how LAUFEN redefines bathrooms through material innovation at milan design week 2026

LAUFEN’S RENEWAL AT MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2026

At Milan Design Week 2026, the Swiss bathroom specialist LAUFEN didn’t just launch new products; it stages a quiet revolution. Under the dual themes of ‘Experience Tomorrow’ at Salone del Mobile and ‘When Time Becomes Material’ at LAUFEN space Milano, the brand is moving beyond mere aesthetics to explore how materials — and the way we manufacture them — shape daily rituals.

From the world premiere of a glass-steel hybrid to a collection designed for the quiet dignity of later life, LAUFEN’s latest chapter is a masterclass in purposeful renewal.

THE BREAKTHROUGH: VITREON STEEL 

The most significant technical milestone for LAUFEN at Milan Design Week 2026 is the introduction of VITREON steel. While the Swiss bathroom specialist has spent a decade perfecting Saphirkeramik, VITREON represents a new frontier. By fusing the strength and malleability of steel with the chemical resistance and luminous finish of glass, LAUFEN has created a material that feels both ancient and futuristic.

This isn’t just a technical win but a sensory one. The material allows for Tricolor compositions—where matt and glossy zones meet—and the Tendo collection, which features an ergonomic, tilted basin that guides water in a natural, cascade-like flow. VITREON offers a tactile experience that is scratch-resistant and robust, yet visually as delicate as fine porcelain.

EVOLUTION OF A LEGEND: KARTELL BY LAUFEN

Thirteen years into one of design’s most iconic marriages, the collaboration with Kartell evolves under the creative direction of Ferruccio Laviani. The focus here is on integrating the bathroom into the ‘living’ architecture of the home. A new furniture piece, called beauTwash, is where the ‘T’ shape acts as both a structural icon and a graphic gesture. It’s a cabinet that feels less like a utility and more like a piece of high-end lounge furniture. In a poetic nod to Kartell’s history, Anna Castelli Ferrieri’s iconic Componibile has been reinterpreted as a column washbasin with integrated storage, proving that legendary design can be both preserved and progressed.

DESIGNING FOR THE HUMAN LIFECYCLE: PAR BY KONSTANTIN GRCIC

As an emotive reveal in Milan, the PAR collection is a collaboration with Konstantin Grcic. In a market often obsessed with youthful ‘cool’, PAR is a refreshing, empathetic pivot toward inclusivity. Designed with experienced users in mind—those in later life who value comfort without wanting medicalized design—PAR is a quiet companion. The forms are simple, the lines are precise, and the functionality is intuitive. The collection includes ceramics, furniture, and the FIL faucet line, all adhering to a philosophy of restraint. It proves that a bathroom can adapt to its user over time, offering support without ever demanding attention.

GEOMETRY AND PRECISION: VOLTA BY YVES BEHAR

While PAR focuses on the quiet, Yves Behar’s VOLTA collection celebrates the architectural potential of Saphirkeramik. VOLTA is a study in precision, featuring totemic freestanding models in glossy white and wall-mounted versions in matt white or black. It represents the peak of what is possible with ultra-thin ceramic walls, achieving a level of geometric sharpness that was unthinkable a decade ago.

Behind the polished surfaces in Milan lies a radical shift in how these objects come to be. The ceramics for both the PAR and VOLTA collections are produced in the world’s first electric tunnel kiln for sanitary ceramics in Gmunden, Austria. It is a fundamental reimagining of the industrial process. By achieving Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze level, LAUFEN proves that the future of high-end design is inseparable from the decarbonization of the manufacturing floor.

By merging high-tech material science with a deep, human-centric empathy, LAUFEN is doing more than just ‘Experience Tomorrow’. It is building a bathroom that is durable, sustainable, and designed to last a lifetime.

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project info: 

names:  ‘When Time Becomes Material’ |  ‘Experience Tomorrow’

brand: LAUFEN | @laufenbathrooms

collaborations:  

Kartell | @kartell

Konstantin Grcic | @konstantingrcicdesign

Yves Behar |  @yvesbehar