Lutezia taps, softness and boldness in a single piece

Lutezia, from the Italian company CEA, was conceived as a contemporary interpretation of the traditional hydraulic valve of the early 20th century. The collection was designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the French architect in charge of the refurbishment of the luxurious Hotel Lutetia in Paris, where the collection was born and from which it takes its name.

In this article we look at where the taps come from, how their two lines differ —Lutezia, with two-handle and thermostatic controls, and Lutezia Plus, with a single lever—, which pieces each includes, what CEA's steel and special finishes are like and what to bear in mind when specifying them.

From the Hotel Lutetia to a catalogue collection

The Hotel Lutetia opened in 1910 on the Rive Gauche in Paris. Jean-Michel Wilmotte led its complete renovation with the aim, according to CEA, of enhancing every trace of the original building without altering its character or historical value. The hotel reopened on 12 July 2018, after four years of works, with 184 rooms instead of the 230 it had before.

Before the reopening, Wilmotte explained that wall lights, floors, handles, washbasins, taps and light fittings had been designed specifically for the Lutetia, rather than relying on catalogue pieces. The bathrooms were clad in Carrara marble, whose grey veins contrast with the stainless steel of the taps developed by CEA. Those taps are Lutezia, the Italian form of Lutetia, the Latin name for Paris that the hotel also bears.

Lutezia: two-handle and thermostatic

The original collection takes the form of the classic valve and translates it into a contemporary language.

Lutezia is a powerful statement that combines technology, strength and ease of use. CEA makes it in AISI 316L stainless steel and offers it with two-handle and thermostatic mixers. The valves are operated by an elongated handle with a rounded end on a circular escutcheon, a gesture repeated at the basin, the shower and the bath.

As with its other collections, CEA allows a wide range of configurations with remote controls and shower sets, which are combined with the outlets from the Free Ideas range —spouts, shower heads and hand showers— to customise the installation. Added to all this is the Lutezia accessories collection, with the same formal language.

Lutezia Plus: handle and single lever in one body

The extension of the collection brings the same handle to a single-lever mixer.

Lutezia Plus merges the single-lever mixer and the handle into a single body. According to CEA, the lever is integrated into the body of the mixer, a tapered cylinder 30 mm in diameter within which the handle is perfectly inscribed. It keeps the material and finishes of Lutezia and shares its accessories, so both lines can coexist in the same project: for example, single-lever mixers at the basins and two-handle or thermostatic mixers in the showers.

Which pieces each line includes

The table summarises the families of both lines as they appeared in CEA's online catalogue in early 2022, with the references for each. The spout dimensions come from the manufacturer's product sheets.

AISI 316L steel and special finishes

Like all of the brand's production, Lutezia is made of AISI 316L stainless steel, a low-carbon alloy that is hygienic, highly resistant to corrosion and fully recyclable. CEA works the steel using only mechanical processes, without chrome plating or electroplating baths, so the visible surface is the steel itself. The standard finish is satin or polished.

The whole collection is also available in CEA's special finishes: Black Diamond, Bronze, Copper and Light Gold, which are applied over the satin or polished base. According to the manufacturer, they are obtained by depositing a thick layer of zirconium and graphite powder mixtures in vacuum (plasma) chambers; the result increases shine and surface hardness, better withstands cleaning products and salt air and makes the surface more scratch-resistant. Black Diamond also reduces the adhesion of limescale. CEA describes them as eco-friendly and biocompatible.

Key points for specifying Lutezia

In addition to choosing the line and finish, these points are worth resolving at project stage:

• Concealed parts planned in advance: many pieces —wall-mounted taps and controls, shower and bath sets— require their concealed body, and CEA provides auxiliary supports for plasterboard or fibreboard partitions. These must be defined before the walls are closed.
• Basin and bidet flow rate: according to CEA's product sheets, basin and bidet taps are fitted with 5 l/min water-saving aerators.
• Bath and stop valve flow rate: the cascade spout and the stop valves are high-flow: 25 l/min or more, according to CEA's product sheets.
• Special finishes to order: they are made at the client's request, and in Bronze and Copper the tone changes slightly with exposure to the air. The same finish should be specified for taps and accessories.
• Free composition: controls and outlets can be combined with each other, so it is useful to fix the position of controls, spouts and hand shower on each wall from the outset.

The shape of a handle, its feel and the presence of a steel tap are better appreciated in person than in a catalogue. At Matter we help you choose the taps and materials for the bathroom and combine them with your technical team.