The New Classic collection by Laufen

The Swiss manufacturer Laufen presents The New Classic, the collection of sanitaryware, furniture, taps and accessories created for the brand by the Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. The design of The New Classic stands out for bringing together the practicality of harmonious form with a touch of contemporary style: soft curves, thin edges and a monochrome palette that reinterprets the classic bathroom.

In this article we look at the idea behind the collection, what SaphirKeramik —the Laufen ceramic material used for its washbasins— brings, which pieces make up the collection and their main dimensions, what its furniture, taps and bathtub are like, and what to bear in mind when specifying it.

A classic reinterpreted by Marcel Wanders

Made up of washbasins, WCs, a bidet, a bathtub, taps, mirrors and accessories, as well as furniture, the collection blends romantic touches with modern accents and monochrome colours. Laufen presented it among its new products at ISH 2019 in Frankfurt and describes it as ‘a poetic experience of design and innovation’ for the bathroom.

The collection sets out to reinterpret the classic style through SaphirKeramik, Laufen's high-strength ceramic. As Wanders explains: “this light yet strong material gave the unique opportunity to celebrate the beauty of fine porcelain with elegant, soft lines”. According to the designer, it was the first time SaphirKeramik had been used in such classic, iconic forms.

Laufen cites classical forms, Roman porticoes and tulips as references, and describes a language that combines soft, feminine curves with angular elements. The tulip can be recognised in the body of the ceramic pieces, whose edges curve gently outwards: it appears in the washbasin and the bidet, but also in small pieces such as the wall-mounted toilet brush holder or the illuminated ceramic frame of the oval mirror.

For Wanders, bathroom design has an emotional dimension: ‘The bathroom is a place reserved for relaxation, rejuvenation and true peace. That is why design plays a crucial role in connecting with the human spirit in this intimate, private space.’

SaphirKeramik: thin walls and precise edges

SaphirKeramik is a ceramic Laufen launched in 2013. It contains corundum, a colourless mineral that is a component of sapphire, which gives it far greater hardness and strength than conventional sanitary ceramics. This is what makes possible the thin edges and taut curves of The New Classic washbasins.

• Thin edges: traditional ceramics allow edge radii of 7 to 8 mm; SaphirKeramik can go down to 1-2 mm, according to Laufen. Hence the sharp profile of the washbasin rims.
• Thin walls: in The New Classic bowl washbasin, Laufen highlights walls only 3 mm thick, with the overflow and waste integrated into the piece.
• Same hygienic performance: it retains the properties of traditional sanitary ceramics and, like them, is recyclable.
• Less material: according to the manufacturer, because it weighs less and needs a shorter firing, its production emits less CO2, both at the factory and in transport.

Not all the pieces are made of SaphirKeramik. According to Laufen's data sheets, the furniture washbasins, the small handbasin and the bowl washbasins are; the WC and bidet are made of conventional sanitary ceramics, and the bathtub of Sentec, Laufen's own compact mineral material (solid surface).

Which pieces the collection includes

The table summarises the pieces Laufen presented in 2019, with the dimensions published by the manufacturer (width × depth, in millimetres). Codes and variants —number of tap holes, with or without overflow— are given in each product's data sheet.

Furniture: mouldings, wood and curved legs

Drawer units, vanity units and a generous tall cabinet make up the collection's furniture. They share the same stylistic approach as the rest of the pieces, with moulded fronts that evoke classic joinery. And for those who want to add a further hint of classic style, Laufen offers units with slightly curved legs and walnut frames on which the washbasin rests.

The furniture is available in three finishes: dark real oak veneer, gloss white and matt grey. According to Laufen's data sheet, the oak finish is a veneer on board with a solid oak frame, while the white and grey are lacquered MDF panels. The washbasin frames are made of walnut.

The furniture is organised by widths of 600, 800 and 1200 mm: a one- or two-drawer vanity unit for each washbasin, drawer units with a central or side cut-out for the bowl washbasins and the small handbasin, drawer units without a cut-out to complete the set, and a single-door tall cabinet, hinged on the left or right.

Taps and bathtub

Conical taps

The taps have a design that stands out for its conical forms, a distinctive groove and slender spouts. Their slim silhouette refers to the columns of Roman porticoes, one of the collection's references, and the groove marks the transition to the curves of the body.

The series, presented in chrome, includes single-lever basin mixers with a 105 or 130 mm spout, a single-lever mixer with a 175 mm tall spout, three-hole mixers, concealed wall-mounted taps with a 180 mm spout —single-lever or two-handle—, a bidet mixer and bath and shower mixers, exposed or concealed.

The freestanding bathtub in Sentec

The bathtub is a key piece in the collection. Following the same design line as the washbasins, with a thin rim that flares outwards, it is made of Sentec and measures 1900 × 900 × 580 mm. According to Laufen's 2019 data sheet, it weighs 90 kg and was offered in white.

To go with it, the collection includes a concealed bath mixer with diverter, a 180 mm wall-mounted spout and holders for the hand shower, so all the taps can be on the wall and the freestanding bathtub left clear.

Key points for specifying The New Classic

Beyond aesthetics, these are the points to resolve at the design stage:

• Washbasin, unit and frame together: each vanity unit and each walnut frame corresponds to a specific 600, 800 or 1200 mm washbasin. Settle the washbasin before defining the unit and the taps.
• Wall-mounted taps: the concealed basin and bath mixers are mounted on Laufen concealed boxes (Simibox), which must be built into the wall during construction.
• Rimless WCs: the collection's three WCs —wall-hung, floor-standing and floor-standing with exposed cistern— are rimless, with no inner lip, which makes cleaning easier.
• Freestanding bathtub: at 1900 mm long and 90 kg, site access, the position of the waste and that of the taps must be checked before the installation is finalised.
• Illuminated mirror: the ceramic mirror incorporates 4000 K ambient LED light operated by a wall switch, so it needs a power point planned in advance.

At Matter we help you plan the whole bathroom: sanitaryware, furniture, taps and the surfaces that go with them. Come to our material library to compare materials, finishes and collections with your technical team.