Duravit UK Ltd

Built by Emaar Properties, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world and stands over 700 metres high. The extraordinary tower features the “barrel” that is designed by Philippe Starck. The “barrel” is a vanity unit designed for Duravit already in 1994. Starck was inspired by primitive forms, such as the washing bowl, bucket, hand pump and nail. Over the years, the “Starck barrel” has become Duravit’s best-selling item of bathroom furniture and it was also moving into the luxury skyscraper. Duravit will deliver more than 1,000 barrels to Dubai, as well as almost 4,000 WCs and bidets and more than 1,600 baths and whirltubs.

The Casa/Studio Passive House by Margherita Potente und Stefano Piraccini in the Italian city of Cesena is regarded as the first of its kind anywhere in the world. An international jury has awarded PIRACCINI+POTENTE SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE for this project with a The Plan Award 2020 in the category "Home Efficiency & Technology".“Passive House” is the name given to buildings that significantly reduce ventilation-induced heat losses and do not require a conventional heating system. Energy-efficient buildings of this type are certified by the Passivhaus Institute Darmstadt – an internationally renowned institute for the research and development of building concepts, building components, and planning tools. Certification is awarded when specific requirements regarding architecture, technology, and ecology are satisfied.The project demonstrates that the energy performance of a Passive House can be achieved not only in new, insulated buildings, but also in conversions and renovation projects. Using the Passive House guidelines, buildings in need of renovation are upgraded and made more energy-efficient and earthquake-proof.The building features a mix of building elements – wood (laminated and XLAM), steel, reinforced concrete masonry, and armed concrete. Attention was paid to the natural properties of each material to ensure optimum interaction between them. This enabled the building’s construction costs to be kept at a market-compatible level without neglecting qualitative aspects.This extraordinary building includes, amongst other things, the Duravit lines ME by Starck, Starck 1, L-Cube, Happy D.2, Luv, and Sensowash® Slim. A highlight is the DuraSquare washbasin with metal console in Black Matt, which stands out with its clear, pared-down design. For Stefano Piraccini it is not just an architects’ studio, but also his home. The architect had the washbasin installed on the bedroom terrace so he can enjoy the view of the Savio river during his morning routine.

The One & Only lends the word “luxury” a whole new meaning. Situated on the North Male atoll of the Maldivian island of Reethi Rah, the resort is a pearl in a chain of coral atolls, lagoons and white beaches.“The One & Only” boasts 90 beach villas and 32 water villas, all exclusively appointed to ensure the ultimate in relaxation and wellbeing. Kuala Lumpur-based architect Jean-Michel Gathy designs hotels all over the world. On Reethi Rah he has created a fascinating mix of elegance, class and island charm. His design demonstrates an accomplished blend of stringent geometry and gentle light. Influences from Maldivian, Chinese and Balinese architecture are evident in the high, arched ceilings and the use of tropical materials such as wood, natural stone and cool, chalk-white fabrics. Gathy himself describes the hotel in its divine setting as a perfect composition of landscape, architecture and an interior informed by diverse cultures.The extensive beach sites and the water villas with private beach, infinity pools and spa area feature large, luxurious bathrooms. The Duravit Bacino console washbasins and the Starck 2 SensoWash® shower-toilets offer the ultimate in comfort here, harmonizing perfectly with the exquisite standard of appointments throughout the One & Only Resorts.

The “Walzmühle” former mill in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, has a long tradition as an industrial manufacturing location.Since 2013, the site has been home not only to a range of businesses and studios, but also residential spaces. The design and construction by the team around Mia Kepenek (Kepenek GmbH) has breathed new life into the former factory hall in the form of eight generously proportioned, expressively styled lofts, each fitted with Duravit products from the Luv series.The smart spatial design is finished with high-quality materials, and the residential concept combines family homes with lofts and a nearby recreational area. To preserve the industrial flair of the site, the natural brick façade was retained.Two-story buildings, each with a floor area of 180 m², feature room heights of up to six meters. They each have their own inner courtyards and terraces, and sawtooth roofs ensure the lofts enjoy ample daylight.Three basic loft types were created to meet the varying needs of future residents. The style of each loft type is underscored by the different materials used in the bathrooms. With its proximity to the city and cultural amenities, the “Variable” loft is an elegant contemporary living space that offers flexibility for young families with one or two children. The eye-catching feature in this bathroom is the Luv back-to-wall bathtub with its matt optics, which set it apart from the tiled blue wall.

