150 Years of Better Bathroom Designs

As the company celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, Monocle draws on that rich heritage of craftsmanship and innovation to present six timeless design principles for bathrooms that exude comfort and elegance.

1.
Flush with success

Efficient design requires planning, research and precise execution. When it comes to bathrooms, it is the water flow that truly determines efficiency. It was something that Albert Gebert understood when he set up his tinsmith workshop in Rapperswil, Switzerland in 1874; his first jobs included connecting houses to the town’s new water pipeline.

This has been achieved by recognising, for example, that a high-performance modern toilet system requires all elements, from the pipes to the cistern and bowl, to be optimised and perform in synchronicity.

Since that time, Geberit has exceeded sustainability targets and the latest cistern models can reduce the total water consumption for flushing by up to 80 percent. Today those flushes can be activated effortlessly, with the minimalist, floating design of the Sigma70 just one of many actuator plates available in a variety of hues and finishes.

2.
Silence is golden

A study in 2021 found 42 per cent of people escape to the bathroom for peace and quiet. The second aspect of a well-designed toilet system then is quiet components.

Geberit has been optimising acoustics for decades. The silent bathtub drain was an obsession of the third-generation Heinrich Gebert, who pioneered a polyethylene alternative in 1956, while today the company’s Building Technology and Acoustics Laboratory is committed to noise reduction. By recording and monitoring sound emissions, the facility has contributed to the acoustic refinement of many products in the Geberit portfolio.

In fact, Geberit’s cutting-edge toilet systems are up to 30 per cent less noisy than conventional toilets, making them the very definition of quiet luxury.

3.
Smarter hygiene

Many people’s image of a bathroom of the future involves a high-tech toilet. Geberit was one of the first major international manufacturers to pioneer cleaning with water through its shower toilet models, starting with 1978’s Geberella, the first WC enhancement solution with an adjustable warm shower spray.

Despite low uptake for shower-toilets in certain markets, Geberit remains committed to the obvious benefits of improved hygiene and a world with less paper. The new AquaClean Alba even offers efficiency in another area: budget. It is the first complete shower toilet that costs little more than a traditional WC.

4.
Space-saving design

If Scandinavia is often held up as the pinnacle of minimalist design principles, it often centres around the Swedish expression lagom är bäst – “everything in moderation”. This is not just about curbing excesses but also paring back an approach until it is just so. Since first entering the drainage-pipe market in 1966, Geberit has studied flow dynamics to optimise the hydraulic performance of its wastewater systems.

The latest SuperTube technology is the culmination of this research, as it removes the need for ventilation pipes and reduces shaft dimensions and ceiling heights by up to 50 per cent. This saves valuable space in the home and means architects need never compromise their design principles.

5.
Material decisions

An appreciation for the fundamental qualities of different materials has been at the heart of Geberit’s offering since its early days working with iron. In 1952, the company’s launch of the first PVC cistern revolutionised the world of bathroom design and the effects are still being felt today.

Modern bathroom design is oriented around adding colourful elements, yet too many statement choices can be subjective. Geberit offers greater comfort and visual cohesion through a harmony of well-chosen hues and finishes.

Consistency across elements is key. With Geberit’s modular approach to interfaces and components, it has never been easier to mix and match bathroom furniture, washbasins and accessories, creating thousands of options for personalising your home washplace.

6.
Put systems in place

There is more to great bathroom design than colourful sanitaryware and quiet flushes. On building blueprints, the bathroom is simply the point at which water supply meets drainage outlet – a key component of a much larger system. Ensuring a swift, consistent flow of water and a clean, efficient disposal of waste is fundamental to smart, functional bathroom design.

Geberit is not only a market leader in system logics but also the only major manufacturer to have mastered all aspects of water flow within a building.

This has been achieved by recognising, for example, that a high-performance modern toilet system requires all elements, from the pipes to the cistern and bowl, to be optimised and perform in synchronicity.

Today the Swiss company offers outstanding design freedom with a range of options for every stage. Architects, interiors experts and homeowners alike know that they can rely upon Geberit to provide a complete mastery of the water flow in the home – from supply line to drainage system, via a wealth of optimised and aesthetically pleasing bathroom components.