PROTOTYPES MADE OF SAPHIRKERAMIK highpressure casting. As Toan has said, since AT FAIRS AND DESIGN EVENTS Milan, we’ve created a more commercial variation of IN MILAN, LONDON, MIAMI AND BELGRADE his washbasin, one without a shelf, also made of LAST YEAR? SaphirKeramik. But the first model with its blade-like The prototypes look like the finished products shelf hasn’t changed except that we have ma de and enable us to assess how successful the de the washbasin’s wa lls slimm so created er. Toan has al signs were. They have all the qualities you appreciate some new bowls which can be semirecessed into in ceramic products from their tactile, sensual sur a countertop or placed on a pedestal and bathroom faces to the way they reflect light and their impec ca furniture with walnutveneered or powdercoated ble but robust, long-lastin g finish … Our prot o- and glossy lacquered aluminium front. types allow us to explore the material and create finished pieces in a short space of time. Th ey LAUFEN VALUES LONGTERM COLLABO were also a useful re search tool for us to find out RATIONS WITH DESIGNERS AND what our clients and opinionformers from all OTHER COMPANIES. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES over the world think of the designs. This then helps OF THESE FOR YOU? us to perfect the pieces. Such thorough research We have a culture of collaboration which is is vital for an industrial company like ours which crucial to our company and integrated in our needs to know how to sell our designs on a huge value chain. We partner with clients, suppliers, compa scale, globally. The designers we collaborate with are nies like Kartell and external designers, and really perfect for this project: Konstantin, for example, value our longterm relationships with them. We work is an industrial designer, and his artistic touch makes exclusively with external designers – the best design the pieces stand o ut as diff erent. Throughout o ur ers in the world – and truly value their expertise. journey from Milan to Miami, our new pieces had an Of course, they need to understand our culture of unbelievable reception and attracted lots of media using ceramic but, once they do, they can really push interest. The way Konstantin has worked with ce the boundaries. We believe longstanding relation ramic, and his tray designs, were really appreciated. ships with designers can produce outstanding results. And people found the super-fine borders of It’s not just a qu estion o f briefing them but of having Toan’s washbasins fascinating: they instinctively a close dialogue when developing new ideas. wanted to caress their contours. HOW HAVE YOU MODIFIED THE DESIGNS SINCE THEY WERE EXHIBITED AT MILAN AND ELSEWHERE? After Milan, we spoke with Konstantin and his assistant Charlotte and we decided there were too many design elements in them and wanted to simplify and refine th One washbasin originally em. had a lip at the edge of the circular bowl but this has been removed, while its border’s height has been made taller. The draining area to the right of the basin now slopes slightly to allow the water to drain off it. This surface also has a different relief p at- tern. The grooves in the attern have been filled with p trans lucent glaze so you can still see the pattern despite the area being flat, and it remains hygienic. LAUFEN IN FIGURES Another Konstantin design, a rectangular wash Laufen Bathrooms AG is a Swiss basin, was changed more radically. The semiwet company specialised on premium area is now nearer the centre of the bowl, resembling segment solutions for bathrooms. an island you can rest things like soap or jewellery The headquartes are located in Laufen near Basel. Managed by on. And Konstantin has created an additional, more the familyowned Roca group conventional application of a washbasin, a classic, since 1999 Laufen runs 7 manufac turing sites in Central Europe, wall mounted design in SaphirKeramik in six sizes. 2500 em ployees and sales offices It’s very pared-down and elegant, and made using in 44 countries.