The Shapeshifter: Alain Berteau | News | Architonic

Alain Berteau is on a mission. The mild-mannered, bespectacled Brussels native may come across as one of the most cordial designers you’ll ever meet in the industry, but he takes no prisoners when it comes to his profession. You see, he’s a design malcontent. Never happy with the status quo of things. For him and his team at Alain Berteau Designworks – whether developing paradigm-shifting projects for his own, super-functional brand OBJEKTEN SYSTEMS or working on commissions for the likes of BULO and TossB – are not in business to deliver the same old, same old. For Berteau, design typologies are there to be challenged. “We work hard questioning existing typologies for ourselves and for clients,” explains Berteau. “We can’t help it. Shaping a model to make it ‘good-looking’, ‘ trendy’ or ‘stylish’ is nice, but it’s by far the easiest and least interesting part of the process. For us, it’s not enough.” Not that the Belgian is in the business of pushing the boundaries just for the sake… continue

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Only Connect: Prostoria | News | Architonic

Design, it can be argued, is a bit like language. It can work on a functional level, but can also be seen as having an expressive value. Take Croatian manufacturer Prostoria’s highly graphic Polygon chair, for example. Reminiscent of an architectural plan, the design is articulated as a series of separate elements in space – back, seat, armrests. Filigree lines of bent tubular steel connect them, holding them in place. Beyond its utilitarian purpose, the chair can be read metaphorically as an expression of what Prostoria ⎯ as both a commercial and cultural undertaking ⎯ has set out to do. The company is engaged not only in the manufacturing of design products, but is also attempting to design the very platform on which the different actors in Croatia’s design industry can connect. Taking an integrative approach, the brand has cultivated a creative workshop-like stage, where young designers, expert craftspeople, production as well as materials specialists, and others are given the sp… continue

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The perfect seat | News | Architonic

A lot has changed since company founder Hans Weibel opened his upholstered furniture factory 51 years ago. And then again, some things have stayed the same. The high quality standards, for instance, and the Swiss manufacturing base. “Even when I started out in the firm as a bookkeeper 25 years ago, it was already very careful about where its raw materials came from. Today we source our foams, leather, metal fittings and upholstery fabrics from suppliers in Switzerland and other European countries who have a tradition of upholding high quality standards. Leather from eco-friendly producers that is free of harmful substances is an absolute must,” explains Lukas Weibel. And to ensure the continued availability of apprenticeships for industrial upholsterers, the committed business manager spent many years campaigning for improvements to their training. The brothers have also redefined the product development process. Whereas the furniture used to be designed in house, the Weibel brothers n… continue

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TIPS TO HELP YOU DETOXIFY AND LOSE WEIGHT

4 Types of Showerheads

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Your overall showering experience is affected by many factors. One of these is the type of showerhead you’re using. Check out four common showerhead types below:

Standard Wall-Mount Showerhead
The most economical option, standard wall-mount showerheads can be adjusted slightly by moving the shower neck. Models that offer varying spray types fit the needs of most users. Source: BHG

Hand-Held Showerhead
A hand-held showerhead is connected to a long hose and it sit in a cradle when it is not in your hand. Handheld showerheads can be used as a fixed shower head but when taken off the cradle they can be used for much more, like bathing pets, washing children, and even for cleaning the tub.
Hand-held showerheads are available in many different lengths of hose but to meet ADA compliance they must be at least 84” long. The longer the hose the more convenient but it could get in the way of the tub. Hoses between 60” and 72” work well for the average home. Source: Plumbing.About

Ceiling-Mount Showerhead
The ceiling-mount or top-mount showerhead is installed on the ceiling. The spray of this type of showerhead is reminiscent of rain, as water comes from directly overhead. Ceiling-mount showerheads come in many shapes and sizes. Some models can also be mounted flush to the ceiling, which is great for bathrooms with low ceiling heights. Source: Property24

Aerating Showerhead
By mixing air with water, these showerheads form a misty spray to make the flow feel more substantial. Laminar-flow showerheads form individual streams of water instead. On the models we tested, aeration cooled the water from 5 to 15 degrees F on its way from the showerhead to where it would hit your back. Laminar-flow showerheads may cost a little more, but they save energy by maintaining the water temperature better. And they don’t create as much steam and moisture, a plus especially if you live in a humid region. Source: ConsumerReports

Step up your shower experience by trying out a new type of showerhead! Contact us!

 

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Perfect Bath
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Calgary, Alberta
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3 Different Kinds of Toilets and Their Pros and Cons

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There are many factors to consider when choosing a bathroom fixture, especially one that is as extremely essential as a toilet. In this article, you will learn more about three types of toilets based on their flushing systems, and each of their pros and cons.

Gravity-Feed Toilets
As their name implies, these toilets have a flush valve that relies on gravity. Water drops from the tank into the bowl to move waste down the drain. They can work with as little as 10 pounds per square inch of household water pressure. Models with a beefy 3- 3 1/2, even 4-inch wide flush valve delivered more thrust in our tests than did those with a 2- to 2 1/2-inch valve. You can ask to see the manufacturer’s specifications for the flush valve.
Pros: Gravity-feed toilets flush more quietly than pressure-assisted models. Many we tested worked every bit as well as the best pressure-assisted models, and with far less fanfare—an advantage in close quarters.
Cons: Models that perform comparably to pressure-assist units typically cost as much, while lower-priced models may not be able to properly displace waste. Source: ConsumerReports

