Leonardo da Vinci said, "Water is the driver of Nature." . In today’s world, the faucet is the driver of design.
Companies like Kohler are now bringing nature's unique shapes and patterns into their faucet, One amazing Kohler faucet is Symbol, which mimics the way water arcs from a fountain. The intent behind Symbol, is to impart the feeling of relaxation we have when surrounded by the natural world.
Another bath faucet that takes its cue from the great outdoors is the Finial Avian, a graceful, two-handled tap that depicts birds with beaks nestled inward. Kohler also brings the elements into its design process with products like the Kohler Rain Showerhead, which is inspired by a gentle downpour.
Kohler is just one of several companies using nature as a concept for product design. The look is now an organic, earthy look. Many manufacturers are creating bath fixtures that look like fruit or even wood. For example, San-ei, a large faucet manufacturer in Asia, offers a line of bath fixtures called the Pineapple Room, which takes its shape from pineapples, a traditional Hawaiian symbol of hospitality.
Moen is another manufacturer that gives nature its due. The open-top bamboo reed like spout drops water into the sink like a waterfall.
Other high-end design companies, including Water Décor and Porcher , have also designed reed-style faucets. Water Decor's Bridge series perches a branch-like tap on a single vertical post. The Porcher line from American Standard offers a similar look in the Alfiere Basin Faucet.
Meanwhile, Sonoma-Forge is about as earthy as a company can get, making very unusual faucets that take on the appearance of hand-forged fixtures. The CIXX collection by Sonoma-Forge offers rustic, hand-finished fixtures with distinctive crucifix handles; no two faucets are exactly alike. Their WaterBridge faucet is a simple, contemporary design with a metal bar that bridges the handles, giving the faucet the look of a rainforest rope bridge. Keep in mind, however, that craftsmanship isn't for the fainthearted. These faucets range in price from $1,200 to $1,400.
One division of the company, Sonoma Cast Stone, also makes concrete sinks, which couple well with the hand-finished faucets, giving the customer a natural feel. |
