Leading washroom designer and manufacturer, Washroom
Washroom has completed the installation of new washrooms for a London office
utilising a striking dark oak and bronze design to complement the building’s
distinctive Art Deco interior.
The 1930s built Kent House has been refurbished
throughout to provide Grade A office space set over nine floors, with two
retail units on the basement and ground floors. A short stroll away from
Mayfair and Soho, the building boasts natural light on all sides and is
something of an island in the heart of London’s crowded west end.
Working with Nick Jordan from interior architecture
and design company, WISH, Washroom Washroom installed new washrooms on the
second floor of the building which were designed to complement the Art Deco
style of the building.
In order to maximise the available space for office
use, Washroom installed a run of unisex superloos. Each self-contained cubicle
includes a WC, vanity unit and hand-drying facilities behind a full height
cubicle door with the same design also rolled out to the disabled access
toilets to create a cohesive design across all areas of the building. Also
being unisex, such superloos mean there is no need for separate male and female
facilities which take up more space – making them an increasingly popular choice
within the office sector.
Washroom’s full height, floor to ceiling Alto toilet
cubicles were specified as they provide complete privacy, a vital requirement
for unisex facilities. The popular Alto cubicles can be manufactured in a wide
range of different finishes and materials but for this project a natural fumed
oak veneer was used to create the unique look as specified. The engineered oak
was treated with ammonia to bring out the natural tannins in the oak and create
a dark rich shade to mirror the classic dark wood typically seen in 1930s
interior design. Finished with 20 per cent sheen lacquer for a shiny finish
that is also hardwearing and easy to clean without concealing the natural grain
of the wood.
Each cubicle includes its own bespoke vanity unit,
which Washroom also designed and installed with veneered vanity under panels
and wall panels both stained to match the toilet cubicle doors and link the
washroom areas to together. The bespoke vanity units complete with square
countertop basins set on a floating shelf also included an integrated waste bin
to keep the washroom areas clean, tidy and clutter free.
The addition of unique bronze effect ironmongery
accessories from Allgood including locks, disabled handles, push plates and
signage, combines with the dark oak woodgrain to create the luxury high
specification finish required to deliver a contemporary washroom with a nod to
the style of the building itself.
Trevor Bowers, director at Washroom Washroom commented: “We
enjoy being able to create a washroom design which is sensitive to its
surroundings and perfectly suited to the building it’s housed in. Office
washrooms are increasingly seen as an integral part of a building, so it’s
important to ensure the design mirrors the interior of the rest of the office –
something which I think we’ve achieved here.”
