Featured
Living space redefined
Konstantin Grcic: Since then, we have never lost touch. We have been in constant dialogue for over ten years, and with ‘PAR’ we are continuing Laufen’s design development.
Marc Viadot: We pursue ambitious global plans with Laufen. Konstantin’s influence is evident in the products and the brand identity. The close dialogue and mutual trust have enabled us to make decisions in a pragmatic manner. With the new ‘PAR’ project, we have taken on new challenges.
Time is a central theme of this collection. What does design need to be timeless? Or is that not the goal at all?
Konstantin Grcic: That’s not what we’re focused on – and yet, of course, it is. In the end, quality is what matters. It creates the conditions for something that can stand the test of time, both materially and stylistically. At the same time, I find the term “timeless” difficult. Many things we perceive as timeless today emerged from a very specific zeitgeist. We cannot, and do not want to, escape that. Of course, our work also reflects the present, the mood of our time. The values that matter to us, however, are broader: quality, clarity, and a responsible approach to resources and human needs. These are not temporal categories, but holistic ones.
The collection could basically work in any room. Was your approach to break away from the traditional association with the classic bathroom?
Konstantin Grcic: Your insight surprises me a little, but it touches on something very essential. My background is in designing objects that are always part of spaces and create an atmosphere. I deliberately chose not to draw a strict line between the bathroom, living room, or other areas. Everything is part of a living space. The bathroom is a very intimate place and often a space where one is alone. But it is precisely there that familiar, simple, and reliable elements are important – as with the vanity, which should feel like a given, featuring a calm and clear design. We talked a lot about users who have life experience and know what they want. Compromises aren’t called for, but that doesn’t rule out experimentation.
In what ways has Laufen – for example, in terms of radii and material thicknesses, or thanks to the resource-efficient technology of the Electric tunnel kiln – given you creative freedom?
Konstantin Grcic: We used sapphire ceramic, even though the design didn’t necessarily call for it at first. This material gives us the precision and quality that a high-end series requires. We’re the only ones who can work with it in this way. Likewise, there are many features that we deliberately don’t highlight because they’re meant to be taken for granted. One example is the newly developed siphon, which can be cleaned from above. It’s a logical idea, but one that’s very complex to implement, as it must be suitable for industrial use worldwide. Many of these details aren’t visible at first glance, but they are precisely what define the series.
Marc, “Design is strategy, not decoration” is a quote of yours. On the subject of design intelligence – what is essential for intelligently integrating people, materials and processes to create high-quality bathroom products?
Marc Viardot: For us, design is not just about surfaces, but about strategy. Good design arises from relationships and trust. Our first joint collection, ‘VAL’, is a good example of this: what began as an experiment in 2014 led to a paradigm shift and global success. Design intelligence means not viewing design in isolation. High-quality bathroom products are created through the intelligent interplay of function, material quality, technology and user needs. It is crucial that a product remains relevant in the long term – both aesthetically and functionally. A bathroom is a major investment and accompanies people for many years. Users’ requirements change; the product must evolve with them. To view it merely as decoration would be too short-sighted.
Konstantin Grcic: I’d like to expand on that. ‘Decoration’ is not a dirty word. Beauty is a function; it has value. We don’t just design problem-solvers. Design is part of it. Even a radius can be beautiful if it is exactly right. Then something harmonious emerges. Before that, it is merely a technical form.
So is perfection also a form of beauty?
Konstantin Grcic: Yes, as long as it doesn't become exhausting. Perfection can come across as cold. The key is balance.
How are AI tools, resource scarcity, and global crises currently affecting your work?
Konstantin Grcic: I get the feeling that we can still break free from that. AI is not currently a threat to our discipline. It offers interesting possibilities, but we need to learn what it is and how to use it. Precisely because AI processes existing knowledge, we as designers need to rely more heavily on our own intelligence and creativity. Perhaps this is an opportunity to refocus on that.
Marc Viardot: …and to encourage personal interaction all the more.
Konstantin, the design of the Laufen Space for Milan Design Week, under the theme “When Time Becomes Material,” struck me as a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle outside the door. Was it your intention to consciously help visitors slow down?
Konstantin Grcic: Yes, absolutely. I’m really glad you perceived it that way. The floor plan itself is difficult, chaotic. Our first impulse was to create a space within a space. The materials, the volumes, the artwork – all of that was meant to create a sense of calm. We were aiming for something honest, simple, and real. Right up until the very end, I wasn’t sure if we’d succeed. That makes it all the more wonderful to hear this feedback.
Laufen @ ISH
March 15 to 19, 2027
Hall 3.1, C70
