Hong Kong architect William Lim brings an Asian sensibility to bathroom design with the elegant ‘Bonsai’ tap series. Calling on the miniature and manicured aesthetics of a bonsai tree, the faucet becomes a work of art that makes for a Zen bathroom idea.
The fluid forms of the tap appear as if frozen in motion, intertwining contemporary sculpture references with an everyday functionality. Miniature artworks in their own right, the pieces encompass the beauty of nature while celebrating Eastern aesthetics and modern lifestyle. The taps come in a choice of finishes, from chrome to gunmetal and matte black, with a range of golds including light, dark and creamy champagne adding a luxurious edge.
The sensuous design of the pieces – the taps appear as if molded to the hand – is accentuated by the waterfall platform they are placed on, with one knob controlling temperature and the other the volume of water, which comes out in a waterfall spout. The forms of the bonsai itself are celebrated; the small plants, along with their accompanying miniature rock forms and water arrangements, are reflected in the taps, which translate this heritage into a design-led tribute to Asian culture.
For Lim, the project is the intersection between architecture, humanities, and art. He draws on both his extensive architectural background as founder of CL3 Architects and the large-scale installations he has produced during his career as an artist, for these pieces that merge the boundaries of architecture and art. ‘Architects have a social obligation to improve urban environments,’ he says. ‘Architecture is about people. I always feel that architects are only doing part of the job – the rest is really shaped by the occupant using the space. We treat every project as a unique challenge and pay attention to every single detail – from architecture to interior to furniture – to create human-oriented and quality designs with artistic value.’
INFORMATION
-
Waiting for Ideas have recast the turntable as a minimal aluminium altar for vinyl worshipThe PP-1 turntable is an ultra-minimal, all-aluminium record player designed to enhance the vinyl experience
-
Fendi celebrates 100 years with an all-out runway show at its new Milan HQIn the wake of Kim Jones’ departure, Silvia Venturini Fendi took the reins for a special co-ed A/W 2025 collection marking the house’s centenary, unveiling it as the first act of celebrations within Fendi’s expansive new headquarters in Milan
-
‘Leigh Bowery!’ at Tate Modern: 1980s alt-glamour, club culture and rebellionThe new Leigh Bowery exhibition in London is a dazzling, sequin-drenched look back at the 1980s, through the life of one of its brightest stars
