BIG's interactive water installation reveals power of roca connect at milan design week 2025

ROCA CONNECT SHOWCASED THROUGH INSTALLATION BY BIG

At Fuorisalone 2025, Roca introduced Roca Connect as a tangible solution for sustainable water management, embedding its smart system within the interactive installation ‘A Beat of Water’ by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Presented in the courtyard of the Università degli Studi di Milano, the installation offered a multisensory experience that revealed the hidden dynamics of water use while demonstrating the capabilities of Roca Connect — a cloud-based system designed to optimize water consumption.

Spanning 14 meters in length and 3.5 meters in height, the structure was built from 300 linear meters of galvanized steel pipes. Its closed-loop system continuously circulated water, generating a rhythm of movement and sound that invited visitors to consider water’s essential — and often overlooked — role in daily life. By transforming data into design, the project underscored how smart technologies can reshape habits and reduce waste, especially in bathrooms, where up to 80% of domestic water use takes place.

‘A Beat of Water’ by Bjarke Ingels Group for Roca at Fuorisalone 2025 | all images ©Paolo Riolzi, courtesy of Roca

BUILDING ON OVER A CENTURY OF RESPONSIBLE DESIGN

Founded in 1917, Roca is a global leader in the design and production of bathroom solutions. From material selection to manufacturing and digital integration, the family-run company integrates environmental responsibility into every layer of its operations. Active in 170 countries with 78 production centers and over 20,000 employees, Roca combines more than a century of craftsmanship with a forward-looking approach to innovation and sustainability. This ongoing commitment shapes a clear ambition: to create smart, sustainable solutions that improve well-being while safeguarding the planet’s natural resources.

galvanized steel pipes form the flowing structure, echoing the rhythms of water

DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE BATHROOM OF TOMORROW

Roca Connect represents the next step in this vision. The cloud-based platform enables real-time, remote management of bathroom appliances in public and commercial buildings. By integrating washbasin faucets, urinals, showers, and toilets into a single digital dashboard, the system delivers actionable insights that help optimize efficiency, reduce consumption, and streamline maintenance.

the 14-meter-long installation creates a multisensory experience through sound and motion

Key features include adjustable water run times, temperature settings, sensor sensitivity, hygiene flushes, and thermal cleanings. Through the Roca Connect app, facility managers can receive push notifications, export usage data, and remotely initiate maintenance, simplifying operations across large-scale sanitary networks. Open interfaces ensure compatibility with standard building management systems, while advanced encryption provides robust data security.

By combining advanced digital tools with sustainable design principles, Roca empowers architects, designers, and developers to implement smarter water management strategies, proving that innovation, responsibility, and design can flow in perfect harmony.

Roca Connect takes center stage within the installation, promoting smart water management

Roca Connect centralizes real-time, remote control of bathroom appliances across public and commercial spaces

key functions include adjustable water flow, temperature settings, sensor sensitivity, and hygiene cycles

facility managers can monitor, receive alerts, and manage maintenance remotely through Roca Connect

1/4

the installation transforms into a communal space where design and sustainability converge

interactive buttons allow visitors to pause the water flow and reflect on daily usage

visitors engage with the flow and rhythm of water in a contemplative setting

‘A Beat of Water’ visualizes how architecture and technology can inspire conscious behavior

project info: 

brand: Roca | @roca_global

product: Roca Connect

installation: A Beat of Water

design: Bjarke Ingels Group | @big_builds