“His & Hers” bathroom concept from Villeroy & Boch

As seen at this year’s ISH (yesterday in fact) this is the visually stunning “His & Hers” bathroom concept from Villeroy & Boch. Here, designer Gesa Hansen (who has been working with Villeroy & Boch for many years) explains her motivations behind the collection. Against the backdrop of gender discussions and equality, Gesa has turned her attention to the idea of the “His & Hers” bathroom which was displayed as an artistic installation at the Villeroy & Boch stand.

Gesa says, “”His & Hers” is all about differences and similarities, convergence and contrasts, men and women, masculinity and femininity – and if and how all that is reflected in the bathroom”. The concept is expressed by illustrating the small differences in men’s and women’s bathroom rituals – without advocating a rigid separation. Gesa explains that what at first may seem completely different, is often not that dissimilar and notes “on the whole, I think that there are more similarities than differences”.

When asked if she believes there is such a thing as a men’s or women’s bathroom, Gesa does not see it as a black-and-white answer. “When it comes to colours, there are so many similarities that a woman can also feel at ease in “his” bathroom and vice versa. But when it comes to the atmosphere and furnishings, men and women do tend to have different priorities”, she explains.

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“For me, the colour concept is a manifestation of individuality. Ultimately, it’s not the colours themselves that differentiate between male and female, but rather their composition and dosage. I applied all the colours for “His & Hers” extensively and then let them interact with each other to create an effect”.

While Gesa does see some colours as typically masculine or feminine she sees that most are universal. “For instance, pink is a strong feminine colour, which I didn’t want to withhold from “Hers” and so added it as a colourful highlight. Bold greens, reds and blues feature in both “His” and “Hers”. However, I did vary the look of the colours: “His” darker, “Hers” warmer,” she says.

When asked if the functional features of the “His & Hers” collection were deliberate she answers emphatically. “Yes, that was also intentional. When it comes to functionality, “His & Hers” need to meet other demands, demands that tend to be more masculine or more feminine. Men like bathrooms to be practical and functional. Everything they use on a daily basis needs to be within easy reach. And because men prefer to take showers rather than baths, “His” has a more spacious shower area.

Mod cons are also indispensable in “Hers”. However, an atmosphere where she can relax and feel good is more important. The bathroom needs to be cosy, natural, comfortable, even a little secretive – yes, diva-like, like a boudoir. This is why the interior design here
is a little more playful. And because women don’t necessarily want to have their bathroom paraphernalia and cosmetics on display, I focused more on furniture for “Hers”.”

When asked to summarise the collection, Gesa finds it easy to answer. “”His & Hers” is an artistic projection, which combines colour concepts with interior design, while revealing male and female characteristics. The colour concepts work for both men and women, there are small differences when it comes to furnishings. Nonetheless, for me, “His & Hers” is a call for equality and similarity.

For more information visit villeroy-boch.com.au/