Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in English“A new dimension of Water” will be the installation hosted at the LAUFEN space in Milan from 7th to 13th April, representing an immersive journey to discover how a project can flow freely like water, honoring the essential role of natural elements in shaping our daily spaces.A sustainable future needs pioneersFor over 130 years, the Swiss bathroom company LAUFEN has always been a pioneer in seeking progressive and cutting-edge design solutions. On the other hand, the recent inauguration of the world’s first electric tunnel kiln for sanitary ceramic production marks an epochal turning point in the company’s sustainability journey.Inaugurated in November 2023 after four years of development at the LAUFEN Gmunden facility in Austria, this innovative electric kiln represents a consistent alternative to conventional fossil fuel-dependent production. The highly efficient, decarbonized, and automated e-kiln is a fundamental milestone in Gmunden’s transition towards the world’s first net-zero sanitary ware facility and plays a central role in the Roca Group’s decarbonization strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.The collaboration with Yves Behar: design follows technologyIn response to this revolutionary technology, LAUFEN invited the Founder and CEO of Fuseproject, Yves Behar, to imagine the first object created using this pioneering process. The collaboration with Behar was a natural progression after the installation of the new electric kiln.“To see a major industry leader taking a tremendous bold initiative and create the very first kiln of this size powered by solar and green sources of electricity set the basis for a fantastic collaboration”, says Yves Behar.“My favourite saying that I use a lot in my work is that design accelerates the adoption of new ideas. The new idea of the electric kiln can be experienced in the way that it takes the force of the sun and turns it into power. While our ceramic designs show us the beauty and motion of water and creates an experience of nature“, explains Yves Behar.The designer, known for his philanthropic initiatives and humanistic approach to projects, has always shown particular interest in the interaction between technology and design quality to ensure a better life and a more sustainable future. At Milan Design Week, LAUFEN presents the result of this collaboration: a new concept that revolutionizes the basin’s form with a design that perfectly balances pure aesthetics, innovation, and maximum functionality.Saphirkeramik is the ultra-thin ceramic that changed bathroom design The project also marks a new chapter in exploring Saphirkeramik, LAUFEN’s innovative ultra-thin and highly versatile ceramic material that has transformed our relationship with bathroom design over the years. Launched in 2013, this extraordinary ceramic material revolutionized bathroom design through its unique characteristics of resistance and thinness.Marc Viardot, Marketing and Design Director of Roca Group: “It was a dream come true to create something together that has never been done before. It felt that with the new electric kiln, paired with LAUFEN’s unique Saphirkeramik technology, the time was ripe for our collaboration. Since this was Yves’ first project with sanitary ceramic, we gave him carte blanche to create an icon. Inspired by the first CO2 free production in the world, Yves’ approach was very fresh and resulted in an unconventional new concept for the bathroom. It feels a bit like we reinvented the wheel – at least the way we relate to the daily use of water.” An installation curated by Beda Achermann and Matteo FioriniLAUFEN’s exhibition at Milan Design Week 2025 follows a conceptual path that allows visitors to discover the innovative processes developed by the company in recent years. The journey begins in the courtyard with a scaled reproduction of the electric kiln, offering a real image of the Gmunden facility in Austria. Ascending to the main floor, visitors enter an immersive environment where exhibited products emerge from darkness like actors on a stage. The nighttime scenography of the LAUFEN Milano space enhances Yves Behar’s refined designs, created in Saphirkeramik – an extraordinary material that unites past and future.Water dynamics as a source of inspiration Yves Behar drew inspiration from water – an element that has played a significant role in his life and has always captivated him. By observing and studying its fluid, ever-changing motion, he has created sleek, sculptural washbasins that beautifully reinterpret its movement.“My favourite saying that I use a lot in my work is that design accelerates the adoption of new ideas. The new idea of the electric kiln can be experienced in the way that it takes the force of the sun and turns it into power. While our ceramic designs show us the beauty and motion of water and creates an experience of nature“, explains Yves Behar.Aesthetics have function. And vice versa.The innovative aspect comes from the unusual shape of the basin’s interior, on two different levels, which not only creates a sense of movement in its aesthetics but also creates a swirling water motion that perfectly cleans the basin. Additionally, LAUFEN has developed a large hidden drain that reduces the siphon’s dimensions and makes the overall aesthetics more elegant.The sustainability values dear to both the brand and the designer are also reflected in the product itself. The two-level internal design allows water to flow quickly to the basin’s bottom, reducing the need to fill the entire sink and minimizing water consumption. This innovative approach makes the project particularly noteworthy from a water-saving perspective.The exhibition concludes on the ground floor with a collection of Alape, which debuts at the Milan Design Week under the LAUFEN umbrella. This final chapter showcases a seamless synthesis of elegance and technological advancement, embodied by the latest glazed steel and metallic-surface washbasins: Rivo and Tendo, Made in Germany.The washbasins are presented together with the new premium ARUN furniture collection creating an ensemble that stands out for high-quality material, form and function. Beyond demonstrating the seamless compatibility of LAUFEN faucets, the newly integrated washplaces combine precision, masterful craftsmanship, and state-of-the-art technology with timeless elegance in a perfectly balanced symbiosis. It is a celebration of design, ceramics, and unique expertise — a testament to the transformation of ideas into industrial processes and to the craftsmanship that has accompanied humanity since its origins. A closing chapter that not only honours tradition but also paves the way for new creative possibilities in the future.
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