Villeroy & Boch: Alexander, what influences will shape the bathroom in forward-looking hotel concepts?
Alexander Rieck: I see three main factors here: Firstly, a changing generation of travellers. The future users of hotel bathrooms are baby boomers, generation X or millennials. They all live an individual lifestyle - but they also attach particular importance to health and hygiene, as well as the sustainable husbanding of resources. Secondly, the expectations of hotel guests with regard to infotainment and connectivity are rising - but accompanied by a corresponding heightening of the desire for privacy. Thirdly, new technologies are enabling smart concepts such as intelligent light environments or digital services – ideally ensuring intuitive and individual operation.
Are there any influences from other cultures?
Oh yes! Increasing globalisation is also exerting a profound influence on our bathroom culture. One could almost say the bathroom is becoming multicultural. As part of the joint Fraunhofer project Future Hotel, we put forward the idea that the bathroom will become regionally authentic. What does that mean? Basically that the destination will become tangible through real and virtual design attributes of the room - e.g. information on the surrounding area, materials, typical local design features.
Are there any other Future Hotel hypotheses for the hotel bathroom?
Another interesting hypothesis is that the bathroom no longer has any target groups - every individual on earth is a target person. The form of use is evolving along corresponding lines. Our habits, routines and rituals are changing.
Can you be more specific?
The bathroom of the future is adaptable: it must be able to accommodate different requirements and users. Essentially, it performs three different functions: The bathroom is an atmospheric control room - its appearance, atmosphere and character alter according to the given situation and user. The bathroom is a health cell - technology, user recognition and sensor systems are employed to provide optimum support for wellbeing and health. And the bathroom is green - energy efficiency, recycling and the choice of materials are strictly subject to the principles of sustainability, from the planning stage right through to demolition.
Who do you see as the main user groups for hotel bathrooms?
In principle everyone and at every stage of life. Each guest could be both a business nomad, luxury ascetic or affluent senior citizen: while business nomads seek fast rest and relaxation from functional, individual and smart fit-outs, luxury ascetics tend to attach importance to minimalism, uncluttered and open rooms and exclusive materials in a purist overall scenario. The wealthy 50+ group, on the other hand, books hotels primarily on account of ergonomically and comfortably appointed bathrooms with health diagnosis facilities. Offering all this under one roof will call for intelligent concepts and innovative products and solutions.
So customisability is the common thread?
You could say that. You can already see how the bathroom is changing today. Familiar products such as the bath, shower, tap fittings or controls are taking on new forms. Functions and manufacturing processes are influencing design: new technologies and products are making bathrooms increasingly customisable. Take high-tech lighting, for example: LED lighting provides for an atmospheric mood, biodynamic light and anti-jetlag lighting help the guest to adapt to the unfamiliar surroundings. In future, lighting will be controlled via sensors, speech and RFID tags. Adaptive light moods and individually selectable light scenarios enhance the guest’s wellbeing, to cite just one example of customisability.
