Laufen Swiss Architecture tour . D6 C0 {, R+ n: I$ o: m 4 i- Z# _% ?& O- k* t% H% V Dezeen promotion: last week, Dezeen attended an architectural tour of Basel and Zurich organised by Swiss bathroom brand Laufen that included a trip to their concrete showroom designed by Nissen Wentzlaff Architects. [/url] ; v9 W7 c; n& }; R# p7 V8 U  W$ oThe tour featured viewings of buildings by established Swiss architects including [url=http://www.herzogdemeuron.com/]Herzog & de Meuron and new projects by upcoming practices such as EM2N, Stump & Schibili and Buchner Bründler. You can see photos on our Facebook page from Basel and Zurich and a podcast featuring interviews with many of the architects will appear on Dezeen soon. The Laufen Forum sits alongside the company’s headquarters and acts as a showroom and visitor centre. ' U, b9 j6 ~% d( Q $ I6 j2 {: ?+ F& p# gIts curved exterior form was inspired by one of Laufen’s most popular product ranges and was cast from concrete in a similar way to the production of ceramics. ' ?! o" [8 a' |7 O" ~( Z) |+ w 8 v' Y: f$ x( y! L  AThe interior of the Forum is designed to encourage a flow of movement, guiding visitors through the display of products before returning them to the entrance via a sweeping staircase. 6 T7 \- D2 e3 V# |/ SThe building is almost entirely windowless but the central events area is lit by skylights punched into the roof. ) W4 ]% {' N5 V The tour also included a visit to the production facility on the same site as the Forum and headquarters, where the company has been producing wash basins, bidets and toilets for almost 120 years. * w$ y2 G! m, s3 XThe production of the pieces still involves many manual processes and a thorough understanding of the nuances of the material. Laufen collaborates with many leading designers on its product ranges including IlBagnoAlessi One (above), designed by Stefano Giavannoni, which features a wave-like form washing over the shelving unit. ( j2 Z: O8 P0 x- P4 r & q( h2 ]4 X' a. W9 u  \8 @The Living Square collection (above) by Stuttgart designer Andreas Dimitriadis of Platinumdesign has a shallow basin and sharply defined edges that require precise moulding. 4 u( T1 m0 T9 A' {5 V' E6 y . N1 T! C' l, \The Palomba Collection (above) by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba has recently been expanded to include a double-basin version featuring asymmetric ‘fingerprints’ sunk into a 1600mm flat surface. [Search:DCION

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