Kilns, since the dawn of time, have burned a ferocious amount of energy, requiring a high level of heat for extended periods of time. They are primarily gas powered, and as we set our sights on more sustainable technologies, this is an area that requires quite a bit of overhaul. The VOLTA collection by fuseproject founder Yves Béhar for LAUFEN uses kilns that are completely electric, the first kiln of its kind specifically for use in ceramic sanitaryware. This exciting development can be applied to an array of different industries, promising a legitimate shift towards truly circular design if these technologies were more widely adopted. Made in Gmunden, Austria, LAUFEN has achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified Circularity at the Bronze level, setting precedent for more brands to follow suit.
After four years of research and development, the first electric tunnel kiln for sanitaryware is here, a comment on the power of our most unique element – water. At Milan Design Week this year, LAUFEN presented “A New Dimension of Water,” which guides the viewer through the process of making the washbasins from start to finish. A growing trend in design, consumers, buyers, and designers alike are calling for transparency within process. This is a groundbreaking technology in the ceramic field, reflecting a deep commitment to sustainability.
Inspired by the soft curvatures of how water flows around a sink, Béhar created the VOLTA washbasin to be reminiscent of swirling water, winding its way down the drain. Hand-sculpted, with a simple but defined slope in the middle to retain the stream of water, the VOLTA collection works well in a satin-finished onyx as well as a bone white.
At the heart of the design is LAUFEN’s proprietary Saphirkeramik – an advanced ceramic material known for its ultra thinness, strength, and precision. With VOLTA, Béhar uses this innovative material as inspiration to push design boundaries into uncharted territory. This marks Béhar’s first foray into the world of sanitary ceramics, and the result is a transformative approach to water in the bathroom. VOLTA is a washbasin that fuses cutting-edge technology with sculptural elegance. The ultra-thin profile of Saphirkeramik allows for unexpected geometries, fluid lines, and refined details that would be impossible with traditional ceramics.
LAUFEN has set their own standards in the sanitaryware industry since 1892, continually developing production methods to increase sustainability. Cutting-edge Swiss precision meets over 130 years of systems development, dedicated to the fact that water is a precious resource, and should be treated as such. Collaborating with brands such as Alessi and Kartell, as well as renowned designers and architects such as Patricia Urquiola, and Konstantin Grcic, they work creatively to keep doing things the right way, not the easy way.
Yves Béhar is a Swiss designer, known for notable pieces like the Samsung Frame and the SodaStream, among many, many others. Founder of fuseproject, he works in multiple industries, fully immersed in the ideal that design accelerates the adoption of new ideas. New ideas create movements, and sustainability is a movement that is truly gaining traction among furniture production, late adopters starting to feel the effects. VOLTA is surely a step in the right direction, all parts of the process considered, to create respectful products with minimal impact.
Yves Béhar
To learn more about the VOLTA Collection by Yves Béhar for LAUFEN, please visit laufen.com.
Photography courtesy of LAUFEN.
