In and around the brutalist, endless architecture of Casa Albero in Rome, LUA by LAUFEN creates a visionary link to modularity, form and function with the pure, precise lines of the collection. The complete bathroom series by designer Toan Nguyen results in a balance of geometry, water and sensorial pleasure. Composed of washstands, washbasins, sanitary fixtures and bathtubs, as well as taps, cabinets and storage units, LUA personalizes and adds comfort to the most intimate space in the home. 

Toan Nguyen’s LUA collection for LAUFEN photographed in Casa Albero, Rome

all images courtesy of LAUFEN

As the modular structure opens up, the LUA collection fills the space with poetic functionality. In over a decade of collaboration with swiss company LAUFEN, Toan Nguyen continues to meet new challenges through a long process of research and development. As represented also in the photographs, for Toan Nguyen, no single piece is more important than the others; each has its own specific role inside the collection, harmonizing like an orchestra. Every item has been honed down to the smallest details to offer a balance of shape and usage.

‘For me design is above all an approach, a close attention to the object applied to the craftsmanship of excellence as well as serial production such as LUA,’ describes Toan. 

each item of LUA has been honed down to the smallest details to offer a perfect balance of form and maximum usage flexibility

All the pieces in the collection are based on the form of an oval, with slightly flexed extremities: a geometric shape that required an extensive series of drawings and studies to obtain a linear result that is both logical and functional at the same time. With straight lines and gently rounded corners and edge radii, a symbiosis of ceramic elements make up LUA.

The overall harmony of the bathroom pieces provides the user with helpful features through a visionary impact. For instance the rectangular washbasins, a key component of the collection, are available in the most common sizes from hand to double bowl wash basins, while they can be wall-hung or placed on countertops thanks to their ground undersides. LAUFEN demonstrates further attention to detail by adding drill holes to allow the attachment of a towel rail, thus negating the need to go through wall tiles.

the freestanding bathtub of the LUA collection inside the sphere guest house part of the Casa Albero

Along with careful consideration for aesthetic details, the WCs also make bathroom planning even more flexible. Available in a wall-hung and free-standing version, the rimless ceramic pieces feature a rounded bowl and narrow seat, with the option of a soft-close function.

‘For me design is above all an approach, a close attention to the object applied to the craftsmanship of excellence as well as serial production such as LUA,’ explains Toan.

Casa Albero can be read as a result of an architectural composition, played out as an arrangement of elements and spaces

The minimalism of the faucet series elegantly complements the washbasins, bidets, bathtubs and showers. With their slim, beak-shaped curved and narrow handle levers, these fittings make the everyday use of the sanitary furniture more practical. Furthermore, while being rounded on the underside for a comfortable grip, the faucets are also reducing energy consumption as warm water only becomes available if the lever is turned to the left as opposed to the usual central position. 

‘The idea is to offer a final solution to the user, which is always my goal, but for this project it felt even more significant. We really paid close attention to the details like the radius that the specific ceramic could allow in order to achieve the optimal water flow,’ remarks Toan.

the elements linked to nature, the modularity of the project and the relationship between form and function of Casa Albero, bring to mind the link with water, the purity and precision of the geometric lines that derive from a long research and experimentation on the matter

‘we really paid close attention to the details like the radius that the specific ceramic could allow, in order to achieve the correct water flow,’ remarks Toan

Even in smaller bathrooms, LUA’s compact bathtub can still offer a comfortable relaxing shower thanks to the large, even floor space and the highly anti-slip material. In a free-standing and a wall-mounted version, the furniture piece is also ideal for two people at once as the ergonomically shaped depressions are placed at each end while the outlet is positioned in the middle. 

‘I wanted to create a form that is like a part of our collective memory. When you are designing, sometimes there is a tendency to exaggerate, to generate a sign, to make the product different,’ claims Toan. 

‘I wanted to create a form that is like a part of our collective memory,’ explains Toan referring to LUA’s shape. Here the washbasin inside Casa Albero

Also designed by Toan Nguyen, LANI matches the design language of the classic ceramic lines. The bathroom furniture set is characterized by its slim side panels and recessed doors with indented handles as well as the soft-close doors and drawers. Glass shelves inside the cupboards and practical accessories like drawer organizers or towel rails add extra comfort. In terms of color, the interior of the furniture is featured in a shade of anthracite, while the exterior is in wild oak wood finish surface, also available in white, grey or any one of over 40 other shades.

LUA personalizes and adds comfort to the most intimate space in the home

human beings and their relationships with objects are the central focus of Toan Nguyen’s work, and with LUA he has made a collection that seamlessly combines pure forms and high levels of workmanship

designer: Toan Nguyen /@toan_nguyen_studio

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