Redefining bathroom aesthetics

In bathroom design, Acquabella has carved out a place with solutions that combine aesthetics and functionality. Two of its best-known products, wall panels and shower trays, have grown in popularity for their ability to turn a bathroom into a calm, tranquil space, with continuous surfaces, textures and custom colour.

In this article we look at the material both are made from, Akron®, and at how the manufacturer presented them at the time: the Hera panel and the rest of the panel range, the Base Slate shower tray, the technical data worth knowing and what to bear in mind when specifying, installing and maintaining them.

Akron®: one material for wall and floor

Panels and trays share the same material. Akron® is a composite developed by Acquabella, a manufacturer based in La Vall d'Uixó (Castellón), made from polyurethane resin and silica-free mineral fillers, with an acrylic coating integrated into the mass. This is what makes it possible to reproduce textures in high definition —slate, concrete, smooth surfaces— and to colour the pieces in a very wide range, so that the shower wall and the tray can share the same shade and finish.

According to the manufacturer's technical data sheets, the material offers the following properties:

• Silica-free: cutting is safer for the installer, who can adjust the pieces on site.
• Strength: resistant to impact, hydrolysis and thermal shock, with no orthophthalic polyester.
• Hygiene: antibacterial treatment certified to ISO 22196.
• Acoustic comfort: the Hera panel data sheet includes sound insulation tests to DIN 4109, SIA 181 and DIN EN ISO 717-2.

Vertical surfaces: Acquabella panels

Acquabella panels are vertical coverings that add texture and allow the colour to be customised in any shade from the RAL or NCS charts. They are an alternative to tiling in showers and on bathroom walls: large-format pieces that reduce joints, are quick and simple to install and create continuous surfaces that are easier to clean and maintain.

The manufacturer also presents them as a refurbishment solution: a wall exposed to constant humidity, temperature changes and condensation needs a non-porous, easy-to-clean material, and the panel allows it to be renewed with less building work than a ceramic covering.

Hera panel: soft waves in large format

Hera is the range's decorative 3D panel: a surface of gentle vertical waves that gives the wall depth and plays with grazing light. It is made in a 250 × 120 cm format, 1 cm thick, in the Zero texture.

In terms of colour, the 2023 technical data sheet offers it in three in-house families —Standard, with whites, creams, greys, Moka, Lava and black; Naturally Made, with Sand, Capuccino, Fango, Platinum, Acier and Ink; and Season, with Burgundy, Petal, Ocean, Sky, Forest and Mint— and, made to order, in any RAL or NCS reference.

A range of panels for every wall

Alongside Hera, the panel collection Acquabella presented at the time combined smooth and relief models, all in Akron®:

• Basic: the smooth panel, made to measure and available in all Acquabella textures.
• Quiz: a panel with a geometric pattern that turns the wall into a design piece.
• Venetian: longitudinal slats, in Slate, Ardesia or Nude textures, which can be combined with Basic panels.
• Muretto Vintage: recreates the effect of a brick wall, with handcrafted-looking finishes.
• Muretto Loft: a minimalist panel that the manufacturer proposes for playing with colour.

How they are installed

According to Acquabella's installation manual, installation should be carried out by specialist fitters. These are the steps to plan for:

• Substrate: walls and mortar base level, smooth, clean and dry.
• Bonding: polyurethane adhesive (such as Sikaflex, Ultrabond MS Rapid or Superflex) applied in beads to the back of the panel.
• Joint: a 2 mm gap between panels and between panel and tray, sealed with non-acidic silicone.
• Cutting: with a circular saw and a tungsten carbide or diamond blade; panels are stored horizontally and inspected before installation.

Customising the shower area

When it comes to shower trays, Acquabella redefines the bathing experience. Its trays are not only visually appealing but also tough and durable, providing a solid, safe base for moments of relaxation.

The variety of sizes and shapes means the tray can be adapted to any bathroom, even the smallest. The non-slip surface also makes showering safer for users of all ages, and the wide range of colours and textures allows it to be matched to the requirements of each project.

Base Slate: the made-to-measure tray

Base Slate is the model in which Acquabella sums up the idea of a made-to-measure tray. Its high-definition texture reproduces natural slate, and it can be customised in size, colour and drain grate. The manufacturer offers it from 80 × 70 up to 200 × 120 cm, with a height of 2.3 to 2.8 cm, and it can be cut to fit awkward corners and recesses.

For the grate, Acquabella designed three models of its own: Mia, in stainless steel or Akron®, and Geo and Lux, both in Akron®. The drain is supplied included.

Safety and certifications

• Slip resistance: class 3 under UNE-ENV 12633:2003 (annex A), class C under DIN 51097 and PN 24 under the French standard XP P 05-010.
• Hygiene: antibacterial treatment certified to ISO 22196.
• Durability: Akron® is resistant to impact, hydrolysis and thermal shock, and surface damage can be repaired with a colour-matched kit supplied by the manufacturer.

Key points for specifying Acquabella panels and trays

Beyond aesthetics, these are the points worth resolving at design stage:

• Exact dimensions: it is best to give the manufacturer the actual dimensions of the shower so that the tray arrives cut to size; if it has to be cut on site, Acquabella advises consulting its technical service first.
• Coordinated colour: Acquabella makes trays, panels, grates, worktops and washbasins in Akron® in the same colour ranges, so the whole bathroom can be resolved in a single material.
• Minimal joints: the large format of the panel (250 × 120 cm) reduces joints to sealed 2 mm junctions, limiting the places where dirt can build up.
• Interior use: the manufacturer does not recommend its Akron® products for outdoor use.
• Maintenance: soap and water with a soft cloth; never scourers, solvents, acids, alkalis or abrasive products.

Textures, colours and reliefs are best understood at full scale: the depth of a wave or the feel of a slate texture do not come across in the same way in a catalogue. At the Matter material library we help you plan the complete bathroom and compare materials and finishes with your technical team.