- Consumers seek intelligent solutions to improve hygiene at home
- Private and public architecture needs to pivot to a health-based approach that addresses increased hygiene needs
- Coen van Oostrom, Founder and CEO of EDGE, predicts that new health measures will play a key role in a new generation of workplaces
Beirut, 11th May 2020 –With new hygiene measures being rolled out around the globe, intelligent architectural concepts can play a key role in improving consumer health and safety. Especially spaces such as public lavatories, offices, restaurants or train stations need to be rethought. But the challenges new hygiene demands pose also apply to homes. “Together with sustainability, health will define the way we build and design homes, offices and places where people meet,” says Coen van Oostrom, Founder and CEO of EDGE, a company that specializes in developing a new generation of buildings that focus on the health of people and the planet. “Touchless products and speech-driven technology will play a key role in making healthy and safe offices. Consumers will want to minimize contact to surfaces as much as possible”, adds van Oostrom.
Like Coen van Oostrom, GROHE, a leading sanitary brand and part of LIXIL, is mapping out how improved architecture and design can help tackle current hygiene challenges. Today, particular attention with regard to new hygiene requirements is paid to sensitive areas like bathrooms and kitchens. More than ever, having to touch a conventional faucet – especially in a public bathroom – is not an attractive option. Touchless faucets which are controlled by an infrared sensor can therefore be a good alternative to make hand-washing more hygienic. Thanks to the activation of the water flow by just holding the hands under the spout, the spread of germs and cross-contamination are minimized. In the kitchen, faucets that can be operated completely without hands and instead activate the water flow via forearm, elbow, wrist, or foot offer perfect solutions.
Over the past years, GROHE has developed an intelligent portfolio that meets advanced hygiene demands in bathrooms and kitchens all over the world. “With our wide range of touchless and hands-free products, we at GROHE have the right response to the increased need of hygiene in sensitive areas such as kitchens and bathrooms”, says Jonas Brennwald, CEO LIXIL Water Technology EMENA, Deputy CEO Grohe AG. “Currently, we can say that we are already experiencing a higher demand for our hygiene enhancing products – from both our private and business customers.”
Hygienic solutions for future living concepts
Especially now, new trends will emerge when it comes to the architecture of public and private spaces – and bathrooms and kitchens will be in full focus. Modern architecture aims to provide a healthy approach to meet the increased hygiene demands. “The world has changed and the need to create health-focused architecture and interior design has changed as well”, says Coen van Oostrom: “Even more than before, people will pay attention to hygiene factors within their workspace, kitchen and bathrooms to protect their health and safety.”
About GROHE
GROHE is a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings and has a total of over 6,500 employees in 150 countries – 2,600 of them are based in Germany. Since 2014 GROHE has been part of the strong brand portfolio of the Japanese manufacturer of pioneering water and housing products LIXIL. In order to offer “Pure Freude an Wasser”, every GROHE product is based on the brand values of quality, technology, design and sustainability. Renowned highlights such as GROHE Eurosmart or the GROHE thermostat series as well as groundbreaking innovations such as the GROHE Blue water system underline the brand’s profound expertise. Focused on customer needs, GROHE thus creates intelligent, life-enhancing and sustainable product solutions that offer relevant added value – and bear the “Made in Germany” seal of quality: R&D and design are firmly anchored as an integrated process in Germany. GROHE takes its corporate responsibility very seriously and focuses on a resource-saving value chain. Since April 2020, the sanitary brand has been producing CO2-neutral worldwide. GROHE has also set itself the goal of using plastic-free product packaging by 2021.
In the past ten years alone, more than 460 design and innovation awards as well as several top rankings at the German Sustainability Award have confirmed GROHE’s success. GROHE was the first in its industry to win the CSR Award of the German Federal Government and was also featured in the renowned Fortune® magazine’s ranking of Top 50 that are “Changing the World”.
About LIXIL
LIXIL makes pioneering water and housing products that solve every day, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high quality products that transform homes. But the LIXIL difference is how we do this; through meaningful design, an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to improving accessibility for all and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry leading brands, including INAX, GROHE, American Standard and TOSTEM. With approximately 75,000 colleagues operating in more than 150 countries are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day. Learn more at www.lixil.com