Enters digital age with new collection designed By Jean Nouvel

Paris, France — JADO, a leading provider of exclusive and luxurious designer bath and kitchen products, today unveiled its new range of bathroom fittings and accessories including a new “smart” collection. Designed by world-renowned architect Jean Nouvel, the “smart” collection uses an innovative digital sensor system for water and temperature control. This is the first time Jean Nouvel, famous for buildings including the Agbar Office Tower in Barcelona, the Fondation Cartier and Musée de Quai Branly in Paris, has explored new design frontiers in the bathroom solutions environment.

The distinctive range reflects JADO’s vision to evolve bathrooms to the next level and to set a precedent for the future of bathrooms. JADO works with talented designers from all over the world, each injecting fresh thinking and originality into its range. From the Scandinavian minimalism of Friis & Moltke to the avant-garde style of Jean Nouvel, each designer’s unique personality contributes something innovative to the brand.

The latest JADO collection designed by Jean Nouvel is one-of-a-kind and incomparable to any other bathroom collection on the market today. This new creative product line – with its bold organic look and sensor technology – provides a glimpse into the future of the bathroom. It encompasses digital technology, programming options to regulate temperature and water flow, as well as a pop-up hand-spray for the shower. JADO’s Jean Nouvel collection embodies bathroom chic and at the same time offers products that are easy to use, install, maintain and clean.

The centre-piece of the collection is a highly resistant chrome-plated brass tap with a design shape intended to replicate the natural effects of water erosion on stones and rocks. High-tech digital sensory technology offers a comfort level and ease of use unlike any other tap. It is completely battery driven so that there are no mechanical handles or levers. Instead, there are four easy-touse flat buttons, with fast response time which provide on/off functionality and regulate the water temperature and flow. Batteries can easily be changed and are located in a sealed, water-proof control box that is easily accessible.

The collection includes a showering system and bath fitting with an integrated hand-held spray that comes into use the second it is picked up out of the socket.
The range also features a full line of accessories including a unique modular towel rack system, using detachable bars, which can be fitted to suit individual space and tastes. In addition, the collection comprises a mirror, storage drawer, lotion dispenser, soap dish, tumbler, a modular towel rack system and hooks, as well as toilet accessories sets and add-ons.

“When we approached Jean Nouvel for this project, our brief included positive interaction between water and the user all wrapped in beautiful, quality materials,” said John Rietveldt, President Ideal Standard, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Following that, we gave him virtually ‘carte blanche’ in order to fully benefit from his unleashed creativity and the experimental design that he is known for. He has developed a collection that, we believe, is very exciting and futuristic; applying smart design for distinctive beauty. The collection is quintessentially JADO, combining cutting-edge design with innovative technology to create a range that is original, exclusive and of high quality.”

“It was fascinating to experiment in order to create an intuitive interaction between water and human touch,” said Jean Nouvel. “That is why I decided to work with a digital sensory system using a tactile interface and pictograms that are universally understood. Electronics with integrated micro-captors inside the fixtures detect human touch and enable ergonomic yet instinctive control of water. The hydro-dynamic system allows for a very natural flow of water, resembling a waterfall’s transparency.”

European wide survey by Ideal Standard uncovers our weird and wonderful bathroom habits

• One in six Europeans enjoy at least one ‘romantic’ moment with their partners in the bathroom every month
• 13% of men take refuge in their bathroom to try and shake off hangovers
• Women spend an average of 3.5 times a day looking at themselves and scrutinizing their looks
• 48% of 15-30 year olds use their bathroom to get ready for a date

Escaping the family, getting ready for a date, recovering from a hangover or having a romantic rendez-vous are just a few of things we get up to in our bathrooms, aside from our daily ablutions, according to a European-wide survey by leading bathroom solutions provider Ideal Standard.

People between 21-30 years old (29%) are most likely to enjoy regular bathroom couple time. In the UK, 12% of Brits regularly enjoy a bit of bathroom romance. For others, locking the bathroom door is an excuse to escape the family with one in five parents (20%) admitting they use their bathroom to escape and enjoy a bit of time alone.

The survey of 4000 people in 11 European countries was carried out by Ideal Standard, a leading brand of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions. The aim was to explore the role of the bathroom in people’s lives and to understand how people use their bathroom space other than for routine washing activities. The results reinforce Ideal Standard’s brand ethos "Inspired by Real Life" which reflects a deep understanding of the intimate and personal role that the bathroom plays in everyday life. Ideal Standard total bathroom solutions translate these insights into smart, functional, future-conscious and innovative designs.

