An oasis at home: Hammamet’s past, present and future
The practice of going to public baths was common in civilizations such as the Greeks, Persians, and Byzantines, but it was the Romans who commonly used them as places of socialization and cleansing. These bathrooms were shared and people were sitting side by side in a communal toilet. The modern bathroom, much like what we know today, began with Sir John Harrington and his invention of the first flush toilet in 1596. Another important advance occurred with Alexander Cummings in 1775, which included a siphon inside the toilet to retain gases and odors. . But only when the houses were equipped with running water and efficient drainage in the second half of the nineteenth century did the modern private bathroom appear: a bath, a sink and a bathtub, which could be a shower or a bathtub. The basics have remained virtually unchanged since then, with some cultural differences in different parts of the world.
These days, the bathroom is a space that goes beyond function. With so many options on the market, it can be designed with the most diverse aesthetics in mind, becoming a relaxing space or a design statement in an interior design project.
Current trends range from brutal to retro design, including nature, colorful surfaces, and abundant plants. Axor, a manufacturer of bathroom and kitchen accessories, offers three product lines among others that can be seamlessly integrated into any modern bathroom design. This is part of Axor’s campaign for discerning bathrooms, in which the manufacturer invited famous names from the design world to develop products with original concepts and inspiring stories of personal expression, in an exclusive exploration of personalizing these special spaces.
Axor Edge
This product line is inspired by the French tradition of “Arts Decoratifs” and explores the world of perfect finishes. Designed as a sculpture, each installation is a gorgeous set of prisms with solid angles. The products celebrate the interplay of light and materials, from darker stones to wood and glass volumes. According to Jean-Marie Massaud, the range’s creator, “With AXOR EDGE, we wanted to create emotion by surprising people. When quality is essential, and when efficiency is worth, passion must come first. More than just a faucet, every product in the range A jewel, a statue – a true and functional piece of art that shares your intimate relationship with life. This is my understanding of luxury.”
Axor Citrio E
Antonio Citterio – Milanese architect, furniture designer and industrial designer – bears the namesake of this collection. Known for its timeless and distinct design concepts, the collection offers a variety of elegant bathroom solutions. It works by synthesizing modern and original forms: straight angles and sensual curves, technological innovation and proven manufacturing techniques. It is this contrast that gives this product line its essence.
AXOR Starck
The Axor Starck collection is inspired by the simplicity of traditional well pumps, translated into highly sophisticated pieces. By reducing the faucet to its pure essence, famous French designer Philippe Starck directs our attention only to the water, using only two tubes and a joystick. “Finished here in harmonious brushed bronze, the typical AXOR Starck faucets and AXOR Starck natural showerheads express an individual need for authenticity. A variety of Axor universal round accessories complement this timeless aesthetic.”
New and exclusive design pieces allow designers to personalize bathrooms, which are usually confined to compact spaces inside buildings. With the right selection of surfaces, products and materials, the bathroom can become a private oasis in the home, as a place of rest, relaxation or even joy and distraction. In addition to the products themselves, Axor has developed a series of materials, such as a reference project coordinator and a white paper that provides key information on the evolution of luxury and personalization in the home context.
Learn more about the company and group in our catalog.
