ISH 2023 report

We check out five design directions from biennal European trade show ISH, which will impact UK bathroom design

Making its first return as a physical exhibition since the COVID pandemic, biennial bathroom and HVAC trade show ISH was exclaimed a success. The five-day show featured 2,025 exhibitors from 54 countries and attracted 153,734 visitors, with 44% from abroad. Despite there being a 22% dip in visitor attendance from the levels in 2019, reported as 188, 234, exhibitors stated it had exceeded expectations.

Sales director of Fortune Brands Okke Roosjen stated: “We can definitely say it has exceeded our expectations. The show has bounced back, having been postponed due to COVID in 2021, and we saw a great amount of footfall. This demonstrates the importance of

ISH – it is not just about the ‘big players’.” His views were echoed by sales and marketing director of RAK Ceramics UK Ben Bryden who added: “We had a fantastic week at ISH Frankfurt. Many thanks to all the visitors, partners and customers who visited our stand.”

And according to a Messe Frankfurt survey, visitors were also satisfied with the show, with 94% of visitors reporting their trade fair visit goals were achieved and 96% were satisfied with the range of exhibits.

Certainly, visitors were treated to an array of launches, demonstrating the latest trends from a riot of colour, through to organic forms and material mixes. Ben Bryden of RAK Ceramics

UK adds: “This is a European show of such a high calibre that it sets the benchmark for all that is to come in terms of bathroom design in the months ahead.” Here we offer a curated edit of design stories from the show, with more to feature in future issues of Kitchens & Bathrooms News.

Chairman of the board of management of Messe Frankfurt Wolfgang Marzin commented: “ISH more than fulfilled the expectations of our customers and came at just the right time to meet the challenges of our time such as climate protection and security of supply.”

The next edition of the biennial ISH show will take place in Frankfurt from March 17-21, 2025.

Riot Of Colour

One of the most obvious stories of ISH 2023 was the riot of colour splashed across ceramics, shower trays, furniture and brassware. Manufacturers had embraced palettes of pastels and muted shades through to bold, characterful colours, allowing designers to create truly personalised schemes. Duravit introduced Millio by Antonio Bullo with perfectly colour matched furniture and basins, the first to be made from

Material Mixes

Softening the bathroom space, a mixture of materials were introduced into the bathroom at ISH to create living areas. Glassfronted vanities, felt and cork accessories, as well as the mixture of timber, ceramic with metal or natural stone, saw the bathroom become less sterile. Burgbad introduced Accura furniture, based on vanities, with bevelled carcasses and fronts in lacquer, veneer finishes and fluted glass.

While the Roca stand unveiled Tura, created by Catalan designer Andreu Carulla, with the name stemming from the ending of two Spanish words arquitectura and cultura. Inspired by Meditterrean light and its interplay with the shutters on homes, Carulla incorporated slatted shelves into the furniture and introduced a bath headrest made from recycled outdoor fabric, plus waterproof felt storage boxes with cork lids.

Duravit teamed with Studio F.A. Porsche to create Qatego which combined PEFC-certified wood in eight finishes with, ceramic and for the first time natural stone. Ceramic above-counter basins were installed upon Carrara marble, Travertine and Pietra Lavica.

DuroCast UltraResist with a velvety surface. While Bette, which has featured colours on its titanium baths and shower trays for many years, introduced BetteBalance washbasins developed by Tesseraux & Partner. The built-in and surface-mounted basins are available in numerous colours, including matt colours and sparkling effects.

Introducing playful colour to brassware was the Nu brassware, created for Roca by Studio Inma Bermudez. Named after the French word for nude, all superfluous details have been eliminated creating a 35mm body and a choice of three handles with taps in Mint Green, Cobalt Blue, Honey Yellow, Titanium Black, Glossy White and Chrome.

Left: Villeroy & Boch –Antao www.rdr.link/KAP034

Centre: Laufen –IIBagnoAlessi www.rdr.link/KAP035

Below: RAK Ceramics –RAK Variant www.rdr.link/KAP036

Soft Shapes

In a move away from minimalistic linear lines, sanitaryware adopted organic forms which complemented the introduction of matt ceramic finishes. It saw the development of suites based on natural elements, as well as refinements of existing curavaceous suites. Marking its 275th anniversary, Villeroy & Boch presented Antao, a collection developed by the design duo kaschkasch and inspired by a dewdrop on a leaf.

