KEUCO AXESS: Accessibility meets design

How to create a bathroom that is barrier-free but can also boast an appealing design? Often functionality and aesthetics seem like opposing antipodes in bathroom design – when a sober washroom-style atmosphere prevails over a wellness one. With its new KEUCO AXESS series designed by Studio F. A. Porsche, however, German brand KEUCO proves that there is a more elegant solution. But more on that in a moment.

In general, the following applies to both wheelchair-accessible WCs as well as age-appropriate bathrooms: If the designer takes certain considerations into account when planning the room, they will save themselves complicated and ultimately often difficult conversions later on. And, the more independent the user remains, the more satisfied they will be – especially in such an intimate place as the bathroom. Taking this into account is definitely an architectural responsibility. For example, is the floor plan large enough to allow a person to turn around in it with a wheelchair or a walker? Is the washbasin easily accessible from low down? Are there wall projections or half-height room dividers on which the user can lean? Meanwhile, bath access points are often an obstacle because they are too high, and floor-level showers are by no means standard either.

In addition to a clever room concept, grab rails can be installed as necessary to provide an added sense of security in certain areas that may be particularly slippery or around the toilet. In order to satisfy not only functionality but also high style demands, KEUCO AXESS offers a set of useful solutions for use in both the private and contract sectors, for example, a folding support rail, which can be folded up flat against the wall when not in use, i.e. without any protruding individual parts. Its minimalist appearance conceals what is, in actuality, a highly demanding purpose. In use, it proves to be as elegant as it is stable.

KEUCO guarantees a TÜV-tested and DIN Standard-certified load-bearing capacity of 115 kg. A radio WC flush trigger is optional and can also be retrofitted. It is discreetly integrated into the handle and is compatible with radio flush cisterns from common manufacturers via Bluetooth. The folding support rail is available in three finishes: chrome, matt black or chrome aluminium. Depending on the finish, a plastic inlay in black or white is seamlessly integrated. This is particularly easy to grip thanks to its fine structure and prevents slipping when supporting or holding on. A toilet paper holder can also be added on request.

‘Our wish was to meet the highest aesthetic demands and yet integrate the specific needs of a barrier-free bathroom system,’ says Christian Schwamkrug, Design Director at Studio F. A. Porsche. ‘We wanted to develop accessible bathroom products from a completely new angle. In very clear, aesthetic forms, timeless, permanently perceived as beautiful, even many years from now.’ Their ambition was to achieve the extraordinary down to the smallest detail and to make it technically possible. Schwamkrug continues: ‘With German engineering and in terms of the implementation, in every respect of the highest quality.’

The clear lines are continued with a railing system that can also be installed across corners and supplemented with a vertical shower rail, depending on the room situation. For an optimal grip, KEUCO and Studio F. A. Porsche have given the railing and handle system an ergonomic semi-circular shape at the back so that little force is required to hold on. Precise, soft edges express the manufacturer's claim to perfection.

Simply pressing the back of the shower slide, for example, unlocks it and it can be moved up or down with just one hand. In the shower, this not only supports a secure grip, but also combines various functions as a visually coherent system instead of having to resort to different individual solutions. The series also includes matching grab rails that can be used universally in the shower and bath, and at the washbasin as well as the WC.

In addition, a lightweight stool completes the KEUCO AXESS range. Its rectangular basic shape is so compact that it can easily be placed in smaller bathrooms and under the shower. Anti-slip feet ensure a firm footing, and water can simply drain off through a small hole in the seat. Just like the seat, the entire series has been created to support independence and autonomy in the bathroom – both in high-quality healthcare facilities, such as clinics and nursing homes, as well as in hotels and private homes. As KEUCO put it, all people and age groups can benefit from the comfort-enhancing functionality of the collection.

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