Embracing wellness
The office sector has been keen to incorporate wellness design principles, creating offices which put the wellbeing of workers first and washroom areas an essential part of this trend.
As well providing enough clean, well-designed private washroom facilities, offices designed with wellness at their heart should ideally also offer staff shower facilities. As a trend it has quickly taken the market by storm to the point that staff shower and changing facilities are fast becoming standard for both new build and refurbished office buildings – where they would once have been seen as a luxury.
Washroom Washroom has designed and installed several new staff changing facilities within offices, which look and feel more like a luxury health club thanks to the use of high specification materials and finishes, such as FENIX NTM®. The addition of Washroom’s bespoke L-shaped lockers which are designed to comfortably accommodate a suit, or extra-large combined shower and changing cubicles, which offer space to shower and dress in complete privacy, ensure changing areas look good while meeting the demands of office workers too.
Next generation materials
With more advanced materials available, specifiers can have the best of both worlds and create a design-led washroom space without causing issues for facilities managers.
FENIX NTM, a highly durable acrylic resin surface material manufactured by Arpa Industriale using the latest nanotechnology, is ideal for commercial washrooms. As well as a host of high performance features, it is easy to clean, mould resistant and boasts enhanced anti-bacterial properties, while its ultra-flat matt finish creates a contemporary style.
Solid surfacing materials such as Corian and Silestone, provide yet more design possibilities meaning washroom design is not constrained by the limits of materials like natural stone. Washroom has taken advantage of the design versatility of such materials, using them on several projects which reflect a trend towards softening a design by using curves, including a bespoke Corian trough vanity which incorporated an unusual wave design.
Architects and designers are increasingly specifying different finishes such as brass, copper, bronze and powder-coated matt black effect for washroom accessories in a move away from the traditional stainless steel accessories. This recent project completed by Washroom features a mix of marble, oak and white Corian with the brass wall-mounted taps, cubicle locks and handles adding the perfect finishing touch to the design.
Mirroring the style of the building as a whole
Another key trend shaping current office washroom designs is the desire to ensure washroom areas complement or tone in with the interior design throughout the building and its common areas. With a wide range of different materials, finishes and colours to choose from for toilet cubicles and vanity units, it’s never been easier to create a washroom to match any design.
Industrial-inspired design continues to be a popular theme and is being replicated in office washrooms using concrete vanities, metro tiles, exposed light fittings and pipes as well as more industrial, less polished taps and accessories.
While modern offices can be a blank canvas for interior designs, period properties have their own style and personality which clients are often keen to reference as part of the design. A recent office refurbishment for an Art Deco style office building in London is an excellent example of this with its dark woodgrain and bronzed effect ironmongery intended to match the art deco style lighting also installed.
Washroom offers a completely bespoke washroom design service so whether an architect has a trend to follow or wants to set their own, the team can create the perfect washroom space.