Among its launches, RAK Ceramics updated its Designer Collections, including its RAK-

Variant washbasins. Designed by Daniel De Biasi and Federico Sandri, the 5mm thick basins, available in countertop, drop in and undermount versions, were previewed in matt black and matt white finishes.

Revisiting its 20 year-old design icon IlBagnoAlessi, Laufen asked the designer architect Stefano Giovannoni to refine the collection using Saphikeramick. Allowing for the creation of thin lines, it saw the introduction of a slim Tuna washbasin joined by a freestanding bathtub made from Senstec, a mineral composite with velvety surface.

Technology

Of course, ISH doesn’t only focus solely on aesthetics but is also a hotbed of technology for bathrooms. From watersaving and super quiet WC flushes, through to shower water recycling, technology formed a key story. Sustainability was a key theme on the Kaldewei stand, as it introduced a channel waste designed by Studio Aisslinger, Flowline Zero, which boasts optional heat recovery. It means heat from the shower water is used to preheat cold, fresh water on its way to the shower fitting, using a heat exchanger. Available in a choice of finishes, including the FlowlineZero Crystal glass variant, proving sustainability can still be luxurious.

The WC was also a focus of development, following the theme of sustainable luxury. TOTO presented its smart toilet Neorest WX. It features all Washlet cleaning and hygiene functions, including electrolysed water Ewater+ to clean post-flush, automatic lid opening and closure and ability to store four programmes. It has been designed to suit a variety of luxury bathrooms.

www.rdr.link/KAP037

Bottom right: Kaldewei –Flowline Zero www.rdr.link/KAP038

Right: Roca –In-wash www.rdr.link/KAP039

While Roca and Laufen both showcased a super quiet flush. However, a highlight of the Roca stand was its In-Wash Insignia shower toilet. The cistern is integrated into the bowl with a Vortex Flush and selfcleaning nozzle, all operated by the In-Wash Insignia mobile app.

Future Developments

ISH is equally renowned for considering the future developments in bathroom design from architecture through to how new materials, processes and technology will shape specifications. And this year was no exception, with RAK demonstrating prototype 3D printing of ceramic pedestals and Finnish interior brand Woodio introducing what it claimed to be the world’s first 100% waterproof solid wood composite toilet seat, Woodio Block, designed by Pentagon Design.

While Hansgrohe premiered its concept Green Vision Beyond Water: Rethinking Bathroom Culture, to consider how will we use the bathroom in the future. Will there be an increased need for people to have a place of retreat at home that protects them from sensory overload? And how can these needs be combined to meet the challenge of increasing urbanisation and the resulting smaller living spaces?

Created together with Stuttgart-based design and innovation studio Phoenix, Hansgrohe developed a concept bathroom that uses 90% less water and energy. Based on consumer insight, it created a bathroom space which serves an emotional cocoon, providing warmth, and offering simple, water-saving routines.

Top: Hansgrohe –Green Vision www.rdr.link/KAP040

Below: Woodio –Woodio Block www.rdr.link/KAP041

Expert View

Brand manager at House of Rohl Emma Joyce offers her thoughts on ISH 2023 and what the company showed at the event

ISH 2023 was an important week in many ways for the House of Rohl. It was the first time many of our European customers had seen the House of Rohl family of brands in person. It was only our second presentation in this form, after Salone del Mobile last summer. It was also the first opportunity for our colleagues in the US to travel to Europe since the pandemic and see the progress we have made. This made it a very satisfying week all round, as feedback on the stand and the products was extremely positive.

It offered a launch platform for Perrin & Rowe’s Armstrong bathroom collection, a comprehensive new range with a industrial edge. It follows on from the Armstrong kitchen range. Other significant new products included Shaws’ Hawkshaw sink, a fireclay kitchen sink with a large and small bowl, separated by a half-height divide. This means you can flood both bowls to create a fulllength sink for scrubbing baking trays or grills. Victoria + Albert extended its Barcelona collection with two undermount basins. There are now four baths, three countertop basins and two undermount basins, all sharing the same shape.

Major international events are still recovering from the COVID hiatus, and we expected the overall attendance to be lower than 2019. However, veterans of ISH on the House of Rohl stand felt that footfall was as good as ever, and those who visited were strongly engaged and keen to do business. In our area we may have benefited from the absence of major local players such as Grohe and Dornbracht-Alape. Despite the uncertain economic undercurrents, the mood was optimistic. There was real confidence in the strength of the luxury bathroom market. We left Frankfurt exhausted, but in excellent spirits. Roll on ISH25!

Perrin & Rowe, Armstrong www.rdr.link/KAP042