Laufen Swiss Architecture tour( n X, J2 i6 Q* |+ j' a1 A
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1 y' R4 T7 U# QDezeen 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." I8 I# R4 V5 {7 W; W+ Q' @
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The 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. t& e$ V* }7 u" p$ z
7 s1 S, b; x& ^( \& X6 h- z( P4 KYou 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.2 ?+ D5 |1 l% x1 \
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The Laufen Forum sits alongside the company’s headquarters and acts as a showroom and visitor centre.3 ^ S6 @& Y3 y, O* ~6 i
% u9 f$ G- e+ l* k& {; PIts 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.$ F" n/ L( j( k4 R
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The 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.
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The building is almost entirely windowless but the central events area is lit by skylights punched into the roof.0 x9 \8 c( f# Q9 E& D, s
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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.
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. Z0 v% Y3 A6 t7 l* NThe production of the pieces still involves many manual processes and a thorough understanding of the nuances of the material.
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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.
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The Living Square collection (above) by Stuttgart designer Andreas Dimitriadis of Platinumdesign has a shallow basin and sharply defined edges that require precise moulding.
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6 a# a, L, h b; |6 {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.8 X [ F! i: Z9 {( I+ P5 p7 w. r8 w
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