Archinect - News

Samuel Ross unveils Brutalism-inspired Kohler smart toilet concept for Milan Design Week

2024-04-02T12:59:00-04:00

Designer Samuel Ross has shared a preview of the new Formation 02, his first smart toilet concept for Kohler, ahead of the opening of this year’s Milan Design Week on April 16th.

The piece is inspired by Brutalist architecture and will retail for $25,000. The brand is marketing his creation as an inspired demarcation from the traditional silhouettes used in its Eir Smart Toilet line.

Ross sees it as a sculptural enhancement of a necessity intended for use in a variety of settings he describes as capable of delivering "democratic, open, public experiences."

Image courtesy Kohler Co.

His design intentions were so described via a scrollable digital 'Manifesto' relating Ross and his studio SR_A’s philosophy and new model for water solutions. This adds to Ross’ longstanding creative relationship with Kohler, which includes the Formation 01 faucets the new product, rendered Haptic Orange, serves to compliment.

Image courtesy Kohler Co.

"Our objective goes beyond function — it’s closer to v...

10 bathroom designs we enjoyed this week

2023-08-05T08:00:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Bathroom Spaces.

Tip: Use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!

↑ Blodgett-Calvin Residential Compound in San Marino, CA by Fung + Blatt Architects; Original Architect: Calvin Straub; Photo: Mark Mahaney

↑ Jule Pond II in Watermill, NY by BMA Architects; Photo: Michael Stavaridis

↑ Hero Office Club in Chengdu, China; Interior Design: BLVD International

↑ San Remo Residence in Pacific Palisades, CA by ShubinDonaldson; Photo: Manolo Langis

↑ 077 Residence in Prague, Czech Republic by Lenka Míková architekti; Photo: BoysPlayNice

↑ Monitor's Rest in Park City, UT by CLB Architects; Photo: Kevin Scott

↑ ANNA Collection in Werkendam, The Netherlands by Caspar Schols

↑ Modern Bungalo...

10 bathroom designs we liked this week

2021-10-02T09:00:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Bathroom Spaces.

Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!

↑ Branch House in Montecito, CA by TOLO Architecture; Photo: David Hartwell

↑ Cork Trees House in Braga, Portugal by Trama Arquitetos; Photo: João Morgado

↑ Monastero Arx Vivendi in Arco, Italy by noa* network of architecture; Photo: Alex Filz

↑ Spicy • NoSpicy in Kyiv, Ukraine by YOD design Lab; Photo: Andriy Bezuglov

↑ Hale Nukumoi in Kauai, HI by Walker Warner Architects (the firm was also featured in Archinect's Studio Snapshots series); Photo: Matthew Millman

↑ Apartment in Santa Cruz, Portugal by Bala Atelier; Photo: Francisco Nogueira

↑ Viewfinder House in Truckee, CA by Faulkner Architects (the firm was als...

10 bathroom designs for your Friday inspiration

2020-12-18T16:47:00-05:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Bathroom Spaces.

Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!

↑ Art Villa in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica by Formafatal; Photo: BoysPlayNice

↑ Spine Residence in Los Angeles, CA by Cohesion

↑ Guesthouse / Office in Los Angeles, CA by Cover

↑ Clinton Hill Brownstone in Brooklyn, NY by MKCA // Michael K Chen Architecture

↑ Remodeling of Accommodation Units - Azoris Royal Garden Hotel in Ponta Delgada, Portugal by box: arquitectos; Photo: Ivo Tavares Studio

↑ Laurel Hills Residence in Studio City, CA by Assembledge+ (the firm was also featured in Archinect's Studio Visits series); Interior Design: Susan Mitnick Design Studio; Photo: Matthew Millman

↑ Stradella in Bel Air, CA by E...

Is it time to redesign the toilet?

2020-06-17T13:29:00-04:00

As investigations into the ways in which the coronavirus spreads continue, new research suggests once again that bathrooms, and particularly toilets, represent a potential vector for infection.

Recently published research in the academic journal Physics of Fluids finds that toilet flushing produces a "massive upward transport of virus particles" with "40%–60% of particles reaching above the toilet seat, leading to large-scale virus spread." The report continues, "Fecal–oral transmission is a common transmission route for many viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Blocking the path of fecal–oral transmission, which occurs commonly in toilet usage, is of fundamental importance in suppressing the spread of viruses."

Previously on Archinect: ""Hygiene ventilation" and the case for Green Stimulus." Image courtesy of Image by Erich Westendarp from Pixabay.

