Sophie Weston, channel marketing manager at Geberit, discusses what the ‘new normal’ bathroom could be post-lockdown, and how existing product design and innovation can help shape the future for architects and designers

A new normal?
The term ‘unprecedented’ has been used a lot in recent months, but the outbreak of Covid-19 and what its legacy could be, really is like nothing else. Many homeowners are now preparing to adjust to a new world where hygiene is front of mind as soon as they step outside their front doors. One recent study undertaken during the pandemic’s peak found that 80 per cent of consumers are expecting to change the way they engage with publicly available technology¹. But how will this affect behavior in our own homes – a safe haven for many over these tumultuous last few months?  We’ve already seen a huge shift in consumer behaviour. At the start of the outbreak, for example, Amazon reported that searches for touchless products increased by up to 2000 per cent. So, are we set to see a ‘new normal’ in bathroom design and innovation?

The importance of washroom spaces
It’s worth touching briefly on the history of the bathroom and its evolution alongside disease prevention. Today’s bathrooms developed alongside the 1950’s cholera epidemic, the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, and tuberculosis outbreaks. Back then, wallpaper, floorings and finishes were all designed to minimise the spread of bacteria, and to promote health and hygiene. The need for easily cleanable bathrooms was a crucial consideration.

In later years, when antibiotics and hygiene standards improved, the emphasis shifted away from disease prevention. Bathrooms evolved into more sensory spaces, with trends like textured interiors in the 70s and 80s, where carpets and toilet seat covers were seen as ‘stylish’ additions. More recent decades have seen the transformation of the bathroom into a sanctuary, with technological innovations, such as bluetooth and infrared, developing alongside this. What will the legacy of Covid-19 be in the next generation of ‘new normal’ bathrooms?

Product innovations
Even before the advent of Covid-19, we were seeing the start of a new frontier in bathroom design. Changing households, such as the rise in multi-generational living, had helped fuel growth in demand for infrared products. This should not be underestimated when considering how bathrooms may change. The Office for National Statistics suggests that households with three generations living together has risen from 325,000 in 2001 to 419,000 in 2013², and in 2019 it reported a 46 per cent increase in the number of young people aged 20-34 living with their parents³.

Manufacturers have of course been producing touchless products for many years, and it’s likely that one of the biggest shifts we’ll now see will be an even greater demand for touchless technology. This is something we at Geberit are now seeing unprecedented demand for from our customers. Infrared wall-mounted taps, for example, such as Geberit’s Brenta and Piave products, optimise hand hygiene in washrooms used by non-household members, such as guest cloakrooms. These are areas where bacteria can spread between households. Likewise, touchless toilet flush controls, including Geberit’s Sigma80 and Sigma10, incorporate a sensor that allows the unit to flush as soon as the toilet has been used. Making any guest washroom space touchless wherever possible will be a huge consideration for architects and designers.

But it’s not just infrared technology that can help put hygiene front-of-mind. More simple product developments from manufacturers, including Geberit’s KeraTect Glaze, make cleaning easier with a non-porous and smoother surface. Glazes such as these can also help prevent staining of the ceramics and create a high-gloss effect. Solutions like this not only help to maintain high levels of hygiene, but also crucially help to enhance the look and feel of the bathroom as a ‘clean’ space.