Design Beyond Form: Rethinking the Bathroom Experience

Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard present Design Continuum: A Study in Sensory Experience

At Milan Design Week 2026, Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard present Design Continuum, an immersive installation developed in collaboration with Studio Elastique. Conceived as a platform for dialogue, the installation explores how design shapes perception and influences our senses — inviting the international design community to rethink the future of the bathroom.

Bringing together two brands renowned for design excellence and innovation, the exhibition reflects a shared ambition: to think of the bathroom not as a static room defined by function, but as a space that evolves through the interplay of materials, technology, and human interaction.

Design Continuum translates this idea into a spatial narrative. Across five interconnected environments, the installation explores different dimensions of design – from material innovation and timeless form to perception, interaction and craft. Light, projection, texture and scent transform the brands’ joint showroom into an experimental setting, shaping how each space is experienced, and expressing a shared design approach that brings together heritage and innovation.

The exhibition showcases a series of novelties developed at the brands’ German innovation centres dedicated to ceramics and fittings – from a 3D-printed ceramic study using 100% internally recycled material with Antao 3D, to surface approaches like the reactive glazing of Antao Earthor the haptic relief structure of Artis Sense. Timeless designs like Atelier Collections can be discovered alongside next generation tap technology with Vea. These innovations are brought to life in collaboration with leading designers including Ludovica Serafini and Roberto Palomba, Christian Haas, Design Studio KASCHKASCH and Gesa Hansen.

“With more than 400 years of combined design heritage, Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard have always been at the forefront of developing new materials, technologies and ideas.

Design Continuum allows us to show how we carry this spirit forward – bringing together Villeroy & Boch’s strength in elegant, consumer-centric design with Ideal Standard’s architectural clarity and timeless form, alongside our joint expertise in innovation across our key bathroom categories.

In doing so, we translate our expertise into products that go beyond function, shaping experiences, enhancing wellbeing and bringing something special into every day,” says Sven Ullrich, Executive VP Marketing/ R&D/ Product Management at Villeroy & Boch.

Evolution – Material Innovation Expands What Is Possible

Ceramic is one of the oldest natural materials, continuously refined over centuries. The installation’s opening space explores this ongoing evolution – not only in form and technology, but in the material itself, where production waste is turned into a resource.

At the centre of this narrative is a prototype of the Antao 3D monolithic basin, a material study developed by Design Studio KASCHKASCH. Produced using advanced 3D printing from 100% internally recycled ceramic, it is built layer by layer, preserving traces of the material’s origin – creating a surface that feels both precise and naturally imperfect.

This process reflects a new material logic: circular by design, where waste is not an end point but the beginning of transformation. Subtle variations in surface and structure reveal the dialogue between digital manufacturing and ceramic heritage.

“Ceramic is one of the oldest materials, yet 3D printing opens completely new possibilities – not only in production but also in design. Antao 3D is presented here as a material study that explores how technology can expand the possibilities of ceramic – its forms, textures, and materiality – while respecting sustainability and craftsmanship,” say Design Studio KASCHKASCH.

Antao 3D expresses the evolution of ceramic itself – where heritage, innovation and circular thinking come together to shape new approaches to design.

Time – Form and Continuity Ensure Longevity

Strong geometry allows design to evolve across time without losing identity. In this installation space, light and shadow trace the evolution of form, showing that what endures in bathroom design is not a fleeting style, but a foundation rooted in proportion, balance, and clarity.

At the heart of this idea is Ideal Standard as a design-driven brand, shaped by decades of collaboration with leading designers who defined its visual language in the 1950s and 60s. The Atelier Collections, designed by Ludovica Serafini and Roberto Palomba, continue this legacy, revisiting some of the brand’s most enduring design principles and translating them for contemporary living.

Spanning ranges such as Conca, Tipo-Z and La Dolce Vita, these designs are not about reinvention, but refinement – proof that certain lines endure because they are fundamentally right, evolving gently over time without losing their identity.

“Simplicity is complexity solved, as Constantin Brâncuși once said. Every design choice matters – we don’t aim to surprise, but to go deep into function and the beauty of what is essential,” says Roberto Palomba.

The Atelier Collections embody this design intelligence: the ability to choose what lasts. In a world increasingly influenced by automation and algorithmic generation, they highlight the irreplaceable role of the designer’s intuition – not perfection, but the sensitivity to recognise what is truly essential.

Resonance – Experience Shapes Perception

Design is experienced before form is fully understood. In this chapter, the installation´s focus shifts to how a space engages all the senses. Structured surfaces catch and diffuse light, turning colour into rhythm and depth, creating subtle shifts in perception as visitors move through the environment.

At the heart of this chapter is Artis Sense, designed by Christian Haas with a colour concept by Gesa Hansen. The basins’ subtle topography reveals how tactile qualities can influence spatial awareness and add a sensual dimension to design. Artis Sense is a refined new interpretation of the iconic Artis basin, introducing a delicate relief structure and a lighter, more precise form.

“Design used to be mainly focused on form, but lately surfaces have become equally important – not just the glazing but also textures and structures. They add a sensual dimension that invites interaction and enhances the experience,” says Christian Haas.

Impulse – Interaction and Gesture Redefine Everyday Rituals

This installation turns interaction into a moment of focus, distilled into a simple sequence of movements: press, turn, release. Featuring Villeroy & Boch’s Vea fitting, inspired by the elegance of classic perfume bottles, the space introduces a carefully chosen scent that extends the experience beyond function adding a subtle, immersive sensory layer.

Also designed by Christian Haas, Veais a new premium tap collection developed in the company’s innovation centre and manufactured in Wittlich, Germany.

Featuring ViPush technology, water is activated by pressing and adjusted by turning the control knob – transforming an ordinary gesture into an intentional ritual. Faceted surfaces catch the light, enhancing the sense of interaction. Combining contemporary precision with timeless elegance, Vea translates technical innovation into a refined user experience.

“Water is a sensual element, and with ViPush technology we can add a new dimension of perception. By combining precise control with tactile and sensory experience, we create gestures that are both functional and emotionally engaging,” says Christian Haas.

Vea demonstrates how everyday gestures become part of the design language – linking function, form and perception, and turning routine into a more conscious, engaging experience.

Element – Craft and Origin Create Authenticity

Reconnecting design with the strength and authenticity of nature is at the heart of this final installation. A warm, organic environment of natural elements, flowing water, and analogue projections brings the material story to life. Design Continuum closes where it begins: grounding innovation in material, process and the human touch.

Antao Earth, designed by Design Studio KASCHKASCH, features organic shapes and innovative Artisan Glaze, creating unique surfaces that echo natural materials.

Developed in the finishes Terra, Sand and Smoke, the basins reveal subtle variations in colour and texture, highlighting the craftsmanship behind each piece.

Its reactive glaze technology – a completely new approach in bathroom ceramics – brings material innovation and artisanal expression together, combining Villeroy & Boch’s ceramic expertise with a new level of surface experimentation.

“With Antao Earth, we wanted to connect design back to the elements and craftsmanship – to show that materials and processes can create spaces that feel alive and authentic,” say the designers.

Antao Earth highlights how variations in colour and texture bring individuality, depth and a sense of human presence to bathroom design.

Design Continuum is on view at the Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard showroom, Foro Buonaparte 70, Milan:

• April 21, 2026: 10:00–19:00

• April 22, 2026: 10:00–17:00

• April 23–25, 2026: 10:00–19:00

• April 26, 2026: 10:00–14:00

Download Images: Design Contiuum 2026 - Villeroy & Boch