For the study, researchers used computer modeling, including AutoCAD, to investigate how far and wide aerosolized virus particles can spread,...

10 stylish bathroom designs for your Friday inspiration

2020-06-12T11:30:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Bathroom Spaces.

↑ House in the Catskills, NY by General Assembly; Photo: Joe Fletcher

↑ Tack Barn in Sonoma, CA by Faulkner Architects; Photo: Joe Fletcher

↑ Russian Hill Townhouse in San Francisco, CA by NICOLEHOLLIS

↑ Kahua Kuili Residence in Big Island, HI by Walker Warner Architects; Interiors: Philpotts Interiors; Photo: Matthew Millman

↑ Yellowstone Residence in Big Sky, MT by Stuart Silk Architects; Photo: Aaron Leitz

↑ The Farm in San Francisco, CA by Feldman Architecture; Photo: Matthew Millman

↑ Linhai Yufengli Homestay in Linhai, China by LYCS Architecture; Photo: Wu Qingshan

↑ Living Levels in Sagaponack, NY by Oza Sabb...

COVID-19 offers another argument in favor of single-stall bathrooms

2020-05-15T12:23:00-04:00

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessarily prompted a rethinking of many of the most fundamental aspects of daily life around the world, as people, businesses, and governments seek to retrofit the built environment in order to minimize the potential for future exposure.

Everything from HVAC systems, office spaces, grocery stores, shopping areas, and universities will need to be rethought, experts argue, with wide-ranging and yet-to-be-known changes in store for how we live our everyday lives.

Previously on Archinect: COVID-19 should lead to lasting design code improvements of public bathrooms, experts say.

Another arena that is due to be seriously reconsidered is that of the public bathroom, where open toilet stalls and open-top toilets are known to generate unhygienic "toilet plumes" that aerosolize fecal matter and potentially, diseases within these spaces.

A recent Fast Company report delves into the approaches that some bathroom fixture manufacturers are taking while retooling their ...

COVID-19 should lead to lasting design code improvements of public bathrooms, experts say

2020-05-05T14:31:00-04:00

Public health experts, designers and architects say the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed fundamental flaws in the design of public toilets that risk spreading a second wave of coronavirus, and possibly even new pandemics. [...] Some of the suggested innovations include a greater uptake of sensor taps, fully self-cleaning cubicles, designing exits that don’t require human contact, and having bathroom attendants.

The Guardian laying out suggestions from health experts on how to improve hygiene standards in public restrooms, not only in light of the current pandemic but in preparation of the next one.

"We’ve almost got this little opportunity from the pandemic where people are going to listen and going to change," one respondent explained in the article. "What we do now to fix public bathrooms, people will actually follow."

Australian-based studio Madelein Blanchfield Architects designs a disappearing outhouse

2019-12-10T13:20:00-05:00

When thinking of an outhouse, the initial images that come to mind may not be as intriguing or luxe as the outhouse designed by Australian-based studio Madelein Blanchfield Architects. Don't be fooled by their disappearing outhouse structure that blends seamlessly with the lush landscapes of Kangaroo Valley, however, as there is more to it than meets the eye.

Kangaroo Valley Outhouse. Image © Robert Walsh/courtesy of Madeleine Blanchfield Architects

According to the studio, the intention of the bathroom's design was to keep it separate from the main cabin and "mimic the experience of camping" during overnight stays. The mirrored cube structure is slightly lifted above the ground, and the one-way mirrors are transparent from the inside.

Kangaroo Valley Outhouse. Image © Robert Walsh/courtesy of Madeleine Blanchfield Architects

Kangaroo Valley Outhouse. Image © Robert Walsh/courtesy of Madelein...

10 new bathroom designs for your Friday inspiration

2019-09-20T18:18:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Bathroom Spaces.

↑ One John St Apartment in New York, NY by Alloy Development; Photo: Pavel Bendov

↑ Wildwood in Portland, OR by Giulietti / Schouten AIA Architects

↑ Poolhouse & Gallery in Whitefish, MT by CTA | Cushing Terrell; Photo: Audrey Hall

↑ Bond Street Loft in New York, NY by Axis Mundi; Photo: Durston Saylor/Mark Roskams

↑ Oootopia: An Alternative Dwelling for Millenials (Kaitak) in Hong Kong by GROUNDWORK Architects + Associates Ltd.; Photo: Fiona Bao/South Ho

↑ House in North Sea, NY by James Merrell Architects P.C.

↑ BURSA city hotel complex in Kiev, Ukraine by balbek bureau; Photo: Yevhenii Avramenko

↑ Watermill in t...

