Finding Bathroom Excellence at Cersaie

The international Cersaie show in Bologna has become one of the most important shows for spotting tile and bath trends that will influence the future, but this year’s event also gave the journalists and designers in attendance the unique opportunity to see just how far bathroom design has come over the past decade and a half.

Cersaie’s new Bathroom Excellence 1998/2012 exhibit traced the evolution of Italian bathroom design between the years in its title, and showcased more than 160 products judged to represent the best in Italian bath design from each year (as selected by ADI, the Italian association for industrial design, and Confindustria Ceramica, the Italian ceramic association).

The exhibit, which pulled together production pieces, prototypes and photography from more than 80 companies, proved to be a real conversation starter among attendees we spoke with. Some found it to be an interesting retrospective on the trends and fashions that have influenced the modern bath, while others thought it to be a needless distraction from all of the new products on display in the adjacent halls. We’ll let you be the judge with a look at some of our favorite products on display.

1998: Miss Hot bathrobe heater, by Paolo Pedrizzetti Designer & Associati for Tubes Radiatori.

1999: Gerba liquid soap dispensers, by Fabio Bortolani and Ermanno Righi for Agape.

2000: Lavasca bathtub, by Matteo Thun for Rapsel.

2000: Book mirror, by Petra Runge for De Padova. Also shown is the Murales sink, by Bruna Rapisarda for Regia.

2000: Foglio washbasin, by Benedini Associati for Agape.

2002: Faucets from left, including Waterpot by Gabriele Pezzini e Marcello Ziliani for Rubinetterie Krover; Ra by Paolo Pedrizzetti & Associati for Mamoli Robinetteria; Moon by Marco Poletti for Bongio; and Isystick by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez for Zucchetti Rubinetteria.

2003: At left is Kea, designed by Marco Piva for Rapsel; at right is the Nuda sink from Roberto and Ludovica Palomba for Flaminia.

2004: Opera by Claudio Nardi for Toscoquattro; overhead is the Progetto L14 tile series from Ceramiche Artistiche Lea.

2004: At top is the Puzzle showermat by Paolo Pedrizzetti & Associati for Gedy; underneath is the Roto basin by Benedini Associati for Agape.

2005: Sirbiss shower by Marcello Ziliani for Rapsel.

2006: Hyper-Wave stone cladding by Pongriaz Perbellini Architects for Testi Fratelli Industria; on the floor is the Water Drop shower tray by Luca Cimarra for Flaminia.

2007: On wall is Cross by M+A+P Designstudio for Mipa; below is the Lavabo Axolute H7 basin by Luca Maccagnan with Macro Righes and Giorgio Zaetta for Axolute.

2008: Milano radiator by Antonia Astori and Nicola de Pouti for Tubes.

2009: Plate shower tray and basin by Patrick Norguet for Flaminia.

2009: On wall is One-ll bagno che non c’e system by Matteo Thun & Partners for Rapsel; on floor are Sistema di Marazzi Technica floor tiles from Marazzi Group.