Minimalist forms that adapt to every project

Inbani, a Spanish company that designs and manufactures bathroom furniture, was founded in 2004 with the aim of creating new bathroom concepts for new experiences. Its products seek to bring wellbeing to the user while innovating through investment in technology. Its Strato collection is an extensive modular programme of minimalist forms that allows each professional to adapt their project to the available space, and Strato H is one of the construction systems through which it is realised.

In this article we look at what Strato offers as a programme — modules, fronts, tops and colours — what the H system, with its mitred sides and mitred finger pull, consists of, what Inalco’s MDi surface brings to the Strato MDi version, and what to bear in mind when specifying the collection.

Strato, a modular programme for the bathroom

Strato has been part of Inbani’s catalogue since 2016, when the brand presented it to the trade press, and it has grown with new systems and materials. The starting idea is modularity: rather than a closed series of furniture, a system of pieces that combine to fit each floor plan, from a cloakroom to a main bathroom with a double basin.

The collection offers a wide variety of standard modules, as well as modules with doors, drawers, mirrors and other elements. Its finishes are gloss or matt glass, natural wood and gloss or matt lacquer on water-resistant MDF board.

The top can be wood, gloss or matt lacquer, gloss or matt Corian, matt SolidSurface, gloss or matt glass, or Carrara marble. This breadth gives professionals a wide range of possibilities and, according to Inbani itself, makes Strato one of the most versatile and practical collections in its catalogue.

Materials and finishes in the collection

The table summarises the material and finish options Inbani published for Strato between 2020 and 2022. Specific availability depends on the system and the module, so it is worth confirming it on the technical sheet for each piece.

Colour is one of the programme’s strengths. In addition to the 60 standard shades in its chart, Inbani offers to lacquer the modules in special colours from the NCS or RAL charts, making it possible to coordinate the furniture with the wall finishes, the taps or the rest of the interior.

Strato H: mitred sides and upper finger pull

The H system defines how each module is built and how it opens.

Inbani organises Strato into construction systems identified by letters, and each resolves the edges and the opening of the fronts differently. The H system is defined by mitred sides and an upper finger pull, also mitred: there are no handles, just a groove below the top that is used to open drawers and doors. It is an opening system designed for the entire range of furniture in the collection, notable for its integration and versatility.

Mitred finishes remove the visible thickness of the board and present the unit as a sum of simple planes. Because the pieces meet at an arris and no edge is visible, different finishes can be combined — a wood front with a lacquered top, for example — with a formally cohesive result.

Inalco’s MDi: the mineral surface of Strato MDi

Strato MDi is the version of the collection that incorporates MDi, the surface technology developed by Inalco, a ceramics manufacturer based in L'Alcora (Castellón). MDi stands for Minerals, Design, Innovation: these are surfaces made from high-purity natural minerals in a process that, according to Inalco, accelerates the natural lithological cycle of rock. Inbani applies them to the collection in four textures in neutral tones, from light to dark.

According to Inbani, MDi technology offers exceptional conditions for bathroom design. It is a hygienic material, highly resistant both to water absorption and to the build-up of stains and bacteria, and highly resistant to humidity and temperature changes, which ensures its long-term durability in different types of environment. It also has high chemical and scratch resistance, characteristics that make MDi an easy material to maintain.

Inbani also links the choice of MDi to its environmental programme, Inbani Green. According to the manufacturer, the H2O technology used in producing this material reduces water consumption by 70% and atmospheric emissions by 90%, and half of the materials in the production process are recycled and reused.

Beyond the vanity unit

Strato is not limited to the under-basin unit. The programme includes auxiliary modules and dressing-room-style cabinets, made of water-resistant MDF in various finishes, as well as mirrors.

In early 2022, Inbani was also presenting Strato walk-in wardrobes in three versions: floor-standing, built-in and wall-hung. With them, the same programme can extend from the bathroom to the dressing area, which is useful in hotel suites or homes where the two spaces are combined.

Key points when specifying Strato

These are the points worth settling at project stage:

• System before finish: the construction system determines the look of the unit. Strato H, handleless and with a mitred finger pull, is the option for a reading of clean planes.
• Top and basin together: the top can have an integrated basin or be a plain top with a countertop basin. It is best decided before choosing the taps, wall-mounted or deck-mounted.
• Custom colour: the 60-colour chart and the NCS or RAL option allow the unit to be matched to the project palette. In wood, the H system uses S3 and S4 oak.
• Combining materials: mitring allows fronts and tops in different materials to be combined without visible edges; this is useful for creating continuity with worktops, wall finishes or joinery.
• Technical documentation: Inbani offers technical sheets, assembly manuals and 2D and 3D models on its website for registered users.

At Matter we help you plan the complete bathroom: the furniture, surfaces, taps and wall finishes that go with it. Come to our material library to compare materials and finishes with your technical team and work out the specification of your project with us.