator guarantees a constant, even flow of water that envelops the users’ hands comfortably.

Even so, while the new collection is more contemporary, its pared-down quality ensures it looks ageless. Of course, this required technical excellence. ‘Atrio’s design restraint required technical experts to achieve new levels of engineering perfection,’ elaborates Seum.

But while the collection’s designs are very understated, Atrio is a highly versatile product range, not least because it comprises over 40 products and comes in several stylish finishes, such as SuperSteel, Brushed Hard Graphite and Chrome. The washbasin taps are available as single-lever basin mixers, one-hole basin mixers with two handles or three-hole basin mixers. What’s more, the range includes a plethora of coordinating accessories, from sleek towel rails to soap dispensers and robe hooks.

So, while Atrio has a beautifully unified design, it also offers its users limitless creative options.

© Architonic