Last week, the Frankfurt sanitary trade fair showed that technology and intuitive operation are not mutually exclusive.

The bathroom as a homely space: almost all manufacturers at ISH 2015 focused on this trend. Here, the former wet room shows itself to be a holistic, yet changeable concept, in which essential designs emphasize a simple language of form and do not let existing functionality be felt as such. While on the one hand hidden electronics can be handled more easily and intuitively thanks to manual controls, app-controlled fittings have arrived in the bathroom.

WC, loo, quiet lavatory or simply the double zero: The list of terms for the toilet is long, yet it usually hardly happens that many words are lost about it. Last week in Frankfurt, however, not enough could be said and asked at the ISH 2015. There was demonstrating and explaining, kneeling and feeling, photographing and filming. Especially since the sanitary industry continues to come up with real innovations, as the completely booked-out trade fair successfully demonstrated. 2,465 manufacturers, more than ever before, presented their world innovations on an enlarged area of around 260,000 square meters. And international visitor numbers also continued to rise: Between March 10 and 14, some 198,000 trade visitors thronged through the exhibition halls, 37 percent of whom came from abroad.

Healthiness versus Wellness
Alongside sustainability, body experience and relaxation, hygiene and health were among the buzzwords at this year's leading sanitary trade show. In the current choice of words by manufacturers, the more profound term healthiness is gradually replacing wellness, which has long been in vogue. In this context, the topics of "accessibility" and "intergenerational living" are also playing an increasingly important role. Particularly in view of an aging society with the desire for as much independence as possible, long-term usability and changeability of the bathroom are becoming very important. This means, for example, that the focus is shifting to the shower toilet for the European market. Because what is a matter of course for toilet hygiene in Asia and the Middle East is still not common in our latitudes and has to be brought closer to Central Europeans with subtle persuasion.

Invisible technology
The pioneers of this intercultural approach are Matteo Thun and his partner Antonio Rodriguez, who already presented an alternative to the elaborate shower toilets with self-opening lid, seat heating and hairdryer two years ago with the AquaClean Sela toilet and bidet combination for Geberit. This year, they presented the Axent One shower toilet for Axent, the manufacturer of the same name, which is rimless and has a dirt-repellent surface; you can't tell it's functional because the technology is integrated into the ceramic. A single rotary knob on one side of the bowl combines all the functions that are useful for intimate cleaning. And its operation can be understood in no time.

The limits of what is possible
While on the one hand advanced technology is increasingly taking over functions in sanitary objects, on the other hand production processes are also developing further, making previously unattainable material properties possible. Leading the way is the Swiss manufacturer Laufen, which has pushed back the boundaries of what is possible in the field of ceramics with its new type of sapphire ceramic and is now presenting market-ready products at the ISH. The new series Ino by Toan Nguyen and Val by Konstantin Grcic show how the addition of the mineral corundum makes shapes, radii and wall thicknesses possible that were previously unthinkable in ceramics.

Minimal elegance
But other companies are also pushing the envelope with their materials, such as Alape with its new flat built-in basins made of glazed steel, including the 2Step design, or Bette. With BetteLux Shape by Tesseraux + Partner, the East Westphalian manufacturer shows that even a steel enamel bathtub can appear playfully light. The soft, flowing shape of the bathtub, which is enameled on both the inside and outside, is not concealed by cladding but supported by a filigree steel frame. The tub rests on a folded edge just eight millimeters thick. Another new feature is the overflow, developed jointly with the installation technology company Viega, which is invisibly integrated into the drain and regulated by a sensor. In terms of drainage, on the other hand, Dallmer offers CeraFloor, an innovative floor drain with a stainless steel drain rail for floor-level showers without a trip hazard. It is installed flush with the top edge of the tile and can also be adjusted in length so that it integrates perfectly into the geometry of the tiled shower.

Nature's spectacle
The Axor Starck V basin mixer by Philippe Starck for Axor is also minimal and focused on the essentials. Last year, the Hansgrohe design brand already presented the transparent washbasin mixer made of crystal glass, which visibly swirls the water upwards to then let it run out in an open channel. Two new versions of the glass spout for the existing basic body were presented in Frankfurt: with a classic diamond cut or a noble facet cut. In addition, the removable spout is also available in white porcelain. When combined with a white basic body, the faucet and washbasin become one.

App into the bathroom
Dornbracht, on the other hand, presented Comfort Shower, a shower experience in a seated position, which is intended to bring about particularly deep relaxation and increased comfort during applications such as peelings or showers. An additional feature is the Leg Shower, a device for invigorating leg casts at the touch of a button. Both are based on the digital technology presented two years ago called Smart Water, which executes useful presets and helpful functions for everyday applications without complicated menu navigation, such as letting the bathtub water automatically stop. Similar to Viega's Multiplex Trio E-App, in the future individual bathroom enjoyment will also be operable from throughout the home - and from outside - with associated application software for smartphones and tablets.

Electronic and mechanical
The continuous digitalization of living has now also reached the bathroom and seems to reflect the contemporary understanding of comfort. However, the fact that it does not always have to be digital is demonstrated by a selection of new products that are designed for more convenient operation and still meet expectations even in the event of a power failure. The actuator plate type 70 by Christoph Behling for Geberit, for example, can also be installed next to the WC instead of behind it, making it easier to reach. The flush actuator is operated by compressed air, which is why no power connection is required. The Talis Select series of faucets by Phoenix Design for Hansgrohe also works mechanically. Instead of using a lever handle or sensor, its water flow is started and stopped by pressing the Select button with the help of a specially developed cartridge. The only thing that changes here is the gesture of operation, according to a proven principle and yet reinvented.

The technical progress of our time has also found its place in the bathroom and yet remains discreet and meaningful. Less playful, but all the clearer, the new bathroom products of this year's ISH are geared to actual needs and emphasize that the bathroom is precisely the place where one is allowed to be human.

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