Bathware
Duravit’s Aurena by Antonio Citterio is a harmony of style and substance inspired by nature’s golden ratio
AUG 2, 2024 | By Team ELLE DECOR India
In architecture, it is quintessential not to leave any stone unturned and this includes the usually overlooked bathroom. Who said bathrooms can’t be well-designed and inspiring?
In this case, the Golden Ratio, famously regarded as a formula for aesthetic harmony, became a source of inspiration for designer and architect Antonio Citterio. And his collection of bathware for Duravit impresses with its perfectly balanced proportions that even Da Vinci would approve of!
“The idea was to structure surfaces and create a sense of order that also positively influences the quality of the overall room,” says Antonio Citterio. In Aurena he has designed a bathroom range that exudes timeless elegance with its clear silhouette and exquisite materials, precise details and functional design innovations.
Innovative vanity tops
For Antonio Citterio, the starting point in the design process was to create a perfectly proportioned surface at the washing area made entirely of ceramic and separated from the wet area. Vanity tops with integrated dividers and precise, elegant contours are ideal for the tidy storage of bathroom accessories. Designers are tasked with unique decisions to be made at every turn.
For instance, a basin is either integrated into this ceramic console or the console is combined with an above-counter washbasin. The architect chose a compact basin sizes in order to prioritise large vanity tops. An aluminium profile frame with a stainless-steel finish tightly combines the console with the vanity unit, with a projection on one side for a subtly integrated towel holder.
“I try to give straightforward answers to reality. At the washbasin we need elements for hanging a towel, we need large vanity tops, we need storage space – and it should all fit together perfectly,” says Antonio Citterio.
Part of a whole
For Antonio Citterio, furniture is an integral component of the design. A shelving unit made entirely of aluminum with an inlaid mesh base offers open storage space, which is complemented by a centrally placed element with two drawers on the double washstand.
The Aurena range includes a closed alternative in the form of a furniture unit with two drawers. This can be mounted in a floating position on the wall or placed on a metal frame with graceful legs that enclose the carcass. Here the artisanal production processes are showcased with elegance: the mitered edges produce a front inset in the frame with extraordinary precision.
Materials and materiality
When designing furniture, Antonio Citterio thinks beyond pure form and considers the effect of the object on the room as a whole. The innovative design approach adopted for Aurena is expertly highlighted through the balanced color harmony and selected materials. Ceramic in White or Black meets brushed stainless steel and a wide range of furniture finishes for unique and high-quality interior design.
Super-matt carcass colors white, taupe and graphite can be combined with identical matt or high gloss fronts with special front fills. The textured wooden surface provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere while the white marble-look ceramic panels and the black lacquered glass create a classic, sophisticated effect.
A uniform design
Antonio Citterio’s designs for matching bathtubs, toilets, bidet and a mirror ensure an overall harmonious concept. The integrated bathtub is made from the new cast-mineral material DuroCast Smooth, while the back-to-wall models and free-standing bathtub are made from DuroCast Plus. Additionally, the chamfered edge lends a particular elegance.
In keeping with the washbasin vanity tops, the wall-standing variant features a storage box that forms a connecting element between the organically shaped bathtub and the wall.
The soft geometry echoes the oval mirror of the Aurena series, which has a hidden illumination strip laid behind its frame in White. A suitable matching faucet is in the brushed Stainless Steel shade – a surface finish that is echoed in the metal elements of the furniture. Accessories from the Starck T range, designed by Philippe Starck, are the ideal accompaniment. These, too, are available in the same finish, so that toilet-paper holder, towel ring, or brush holder become a collection that is perfectly matched to Aurena.
Architectural range from the hand of an architect
As an architect, Antonio Citterio knows all too well the requirements and issues of the commercial segment in particular and his Aurena range seeks to offer solutions that meet market demands. “The bathroom has become a personal space that conveys satisfaction. Here it’s no longer about pure function, but rather the aesthetic contrast.”
Aurena is a versatile interior-design all-rounder and is equally well suited for use in private or guest bathrooms or in signature properties such as hotels, medical offices, or office and restaurant restrooms. Aurena is the first complete ceramic series to be launched with the new HygieneGlaze® Plus surface. This unique bathroom upgrade combines unsurpassed hygiene with effortless, environmentally sound cleaning.
