future-proofed bathrooms

door

There’s an increase in sliding doors, also a trend of no doors, but in reality doors are probably here to stay. But one future trend that may take off, is to make a door handle that disinfects itself automatically.

Two students, from Hong Kong figured out a sophisticated and cheap way to make a door handle that disinfects itself automatically. Sum Ming ("Simon") Wong, 17, and Kin Pong ("Michael") Li, 18, presented a design of their nifty door handle at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair a few years back.

http://www.thejournal.ie/bathroom-door-handle-bacteria-2176826-Jul2015/

floor

For those looking for a more relaxing environment, the rest room of the future could also use new haptic technology to change the way the floor feels under foot. Haptic technology can recreate the sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to the user.

Bathers stepping out of their bath could programme their floor to replicate the feeling of soft sand, warm Mediterranean stone or even snow if they desired.

The floor could also be made to become more sticky when bathers' have wet feet. The ability to have anti-slip tiles or slip resistant vinyl – in a wet and hazardous space decreasing the risk of a slip, trip or fall is essential.

toilet

Toto a Japanese manufacturer has designed a self-cleaning toilet that uses UV light on a self-cleaning surface and antibacterial electrolysed water to clean and remove germs from the toilet bowl.

The Wellbeing Toilet is an award winning concept that analyses urine and waste to check for diseases and nutrient deficiencies. The designers say that it can also be used to check for pregnancy. While this may send off red alerts for the privacy conscientious, the abilities of this new commode are awe-inspiring. The design behind the Wellbeing toilet is also focused on ensuring that its user sits using the most efficient posture by forcing them to scoot up their legs.

Image Credit - https://inhabitat.com/ergonomically-correct-wellbeing-toilet-helps-you-poop-the-right-way/

sink

Even relatively simple adaptations of existing appliances could be invaluable, such as a height-adjustable sink, toilet and mirror that moves up and down dependent on the user. Such an innovation would be priceless from an inclusion standpoint, making access to the bathroom available to all, regardless of age or potential disability.

bath

Bathroom fixtures such as taps and showers are likely to seamlessly integrate with home automation systems, and touch screens will replace levers and handles.

Taps will also be connected to your smartphone to fill a bath up. The water will stop automatically when it reaches a certain level by installing a sensor. The temperature of the water can be pre-set to different settings, according to the number of members in the family.

The automatic bath filling feature will fill the bath for you to your pre-set temperature and water level.

Another innovation that we may see, is bath sizes changing by the touch of a button on your smartphone or voice activated so that it can be continuously varied in height and width, thus being adjusted exactly to the body size of any person.

mirror

The future will see health checking mirrors that utilise the latest technology to analyse your well-being and mirrors that help with your make-up and also show you the latest weather and traffic information while you are brushing your teeth.

According to research, among the top desires by consumers is an AR hairstyle simulator, which could show how a hairstyle would look on your head, and give step-by-step instructions on how to achieve it.

Panasonic have also designed a prototype mirror that has an embedded camera that scans and projects an image of your face on top of your reflection. Then it offers suggestions and lets you try out different looks by applying digital makeup and facial hair.

Image Credit - https://www.eyeofdubai.net/news/details/amazing-interactive-mirror-a-highlight-of-panasonic-showcase-at-gitex-2015

shower

A wet floor shower – modern and bespoke, wet floor showers are purpose built, making them the ideal future proofed solution due to their wide spread suitability, regardless of individual requirements. Enhanced greatly through accessible bathroom design, wet floor showers can be adapted for all wants, needs and requirements; catering for walk-in, wheel-in, zimmer-in access and assisted bathing.

With water usage becoming more economical and improvements in shower power, and the variations available, spending more time in the shower to relax and unwind is a trend that may take off, if so a shower seat or shower bench may be more prominent in designs.

Depending on personal preference we would always recommend catering for sit down showering within a future proofed design to enhance overall safety. From an aesthetics point of view a shower bench helps create a luxury look and feel while delivering a safe and accessible solution.

cabinet

Robern has shown us the newest way to add television to your bathroom: integrated into the door of your medicine cabinet! How perfect for your morning routine? You can watch the traffic while shaving or putting on makeup and your kids can watch cartoons.

Image Credit - http://focalpointhardware.com/mc2040d4fptv-robern-...