Vacuum-Assisted Toilets
This is the latest flush innovation. The porcelain tank contains a vacuum tank that’s connected to the trapway (the large tube that carries water out of the bowl). When the toilet is flushed, water flowing out of the tank creates suction in the vacuum tank and trapway to help suck waste out of the bowl.
Pros:
Easy repairs. Vacuum-assist toilets use the same type of fill and flush valves as gravity models, so they’re simple to repair.
Strong flush. Vacuum-assist toilets do well in lab tests. In clearing solid waste, they outperform most gravity types, but don’t do as well as many pressure-assist models.
No sweat. Like pressure-assist models, vacuum-assist toilets store water in an inner tank, so condensation won’t form outside the porcelain tank.
Cons:
Cost. Vacuum-assist models cost slightly more than some gravity models.
Limited choices. There is currently a limited selection of vacuum-assist toilets from major manufacturers. Source: FamilyHandyman

Pressure-Assisted Toilets
Pressure-assisted toilet works with a combination of high pressure air and water. As the water in the storage tank fills, the toilet is also charging air in the compression tank. Once the water is full, it is released with the power of the air behind it. Because of the high force of air, it cleans the bowl and pipes more efficiently. Source: DoItYourself

Pros

• Higher water level in bowl leaves it cleaner
• Pressure of flush is stronger and more efficient
• Tank-inside-tank design eliminates tank sweat (condensation) during humid weather

Cons

• Noisy flush
• Difficulty in procuring replacement parts
• More expensive than gravity-flow models Source: About

Want to check the latest bathroom fixtures? Don’t hesitate to give us a call!

 

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 3 Different Kinds of Toilets and Their Pros and Cons appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

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Go with the flow: KWC | News | Architonic

The Swiss company KWC manufactures premium kitchen and bath fittings that stand out for their craftsmanship and perfection. This high standard of aesthetics and quality goes back to the origins of the company, which began in 1874 as a maker of artful music boxes. Their production demanded, above all, fine workmanship and mechanical understanding – skills that are reflected in the values of the company today: precision, clarity and elegance. At the end of the nineteenth century, the company turned its attention fully to bathroom and kitchen fittings, which due to their quality soon found their way into the grandest houses. The product range has been steadily expanded ever since, and refined with regard to design and functionality. As a result, KWC offers architects and designers diverse possibilities for the use of its products, as the following examples illustrate. In 2016, the renowned Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron built the luxurious residential tower 56 Leonard Street i… continue

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Ventura Lambrate 2017 Edition | Fairs | Architonic

Design processes are in essence social – an aspect that demonstrates the designer’s role and responsibility in society. Every year Ventura Lambrate reveals the importance of collaboration and social change in design. You will find mixed collectives, international academies and a range of different backgrounds all uniting to address social issues. In the 2017 edition we have a total of 36 nationalities and 20 academies. Designers need to tackle the question of how their roots and national heritage influence their work. With their projects, they strive to prevent this important cultural knowledge from vanishing. In addition to this search for legacy, there is a great awareness that we are confronted with growing social issues and that we need to find solutions for ways of preserving our surroundings and living together in more effective ways. The theme of togetherness appears in several exhibitions, whether this involves seeking answers to major social problems or finding micro domest… continue

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Future Fibres: Techtextil 2017 | News | Architonic

To most people, textile architecture is synonymous with spectacular spans of fabric and expressive design. Textile building envelopes are also becoming increasingly common, however. And not only are new and sophisticated characteristics continually being realised in fabrics, but these materials are now delivering the proof of their projected longevity. From 9 to 12 May 2017, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will reflect the state of developments in this field and point towards its future. An early example of textile architecture is the membrane roof of the “Nature Stage” for the Karl May Festival in Elspe, Westphalia. When it was completed in 1978, it was the largest winter-proof roof construction of its kind in Europe, providing 4,400 spectators protection from the sun and rain. Although the roof showed no weaknesses even after 37 years of constant exposure to the elements and could have done a perfect job for many years to come, the building owner wanted to freshen up the colour, and… continue

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Material Tendencies: Neri & Hu | News | Architonic

<b>Do your architectural projects have a certain signature?</b> I think we are extremely contextual. I believe in what Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once wrote: ‘We don’t aspire to be eternal beings. We only hope that things do not lose their meaning’. And I do hope that we do not lose meaning in our pursuit of space-making. Often we get so caught up with the immediacy of the world we live in. We fall in love with an image, an object, without really understanding the spatial relationship of the building outside and inside, and its relationship with the landscape that it sits on. <b>Is there a 21st-century building material?</b> I think it is changing. We have not gone so far away from what Le Corbusier has done. Concrete, steel and glass are still there. But I think we do have to explore beyond these materials. There are other opportunities out there that are more sustainable. <b>Does evolving technology affect your work?</b> They are an apparatus that will continue to change and w… continue

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TOP 20 BATH BRANDS | News | Architonic

Architonic is the world’s leading research tool for the specification of premium architectural and design products. Our curated database currently provides information about more than 300,000 products from 1,500 brands and 10,700 designers. 16 million architects, interior designers and design enthusiasts annually choose Architonic as their guide to the very best. This gives us an insight into developments in the architecture and design markets, which we would like to share with our community. For ISH 2017, we have identified the top 20 most popular brands on architonic.com from ISH 2017 exhibitors. The ranking is based on traffic information collected on architonic.com and are based on the number of relevant search queries entered in the text-search field on architonic.com (‘by text search’) over the course of 2016. The rankings are limited to Architonic Member brands exhibiting at ISH 2017. © Architonic MOST-SEARCHED BATH BRANDS ON ARCHITONIC.COM Exhibitors at ISH 2017 only… continue

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