As one of her last works, world-famous architect Zaha Hadid designed a unique monument. Melco Crown Entertainment’s 40-storey luxury hotel has the effect of an organic sculpture that is both curious-looking but at the same time seems to have been tailor made for the legendary “City of Dreams” in Cotai, Macau: an icon that is a hallmark of modern Macau and the last word in luxury.Inspired by the lucky jade figures of past millennia, Zaha Hadid opted for an outer form and construction that at the same time is severely deterministic over the interior yet also affords the greatest possible design freedom. How is that possible? The organic-looking steel structure is the world’s largest exoskeleton and a marvel of structural and general engineering. At a height of 160 meters, a total of 28,000 tons of steel supports 70,000 m³ of reinforced concrete. The grid-like steel, aluminum and glass structure lends the building its rhythmic, fluid aesthetic. Openings in the building create additional complexity, volume and texture, both connecting and separating the two towers of the building.In the interior, this construction approach creates structural freedom and facilitates an extravagant interior design, such as the 730 five-star-plus hotel rooms and the hotel’s public bathrooms, which are all fitted with SensoWash i shower-toilets from Duravit. Or the spectacular, 40-meter high hotel atrium-lobby which is intersected by two air bridges. Panoramic elevators provide unexpected views of the atrium and the intriguing openings in the building. Rounded off by individual, integrated and exclusive villas, various Michelin star restaurants, casinos and a shopping mall as well as a breathtaking infinity pool on the 40th floor – this hotel leaves no desires unfulfilled. And Morpheus, from whom the hotel took its name, makes sure that even the biggest dream can come true.

The extraordinary design hotel Twelve Senses Retreat in Encinitas in southern California offers its guests the ultimate in relaxation for body and soul. Encinitas is located close to San Diego and is regarded as one of the world’s top surfing spots. The atmosphere of the coastal town is imbued with a love of surfing, yoga, health, and getting close to nature.The guests of Anke Bodack can also experience this special ambience. With the Twelve Senses Retreat the designer has realized her life’s dream of a minimalist micro-hotel. Its name refers to the twelve human senses found in the teachings of Rudolf Steiner. The Austrian philosopher divides the senses into physical, environmental, and cognitive senses. At the Twelve Senses Retreat, these are stimulated through a combination of quality accommodation, a sense of well-being, and sustainability.At the Twelve Senses Retreat, luxurious minimalism is not a contradiction in terms: its rooms are warm and inviting despite their understated design. The four rooms are uniquely designed and each reflects one of the four natural elements – “Air”, “Earth”, “Fire”, and “Water”.How to fit a luxurious bathroom into an open room with limited space posed the greatest challenge. Designer Anke Bodack discovered a photo of a Stonetto shower tray in Duravit’s bathroom magazine, and this came to influence the design and the interior decoration. Flush-mounted shower trays create a sense of space in the room. Three of the four rooms were fitted with an open shower. ME by Starck toilets, Luv washbasins, and L-Cube bathroom furniture can also be found in the Twelve Senses Retreat. Additionally, a free-standing Luv bathtub with its Nordic purism blends perfectly into the minimalistic, soothing atmosphere in the “Earth” room.

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London has opened a branch in Scotland in a spectacular new building on the banks of the Firth of Tay by 64-year-old Kengo Kuma. The V&A Dundee will feature both historical and contemporary design. Kuma’s futuristic building, inspired by the cliffs on the Scottish coast, is the centerpiece in Dundee’s Tayside development. Kuma, who also designed the stadium for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, is regarded as a master at connecting buildings with their natural surroundings. His first project in the UK will connect people “like a living room” with their city and history.

The popular “Waterfall” estate in Midrand, South Africa, provides a secure and luxurious environment for its inhabitants. The South African architect Nico van der Meulen conceived and designed the impressive Victoria Residence in this district. The property is surrounded by plentiful green space. The large front windows of the residence cover the whole north-facing side of the house, providing the residents with a clear view of nature stretching out before them.Deliberately reduced to just three materials, the rugged outer façade has a stylish, contemporary feel. Alongside refined dark stone slabs and exposed concrete, the external aspect also features striking dark wooden slats, which are decorative whilst also providing privacy.The perfectly harmonized color palette on the outside of the building continues inside. Marble and granite stone surfaces, in part accentuated with fine threads of bronze, are complemented by natural oak.The en-suite bathrooms are fitted with Duravit products. DuraStyle wall-mounted toilets and semi-recessed DuraStyle wash bowls harmonize with the straight-lined, contemporary furniture.