While most of us stick to regular functional rituals, such as the daily clean or getting ready for a date. Almost a third of us (30%) like to read a book in the bath or listen to music.

Among some of the more surprising findings are that 61% of Bulgarians wash their pets and 38% of Russians surf the internet in their bathrooms.

The most image conscious Europeans are the French, with 63% using the bathroom to indulge in their monthly beauty rituals. European men are happy to admit they carry out their beauty regime in the bathroom, with a third revealing that they use the bathroom for grooming and moisturizing. This may be a lot less than women (52%), but the men are slowly catching up! The UK is the least bothered about preening and pampering, with less than a quarter of British men and women using the bathroom for grooming on a monthly basis.

Jenny Smith, Ideal Standard comments; "This survey has really opened our eyes to the diverse ways in which Europeans use the bathroom. Far more than just a place to carry out our daily ablutions, people use the space to get up to all sorts of weird and wonderful things. All these findings help us design bathroom solutions inspired by real life to fit the very different ways people use theirs."

Ideal Standard bathrooms: inspired by real life
Whatever takes your fancy in the bathroom, Ideal Standard has a solution that fits into your lifestyle:

For the romantically inclined:
When in search of some intimacy, Ideal Standard’s shower enclosures offer that extra bit of privacy as well as increased safety and a feeling of indulgence. Its Kubo range features a range of toughened 6mm glass enclosures with stylish bright silver aluminium profiles for a minimalist modern look. Ideal Standard Tonic enclosures, made from tempered 8mm thick glass, provide a safe, solid space for a shower or wet room giving the bathroom an exclusive look.

For primping and preening
For those who like to spend time pampering and grooming themselves, a well-organised bathroom with clever storage space and features is essential, especially for those with limited spaces. Ideal Standard Concept has recently been extended with new, smart storage options, specifically designed to create additional space in the bathroom.

For family time
Fitting Ideal Standard shower trays and bathtubs with Ideal Grip, a water-based coating, greatly reduces the risk of slipping making the bathroom a safe place for children’s playtime.

For ultimate indulgence
For those who like to spend time indulging themselves in the bathroom, Ideal Standard Idealrain is the perfect solution. Its ultra-thin shower head provides a more exhilarating showering experience thanks to its extra water nozzles. It also has three spray patterns (Saturate, Invigorate and Concentrate) allowing people to select the perfect experience to suit their mood.

At the forefront of shower fashion, UK surrounds manufacturer, Aqualux is keen to prove to the world that function, safety and style can go hand in hand, thanks to its trendy grey glass offering.

The bathroom has moved away from its purely practical role of yester years and Aqualux has adapted its product portfolio to suit. Proving that the bathroom deserves as much attention to detail as the rest of the home, the grey glass option will help to bring a sense of style and identity to any shower area.

Bringing a masculine edge to shower design, the grey glass is likely to be welcomed by homeowners who have jumped on board the current trend for black sanitaryware – a match made in bathroom heaven! Aqualux’s grey glass is also ideal for those looking for a little extra privacy when showering.

Grey Glass can be specified on all AquaSpace modular shower panels from the Aqualux brochure. Five size options are available; 700, 800, 900, 1000 and 1200mm.

The AquaSpace modular panels come complete with a fixing bracket that can be fixed to a wall or ceiling and an Aquagleam glass coating for easy cleaning.
About Aqualux – Shower Manufacturer

Aqualux Products Ltd is the UK’s leading supplier of shower enclosures and bath screens.

Aqualux is a company within the Heating Technology and Sanitary Equipment Division of AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding AG, Switzerland one of Europe’s leading providers of bathroom, kitchen and specialist engineering products. Aqualux are based in the West Midlands, employing approximately 200 people.
Aqualux is focused on providing price leading, innovative products to the bathroom industry and to provide excellence in quality of service to all its customers. The portfolio of products encompass shower enclosures priced from entry level, such as Euro, Aquarius and Aquarius Xtra, through middle market – Aquanos, Elite Classic, Elite Modern and Elite Xtra, up to the luxurious AquaSpace, Pura and Shower Cabins.
Aqualux is accredited to ISO9001 – 2008 and ISO14001 – 2004 European quality and environmental standards.

All Aqualux products come with either a LifeTime, 10 year, 2 year or a 1 year guarantee to provide complete peace of mind that only comes from a leading shower manufacturers.

Aqualux are members of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association. The Bathroom Manufacturers Association’s (BMA) prime objective is to provide an independent forum for bathroom manufacturers trading in the UK to properly discuss and debate matters of mutual interest. The BMA acts as an information highway between Industry, government and the consumer on issues that affect the bathroom business.