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Light and design in an architectural setting

Light and design in an architectural setting

Herbert Schultes has designed an innovative mirror wall system for Duravit

Munich-based designer Herbert Schultes actually wanted to make films and “tell stories”. But as is so often the case, things didn’t work out that way. Today he tells stories of a very special type – design stories of minimalist realism and clarity. For the first time he has produced a design for Duravit, a mirror system named “mirrorwall”. This product in fact tells two stories – one about health and the other about partitioning the wall.

Taking care of your body

People are becoming increasingly health-conscious, and new movement, wellness and health trends are continuously emerging. In the home the bathroom is one of the best places for taking care of your body. The wall-to-wall mirrors in ballet and fitness studios were therefore the initial inspiration for Schultes’ new design. The second inspiration came from the desire to enhance the architectural quality of the room. He didn’t want to break up the wall through the installation of stand-alone components such as a washbasin, mirror, storage space or light, but to combine all of these elements into a single whole. The quintessence of his design is its visual simplicity, which at the same time offers a neutral background against which the body is put in its best light.

Minimalist design made up of three components

Schultes has managed to combine all functions in just three components: a complete mirror wall as the background, a ceramic monobloc and wooden console with a horizontal ceramic strip running through it. On top of the console stands a ceramic washbasin which, glazed at the back, is also elegantly reflected in the mirror. Underneath the console a ceramic-fronted vanity unit continues the monobloc design. The front is 80 mm thick and is cast from a single piece, a masterly achievement by the Duravit ceramic engineers.

A sturdy aluminium surround frames the entire unit and rounds off the architectural impact. The mirrorwall range is available in four widths of 1,200 to 1,700 mm as well as a single or two-element 2 m version. The result: a mirrorwall system will enhance the design quality of large and small bathrooms alike.

The hidden “cabinet of mirrors”

While this is a highly elegant solution, is it also a practical one? The delicate joints hint at a secret space behind the mirror wall. Above the washbasin, for example, there are two doors to discover.

When opened the mirrored insides form a “cabinet of mirrors” with the back wall. Inside there are three flush-mounted lights, and all daily bathroom requisites are within easy reach in convenient cherry wood boxes mounted on the doors. Concealed side cabinets contain power outlets and offer additional useful storage space. There is a practical towel rail mounted on the front or side of the console and the vanity unit itself is incredibly spacious. This built-in aesthetic quality and practicality are combined with a third vital component that profiles the body to perfection: the right lighting!

Optimum lighting for optimum body profile

If the room is sufficiently well lit, all that is required is to illuminate the mirror wall area, in which case a clip-on 500 lux lamp is the ideal solution. It focuses on the face and provides perfect dazzle-free illumination for the tall and short alike. This is made possible by shading the light source by means of a reflecting “sail”. Because of its special form and structure this sail refracts the light at a precise angle and reflects it exactly where it is needed.

The lion’s share of the illumination is reflected without glare directly onto the face. To prevent any “dark holes” in the mirror wall, a precisely defined portion of light also illuminates the ceiling. With the clip-on lamp alternative, mirrorwall can also be attached directly to the wall in bathrooms where space is at a premium, since the room lighting and mirrorwall lighting combine homogeneously to provide high quality lighting for the entire room.

Magical aura of light and colour

If the room is not adequately lit, however, mirrorwall offers a second alternative. In this case direct light is required for the subject and for the room. Two swivel lamp columns on the left and right illuminate the entire mirrored area and reflect light back into the room as well. The body is thus put in profile from all sides. At the same time the light quality in the bathroom as a whole is also improved. Two lamps, two specific qualities, but with one thing in common: a gentle touch with the fingertip on a small LED is all that is required to turn on the light. And a second touch will optionally create a magical light show as the plain white light transforms into a magical splash of colour, with LED light strips on two sides radiating soothing blue, stimulating red, mood-enhancing green or soft candlelight yellow light onto the surrounding walls and ceiling. Two alternating colour programs are also available in addition. Each colour produces a different mood and creates a magic aura of light and colour in the bathroom.

The future of bathroom lighting

The functional white light and mood-creating coloured lights are controlled by means of an intelligent and extremely versatile system. Apart from the touch LED on the product itself, the system can be activated in three other ways. All functions can be switched on with conventional switches. Remote control with standard devices is also possible. Finally, mirrorwall can be integrated into a BUS data system. Synchronisation with the Duravit e-mood bathroom furniture lighting concept is also possible by remote control. The e-mood range was a sensation when it was launched in 2007, and mirrorwall once again demonstrates the importance of lighting in the bathroom. Perfect lighting in this most intimate room in the house offers a vision for the future.

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