Supreme Court: Transgender students can use bathroom of choice

2019-05-31T13:28:00-04:00

The Supreme Court on Tuesday let stand a lower court’s ruling that said transgender students in an eastern Pennsylvania school district can use locker rooms and restrooms that match their gender identity.

The United States Supreme Court declined to review a previous decision from the Third Circuit Court in Doe v. Boyertown School District that had upheld the school district's policy of allowing transgender students to use their bathroom of choice.

View of a gender-neutral bathroom at the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco. Image: Wikimedia user Ted Eytan

The Supreme Court has yet to hear a case that directly addresses the rights of transgender individuals.

10 fresh bathroom designs for your Friday inspiration

2019-02-08T09:00:00-05:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Bathroom Spaces.

↑ Sunset Plaza Residence in Los Angeles, CA by Assembledge+

↑ Apartment E&E in Vienna, Austria by destilat Design Studio GmbH; Photo: Monika Nguyen

↑ House in Peconic Bay, NY by Mapos Architects, DPC

↑ Loft Panzerhalle in Salzburg, Austria by smartvoll; Photo: Tobias Colz

↑ Villeneuve Residence in Montreal, Canada by Atelier Barda architecture; Photo: Maxime Desbiens

↑ Villa CP in Gerona, Spain by ZEST architecture; Photo: Eugeni Pons

↑ West Village Townhouse in New York, NY by Haute Architecture DPC

↑ Toro Canyon Residence in Montecito, CA by ShubinDonaldson; Photo: Ciro Coelho

↑ Park Avenue Apartment in New York,...

Lithuanian design studio Gyva Grafika transforms bathroom tiles into apartment block windows

2018-03-21T19:43:00-04:00

A couple of years ago, Lithuanian design studio Gyva Grafika was tasked with redecorating the bathroom of a local restaurant in the city of Kaunas, about 62 miles west of Vilnius. They came up with a uniquely nostalgic idea: bathroom tiles that make the stalls take on the appearance of the panel buildings that came to represent the whole of the Eastern Bloc (and spread to other Communist countries, like Cuba).

A sample tile design by Gyva Grafika

Without having to replace the pre-existing tiles, the firm created stickers that, placed on top of the tiles, would create the appearance of a Soviet-era public housing block. The design intervention was done for Galeria Urbana bar—a hipster hot-spot in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania—and carried out by Gyva Grafika, a local studio specializing in graphics and design. The project has been so successful that the studio has even begun selling them.

10 splashy bathroom designs that stand out

2018-02-09T09:00:00-05:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Bathroom Spaces.

↑ Manhattan townhouse in New York, NY by J L Ramirez Architect PC

↑ Caroline's Place in London, UK by Amin Taha Groupwork

↑ Flip Flop House in Venice, CA by Dan Brunn Architecture; Photo: Brandon Shigeta

↑ Row House 1 in Brooklyn, NY by Office of Architecture; Photo: Rafael Gamo

↑ MOUNTAIN:house in Barlett, NH by INTERSTICE Architects; Photo: Greg Pemru

↑ 252 Albany in Brooklyn, NY by Cl-oth Interiors; Photo: Emily Gilbert

↑ House in Ferndale, South Africa by Nico van der Meulen Architects

↑ The Duplex Loft in New York, NY by Space4Architecture

↑ Sela Residence in Venice, CA by Marmol Radziner; Photo: Barry Schwart...

Ten Top Images on Archinect's "Bathroom Spaces" Pinterest Board

2017-04-28T18:11:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Bathroom Spaces.

↑ West London House in Hammersmith, UK by Neil Dusheiko Architects; Photo: Charles Hosea and Agnese Sanvito

↑ Jax House in Hackney, UK by Paul Archer Design; Photo: Will Pryce

↑ PRESTON in Venice, CA by OBERMEYER

↑ The HUB Performance and Exhibition Center in Shanghai, China by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office; Photo: Dirk Weiblen

↑ cdr in Cesena, Italy by tissellistudio

↑ Modern Residence in Sacramento, CA by Klopf Architecture; Photo: Mariko Reed

↑ York House in Marylebone, UK by Patrick Lewis Architects; Photo: Simon Kennedy/Joseph Seresin

↑ Wembley WCs in London, UK by Gort Scott

↑ Modern Mews in London, UK by Coffey Ar...

What is feminism's role in contemporary architecture?

