In partnership with The House of Rohl
The aesthetics of both midcentury modern and new millennium design have inspired a bathroom colour palette to complement contemporary architectural style: metallic, robust and minimalist.
When Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Sarah Douglas was working with The House of Rohl to make Light Industrielle – one of three new bathroom colour palettes for Victoria + Albert tubs and sinks – her references were modern architecture, classic 20th-century industrial design and raw building materials: timber, cement, steel and glass.
Exposed details, structural forms and angular, geometric shapes filled the mood board for a tonal range that is urban, powerful and elegantly utilitarian. Douglas designed the colour palette to enhance and adapt to clean and modern environments, playing off honest, finely rendered materials, sheer surfaces, bold fixture design and classic furniture pieces.
Light Industrielle’s stealthy, steely aesthetic makes reference to the work of the Bauhaus and Bjarke Ingels BIG practice, nodding to the brutal elegance of the Gio Ponti-designed Pirelli Factory in Milan as well as countless warehouse / factory conversion homes all over the world. Accented with subtle grey and orange, acknowledging a readiness to adopt tones, techniques and processes from engineering, the colours celebrate a building’s core construction processes and incorporate these elements into domestic design.
‘The emotional impact of colour has a new relevance,’ says Douglas. ‘These colour palettes have been created to help shape our mood, improve our wellbeing and bring light into our day-to-day lives.’
Victoria + Albert and the modern bathroom
The House of Rohl ventures to the ends of the Earth to find the most exquisite kitchen and bath fixtures, made with quality craftsmanship and technical prowess. Its five brands, which include Victoria + Albert, create collections of modern innovation, imagination and unique beauty. Established in 1996, Victoria + Albert has showrooms in London and Chicago, as well as dedicated production facilities in South Africa. Sporting elegant proportions and opulent curves, its products are designed to create the perfect bathing experience, transforming any space into a luxurious sanctuary.
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