Aurena – a collaborative design from Duravit and Antonio Citterio

In Aurena from Duravit, Citterio has designed a bathroom range that exudes timeless elegance with its clear silhouette, exquisite materials, precise details and functional design innovations.

“The idea was to structure surfaces and create a sense of order that positively influences the quality of the overall room,” said designer Citterio.

For the designer, the starting point in the design process was to create a perfectly proportioned surface at the washing area made entirely of ceramic and separated from the wet area, the vanity tops with integrated dividers and precise, elegant contours which are a perfect way to store bathroom accessories. A basin can be integrated into this ceramic console, or the console can be combined with an above-counter washbasin made from ceramic or glass. The architect opted for compact basin sizes allowing him to prioritize large vanity tops. An aluminium profile frame with a stainless-steel finish is used to unite the console with the vanity unit, with a projection on one side for a subtly integrated towel holder.

“I try to give straightforward answers to reality.,” continued Citterio. “At the washbasin we need elements for hanging a towel, we need large vanity tops, we need storage space – and it should all fit together perfectly.”

For Citterio, furniture is an integral component of the design. A shelving unit made entirely of aluminium with an inlaid mesh base provides an open storage space, this is complemented by a centrally placed element with two drawers on the double washstand. The Aurena range includes a closed alternative, a furniture unit with two drawers, which can be mounted in a floating position on the wall or placed on a metal frame with graceful legs. Here the artisanal production processes are showcased such as the extraordinarily precise mitered edges, that produce a front inset in the frame.

When designing furniture, Citterio thinks beyond pure form, he takes into consideration the effect of the object on the whole room. The innovative design approach adopted for Aurena is highlighted through the balanced colour harmony and materials selected. Ceramic in White or Black meets brushed stainless steel plus a wide range of furniture finishes to create a unique and high-quality interior design. Super-matt carcass colours in White, Taupe, or Graphite can be combined with identical matt or high gloss fronts or with special front fills. The textured wooden surface provides a warmer welcoming atmosphere whilst the white marble-look ceramic panels and the black lacquered glass provide a classic, sophisticated feel.

The designs for matching bathtubs, toilets, bidet, and a mirror create a harmonious concept. The integrated bathtub is made from the new cast-mineral material DuroCast Smooth, whilst the back-to-wall models and free-standing bathtub are made from DuroCast Plus. The chamfered edge at the rim of each bathtub provides an elegant finish. The wall-standing variant features a storage box that forms a connecting element between the organically shaped bathtub and the wall and has been designed in keeping with the washbasin vanity tops.

The soft geometry echoes the oval mirror of the Aurena series, which has a hidden illumination strip laid behind its frame in White. A suitable matching faucet is Wave in the brushed Stainless Steel shade – a surface finish that is echoed in the metal elements of the furniture. Accessories from the Starck T range, designed by Philippe Starck, are the ideal accompaniment. These, too, are available in the same finish, so that toilet-paper holder, towel ring, or brush holder become a collection that is perfectly matched to Aurena.

An architectural range from the hand of an architect Aurena is a versatile interior-design all-rounder; as equally suited for use in private or guest bathrooms as in signature properties such as hotels, medical offices, or office and restaurant restrooms. In addition, it is the first complete ceramic series to be launched with the new HygieneGlaze Plus surface. This unique bathroom upgrade combines unsurpassed hygiene with effortless, environmentally sound cleaning. As an architect, Antonio Citterio knows all too well the requirements and issues of the commercial segment in particular, and his Aurena range seeks to offer solutions that meet market demands.

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Main image credit: Duravit