Roca Unveiled Brand New Collection at KBB 2008

Roca made a triumphant return to this year’s KBB with a new collection of sanitaryware and furniture. Whilst remaining true to Roca’s long-standing ethos - style with substance, form with function, the latest collection continues to push design boundaries, offering inspirational ideas and solutions for the 21st century’s modern bathrooms.

Making their first appearance in the UK, products on display included brand new suites, basins, brassware, furniture, shower enclosures and bathroom accessories. The updated Veranda series and Thesis brassware, which generated a lot of interest at 100% Design last year, were also present at this year’s show.

One of the highlights of the new 2008 collection is the Khroma suite and furniture series. Designed by Roca’s in-house team, Khroma takes bathroom design to another level. It combines vitreous china with elements of polyurethane foam upholstery in four distinctive hues. These include passion red, oxygen blue, street grey and silver grey - all chosen by Vincent Grégoire from Nelly Rodi. This avant garde series injects personality and colour to an ordinary bathroom, providing that extra 'wow' factor. The colour co-ordinated furniture comes in high gloss or natural oak and wenge wood finishes. It comprises a drawer unit with casters, and a one-piece base unit with mirror and light, available for installation with wall-hung or over-countertop basins.

Cala, again designed by Roca’s in-house team, is another highlight of the new collection. Taking inspiration from geometric shapes and curves, it is a series of simple and smooth-lined basins and furniture. Perfect for compact bathrooms, the basin comes in two sizes - 750x450mm and 650x420mm. Furniture pieces include mirror and basin units, in either American oak veneer or high gloss black lacquer.

New basin collections for 2008, including Urbi, Orbita and Art, were also at the show. Designed by Carlo Urbinati, the Urbi series consists of eight basins in a variety of organic shapes and sizes, some of which have been designed to encourage reduced water consumption. Meanwhile, accentuated by the sinuous shapes with flowing lines and forms, Orbita and Art series are contemporary yet unconventional, each of which is available in two sizes: oval and circular.

Inspired by the latest retro trends, Betap is a new series of twin-lever mixers. Designed by Bullo Design for a range of sanitaryware including basin, bath, shower and bidet, it captures the ergonomic essence of modernism, with sharp lines and an angular shape. Displayed alongside Betap was water-efficient, single-lever mixer Singles-Pro. Not only does it have a water flow limit of 9 litres per minute, it also contains a progressive cartridge that always starts with cold water thereby saving energy. This temperature can be increased by further turning the lever. New additions to last year’s Thesis series, Thesis-T thermostatic mixer and Thesis twin-lever mixer, were also on display.

Showering is another key area for Roca, and Vintage XL is a new series of shower-heads for 2008. With its minimal and industrial design, the series offers a dramatic rainfall-effect, creating a totally unique and stimulating showering experience. Available in shapes of square, rectangular and circular, they are highly functional and can be installed on the ceiling or on the wall.

Neos IV, a new free-standing addition to the Neos series of hydro-massage columns, embraces both practicality and the benefits of personal wellness. It is equipped with four hydro-massage jets, a thermostatic or single lever (manual), and an overhead shower with rain spray. It is easy to care for with a brushed stainless steel finish, and the movability of the hydro-massage jets allows you to enjoy the height of well-being. It is perfect for health resorts, wellness centres and those with open bathroom spaces or wet rooms.

The final highlight of this year’s KBB was the showcase of the brand new bath, Becool. The double-ended, luxurious bath is fitted with a padded headrest at each end for the ultimate bathing experience. Available in three sizes for the standard single-ended, and two sizes for double-ended, its seamless design is a combination of sharp lines and soft curves, providing a sense of soothing tranquillity.

Tel: 01530 830080
Web: http://www.roca-uk.com