2017-03-07T13:30:00-05:00

In this interview with PSMag, ArchiteXX co-founder and Syracuse University School of Architecture professor Lori Brown talks about the difficulties and rewards of attempting to design while female. She's specifically asked about how an architect attempts to integrate feminist notions of design in a political climate that would prefer women's structural contributions remain limited to conducting barefoot and pregnant installations in the kitchen. Here's a sampling:

What might be different about a feminist design versus a design that doesn’t take feminism into account?

The goal is to consider and incorporate where we are socially, politically, environmentally, and even economically [into designs]. We operate from the position that everyone is valued and everyone should be considered, which requires different ways of operating as a designer [and] thinking about the types of spaces you design, the types of users that would be needing these spaces. It’s not to create autonomous and separat...

Ten Top Images on Archinect's "Bathroom Spaces" Pinterest Board

2016-08-19T18:14:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Bathroom Spaces.

↑ Daniels Lane in Sagaponack, NY by Blaze Makoid Architecture (Architect of Record)

↑ Uma Gopinath Residence in Chennai, India by Murali architects

↑ Chelsea Eco Duplex in New York, NY by Wunderground architecture + design

↑ Cape Tribulation House in Daintree, Australia by m3architecture; Photo: Peter Bennetts

↑ Contemporary Twilight in Aventura, FL by DKOR Interiors Inc.

↑ Riviera in Santa Barbara, CA by Dan Weber Architecture; Photo: Erin Feinblatt

↑ Boerum Hill Townhouse in Brooklyn, NY by General Assembly

↑ House K in Düsseldorf, Germany by Wannenmacher-Möller Architekten GmbH with XYZ Designers

↑ Tennessee Farmhouse in N...

One day left to enter your work into Hansgrohe + Axor’s Das Design Competition!

2016-08-11T13:10:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by Hansgrohe + Axor’s Das Design Competition.

Cash Prize & Eligibility for VIP Trip To Germany

Good design is POWERFUL, and Hansgrohe/Axor believes it should be celebrated and recognized!

There is just one day left to enter the 3rd annual Hansgrohe+Axor Das Design Competition--open for entries until August 12th!

U.S.-based Architects and Designers are invited to submit recent Commercial/Hospitality or Residential projects, which incorporate Hansgrohe/Axor products (completed or renovated between Jan.1, 2011 and Aug.12, 2016).

The first place winner in each category will receive $2,000 & be eligible to attend a VIP trip to the Black Forest of Germany and the ISH Show!

Entry is free online at www.dasdesigncomp.com.

Good design was made to be seen--show off your hard work. Enter the competition today!

Deadline Approaching: Hansgrohe + Axor’s Das Design Competition

2016-08-01T15:30:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by Hansgrohe + Axor’s Das Design Competition.

Cash Prize & Eligibility for VIP Trip To Germany

Good design is POWERFUL, and Hansgrohe/Axor believes it should be celebrated and recognized!

There are just a few weeks left to enter the 3rd annual Hansgrohe+Axor Das Design Competition--open for entries until August 12th!

The first place winner in each category will receive $2,000 & be eligible to attend a VIP trip to the Black Forest of Germany and the ISH Show!

Entry is free online at www.dasdesigncomp.com.

Good design was made to be seen--show off your hard work. Enter the competition today!

North Carolina loses AIA conference due to anti-LGBT HB2 bill passage

2016-05-04T13:51:00-04:00

Wilmington officials say the cancellation of an architect business conference due to HB2 will cost the city nearly $1 million. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced Monday it will nix its three-day conference scheduled for later this fall at the Wilmington Convention Center. AIA officials cited the passage of HB2 as the reason for the cancellation.

Being a bigot isn't just ridiculous—it's costly! Supposedly pro-business Republican senators in North Carolina have managed to drive away Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, and now the AIA thanks to their passage of HB2, which Towelroad describes as a bill that "bans all local LGBT rights ordinances in the state" while introducing "some of the most draconian anti-trans 'bathroom regulations' in the U.S." Talk about pissing it all away...

For more on the fight for equality:

City of SF sued by religious group over open-air urinal

2016-04-19T21:02:00-04:00

A religious organization sued the city of San Francisco to remove an open-air urinal from a popular park that it calls unsanitary and indecent. The Chinese Christian Union of SF filed a civil complaint last week demanding the city remove the concrete circular urinal from iconic Dolores Park. The group says the urinal, which is out in the open and screened only with plants for privacy, "emanates offensive odors," ''has no hand-washing facilities" and "it's offensive to manners and morals."

For more toilet-related designs, check out these links: