Mood Sanitary Line

Madrid, Spain. 2008

Surprisingly, bathrooms have undergone very few changes since their “invention” in the 19th century. After the incorporation of the lavatory, they quickly evolved into a space with tiled walls and floors (otherwise, very similar to any other room) with porcelain toilets. 

From this simple definition began a “process” of bathroom design in which architects, or their clients, selected, on the one hand, the ceramic tiles for the walls and floor, and on the other hand, the accessories to be installed on both surfaces. Nowadays, sanitary lines (and accessories related to them) are selected from a huge range of products, thus creating a “pick ’n mix” approach, but the spatial configuration has long remained unchanged.

Our concept revolves around the integration of the wall surface and the embedded ceramic elements, the two key components in the bathroom environment. We intend to create a small, individual space for each of the sanitary elements: bathtub, sink, and toilet. The ceramic elements are standard and restrained, while the auxiliary elements present enormous flexibility in terms of design and optional bathroom fittings (storage, towel racks, mirrors, etc.). Developing this concept, we found not just one solution, but the key to an infinite range of options.

Therefore, our analysis has focused on the possibility of radically changing the perception and architectural composition of bathrooms, principally wondering if by merging the two fields in which Porcelanosa and Noken are experienced, we could contribute to reinventing the product.

  • Place/Date: Madrid, Spain / 2008
  • Client: Noken, Porcelanosa Group
  • Architects: luis vidal + architects / RSHP
  • Stage: On sale
  • Team: Nick Axel – Carlos Peña – Richard Rogers – Simon Smithson – Óscar Torrejón – Luis Vidal