The case study examines an accommodation located in a condominium built in 1983 and serves as an example of how an apartment can be transformed without distorting the floor plan.
A bit of history
Up until the 1990s, the bathroom was a service room where the following had to find space: a bathtub, a large washbasin, a vase and a bidet. For the second service, often a luxury, a toilet, a sink and a drain for the washing machine were already sufficient. The construction methods and distribution types are almost the same throughout the country.
Although many believe that the repetition of these typologies over the years was due to the lack of imagination of the designers, it is necessary to evaluate what was the innovative impact of the companies involved in the production of the furnishing elements.
Who would have thought and proposed to put a framed walk-in shower on an 80×80 ceramic shower tray in the main bathroom?
Today, considering the amount of products related to the bathroom furniture sector, there is complete freedom to satisfy the needs of each customer without having to repeat the same pattern for everyone.
The project
Many people could consider an older house like a car: once it has reached a certain number of years it must be changed because it is now old and far from current family needs.
This way of thinking too quickly overlooks the potential that an old apartment could offer; in fact, it is often the dated houses that offer interesting positions and generous surfaces as well as recalling the affections of a lifetime.
The case study belongs to a family wishing to renovate the finishes of their home and improve some spaces of the house, without having to distort its structure.
The activity therefore focused on the best position of some partitions and internal doors as well as on the redistribution of the bathrooms.
Current situation
Demolitions
Definitive project
Main bathroom
Until the dawn of the 2000s, the main bathroom of every home had to be a representative room for the home: colored sanitary ware had to be present; 3-hole faucet; a bathtub and lots and lots of space. The purpose of this room, more than in daily use, was the sole manifestation/ostentation of “beauty”.
These premises, still valid today, were well reconciled with the lack of propensity for innovation of the past: who, in fact, would have thought of placing an 80×80 framed shower enclosure in the main bathroom?
Today the perception of the bathroom environment for each user requires that the concept of “beautiful” be fully fulfilled, because a “beautiful bathroom” is the place of well-being where the shower enclosure plays a leading role.
A large surface like the one in the case study offers the possibility of modifying the distribution of the furnishings: having removed the tub, a large washbasin can immediately find its natural location; the shower free from any frame and profiles is placed near the window thanks to the Oblique stabilizing shelf.
Service bathroom
The service bathroom, reinvented as such, was nothing more than a space completed only with a vase and a sink.
It is the need for a second bathroom, alternative to the master one, in which to welcome guests, which also drives the project relating to the latter.
The practicality of using a folding door, a choice aimed at fully enhancing the dimensions offered by the room, makes the space near the window the ideal location for a durable and functional shower enclosure, perfect for guests.
Our architect’s choice fell on a shower cubicle with integrated handle, characterized by glass capable of increasing privacy in a heavily used bathroom, such as a service bathroom.
Relax solutions
Particularly appreciated for its texture, inspired by natural elements such as stone, the Lago shower tray, available in large sizes, allows you to easily offer large dimensions and adequate water containment in just 3.5cm thick. Composed entirely of mineral resins and covered in Gel Coat, a soft-to-the-touch material, it is waterproof and long-lasting.
The Oblique stabilizer shelf allows the safe installation of a glass divider even if there is a window on the opposite wall which prevents the installation of the traditional stabilizer bar. The dual value of Oblique, both shelf and support element, make this object unique in the panorama of bathroom furnishings. It is made of Solid Surface, an antibacterial material, in a pure white colour, or in painted metal.
Now we are truly free to distribute the bathroom as we wish.
Conclusions
There are many furnishing solutions for transforming an old building. With the advent of new technological solutions and a little imagination, the dream bathroom is within reach. Follow us for other case studies or write to us to propose yours! 📐✏️
