Laufen Swiss Architecture tour0 C. h4 Q" s) @6 L2 V
) `7 h% Z7 N7 X0 s: }
' }4 o+ x' h% d$ @# X4 U: A2 \+ LDezeen 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.% |1 C- f5 b0 n2 J( M/ U
' ?8 |- e; L6 A& n. \[/url]
* X9 e3 x$ _3 ^) a4 x1 q# H' FThe 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.
3 ~' r$ {( J( c( z8 W! y . m- X* q, E* Y u: v
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.
/ n+ a% h: N' X% T- m( Q# p ; L [; E6 e! z4 C* f$ O
The Laufen Forum sits alongside the company’s headquarters and acts as a showroom and visitor centre.
+ p8 [+ s' R& m+ V3 G5 m0 ]7 q
( s: h& [: a* B2 s* h: DIts 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.
# p2 l" |" V: k8 W. }$ D % L8 G1 j2 [$ q
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.& G$ V4 S ~! G$ _: l* d
3 q2 ^, \" t4 e" l4 e3 B- l) MThe building is almost entirely windowless but the central events area is lit by skylights punched into the roof.3 L- M V% ]4 H+ Q( h
. z7 k. c4 S: G& V# a% k& I) | O. RThe 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.
7 O: ~ j; E# S8 r$ d$ g $ x2 ~$ j" \2 q) G/ p1 [, n1 n
The production of the pieces still involves many manual processes and a thorough understanding of the nuances of the material.
4 m2 H1 C x4 j- `2 t 5 W h8 ~- \$ q0 ]$ `1 w1 B6 }
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.
% e( l. T' o1 N % g% n' h$ d6 M/ C9 j4 m
The Living Square collection (above) by Stuttgart designer Andreas Dimitriadis of Platinumdesign has a shallow basin and sharply defined edges that require precise moulding.
' Z; U6 W. f7 n+ k8 v: J 9 A: p! |& n" k, O
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.
9 {8 r2 i: r- D* m[Search:DCION
( I+ k7 X8 v) { s8 T3 W1 A
7 J% w" l! a# ~. Z
5 a) C% E& P& v# r
" D+ Z2 ?4 ~& Y& f! |4 `" c |
' k0 E9 B+ C" J" o h1 W' m: |
) I/ Q; K, V! j& o! Q9 u |
我喜欢的