sys20 Coco. The power of serenity.

It wasn’t in a “little black number” that the collection from bathroom furniture specialist burgbad convinced the expert jury of one of the most prestigious design competitions in the country, but in a matt grey outfit: the judges of the German Design Award 2017 named Coco among the winners in the Bath and Wellness category.

Coco is straightforward, simple, geometric – and yet extremely graceful all the same. Although the bathroom furniture collection from burgbad is designed with graphic, almost minimalistic clarity, it has a surprisingly feminine appeal: slender, delicate and style-conscious, yet unobtrusive and understated at the same time. Developed in collaboration with Spanish design studio Lievore Altherr, the series seems tailor-made for sophisticated, urban interior design that interprets the bathroom as a modern-day salon, as a retreat for enjoying the quiet hours at the beginning and end of the day.

First and foremost, Coco’s character is defined by the unusual design created by Jeannette Altherr. The delicate base, the svelte, balanced proportions and the homogenous unit formed by the slender mineral cast vanity top and cabinet emphasise the furniture-like character of the collection, which, in addition to the vanity combination, also includes a tall cabinet, illuminated mirror and mirror cabinets as well as a handy bench and a towel ladder. Coco focuses on what really matters – both in its design and its functionality. All the elements of the design come together in the vanity unit: a clearly defined, perfectly circular bowl set in an elongated mineral cast rectangle, an airy frame in a classic choice of material (metal), and the handleless fronts with the grain running in different directions. The roundness of the mirror and bowl add a feminine element as a counterpoint to the surrounding cubes. Coco plays self-confidently with geometric forms and graphic lines, curves and angles, vertical and horizontal planes, uninterrupted expanses and filigree elements. And hovering above everything else is the perfect circle of the mirror.

Atmospheric light: echoes of the rising sun 

For the lighting concept, burgbad and Jeannette Altherr came up with a design that is as simple as it is intelligent: the colour-variable LED lights integrated at the top and bottom of the mirror cabinet shine their indirect light on both the washbasin and wall; as a result, they not only provide unusually atmospheric ambient lighting, they also accentuate the mirror cabinet and give it a sculptural, three-dimensional quality. The surface of the mirror itself is screen-printed with a smooth gradient that transitions into clear glass towards the outside, allowing the light to shine through the projecting edges of the round mirror door from behind and create a homogeneous effect. Thanks to the adjustable LED lighting around its circumference that allows the user to choose any setting between warm and cold white, the circular illuminated mirror from the Coco collection is enough in itself to bathe the room in an atmospheric light. But for those who like things a little more unusual and appreciate the way the collection plays with right-angled and circular shapes, the mirror cabinet with the round mirrored door is the ultimate answer. Even in daylight, it provides an eye-catching highlight and centres the energy of the room on the vanity unit. But when it’s dark outside, it becomes the focal point of the entire ensemble: like a glowing disc hovering over the horizon, it brings the invigorating power of dawn or the tranquillity of sunset into the bathroom.

A towel ladder and accessories underscore the cosy atmosphere

The collection is rounded off by another element that underlines the cosy, living-space character of the design: a towel ladder which, like the towel rail that can be mounted on the side of the vanity unit, is made of painted metal with a silky black finish. Like all the components of the Coco range, the towel ladder looks as if it can just be picked up and taken along next time its owners move house. A line of matching accessories adds the finishing touches.

An island of calm amid the turbulence of urban life

But the unusual design language that sets Coco apart from classic bathroom furnishings isn’t the only thing that’s special about this collection: its flexibility and compact functionality are no less remarkable. Its dimensions and combination options make Coco an ideal choice for sophisticated interior design – especially in the modestly-sized bathrooms often found in urban areas. Even in small spaces, the collection can be used to implement wellness concepts that see regeneration as the logical outcome of focusing on the essentials.

On-trend matt finishes for furniture fronts and mineral cast vanity tops

The warm and premium finishes available for this collection aspire to the same goal. The colours for the lacquered fronts – White, Sand, Light red, Reed, Light Grey, Grey, Dark Grey and Anthracite – are available with both a high-gloss and matt finish. Customers can even choose between a gleaming or matt, velvety finish for the white mineral cast vanity top. The soft feel of the latter option gives the design a particularly sensuous appeal. The furniture carcasses are also available in a wide range of real wood veneers that are applied to all visible surfaces: besides an extensive selection of oak finishes (White, Natural, Light Grey, Fineline Light, Fineline Light Grey, Authentic, Tobacco and Black) customers can also opt for Natural Walnut, Walnut cognac or Natural Bamboo.