This year Roca presented the NU faucet, designed by Inma Bermúdez, and the TURA bathroom furniture collection created by Andreu Carulla. In recent months, NU has received two prestigious design awards: the Monocle Design Award 2023 for Best in the Bathroom, and a Red Dot for Best Product Design.
NU is a collection of original and colorful faucets that manages to convey powerful emotions thanks to successful color choice and a synthesis of essential design elements achieved thanks to the three models with different handles that are offered, and the six colors inspired by Roca's Mediterranean DNA.
One of the characteristics of this faucet is that it plays with color in new, creative and daring ways. In the words of Inma Bermúdez: "Our first source of inspiration was the whitewashed houses in the Mediterranean with their blue, green and red doors. Then, while researching the TURA collection (designed by Andreu Carulla) that was all about Barcelona's architecture, we thought that it could also be linked to the mosaic floors in Catalan modernista style apartments with their elegant colors. We wanted bold colors, no pastels, colors that shouted out, 'we’re here'. The gloss finish was also an important element, something the opposite of timid, something innovative and different."
The collection offers three different styles of handles "PIN, "DOME" and "STRIPES", which with a diameter of just 35 millimeters, making them Roca's thinnest to date, and their rounded shape combine ingenuity, sustainability and quality. Achieving such an innovative design was the biggest challenge Inma Bermúdez faced: "In faucets it is very difficult to innovate, because there are many technical restrictions and everything is measured down to the last micron, so faucets are almost always very similar. So that was the tricky part: creating different parts that can be manufactured efficiently." Each model has its own idiosyncrasies: DOME embraces its rounded architectural shape, based on the ribbed knobs on old stereos, STRIPES is like an architectural piece that combines the simplicity of its cylindrical shape with the decorative touch of its ribbed and textured surface. Finally, the slender, elongated shape of the PIN handle is reminiscent of a bird.
The detail in each of these faucets reflects the uniqueness of this collection. The red and blue dots indicating hot and cold are discreetly placed under the handles so that when the faucet is turned on, the design creates a smiley face. Inma Bermúdez explains: "Everyone sees that they form a smile. We try to make products communicate in some way, because we believe that objects have a soul. We want to make things simple and beautiful, and if we can make the user smile, even better.
Inma Bermúdez concludes: "Since the pandemic, there has been an explosion of color in interior design, we all want to be surrounded by cheerful, positive things. That's why for the post-pandemic era we wanted a more cheerful yet timeless collection. The faucets are striking, but not strident, the colors are elegant - mustard yellow, cobalt blue. I think we have achieved something that is quite iconic, and at the same time timeless, for Roca. And we give architects and interior designers the option to choose one faucet or another, depending on the style. This makes the collection very versatile."
Roca's continued commitment to environmental sustainability is clear here, with the aerator hidden inside the faucet and the use of the Cold Start System, the NU design reduces water flow each time it is turned on and avoids unnecessary CO2 emissions.
The TURA collection, created by Andreu Carulla, is characterized by a play of volume and space, of light and shadow, and is inspired by the style of the great Barcelona architects of the 20th century, especially Coderch, and thus incorporates Roca's Mediterranean heritage.
Andreu Carulla comments on his work with ROCA: "I always wanted to collaborate with Roca as I believe it is a brand that makes very good products. In addition, the influence of the Catalan formalists, the use of ceramics and the geographical proximity are a good fit. I then discovered that we also speak the same language."
TURA is a collection in which Andreu Carulla has wanted even the smallest decorative touch to have a clear functionality. Robust, and with the precision of urban design, it is characterized by soft contours and by the occasional use of wood and recycled materials in the accessories. The series consists of washbasins, bathtubs, toilets, bidets, bathroom furniture and various storage and lighting solutions. All the products incorporate Roca's latest technologies and materials, maximizing sustainability and comfort: the exclusive XXX porcelain, the RocaRimless® that optimizes water flow and flushing performance, and the Supraglaze® surface treatment that guarantees maximum hygiene. In addition, the washbasins in the collection have a concealed drain.
TURA offers gloss or matte white finishes on all ceramic products, and a palette of trendy colors in furnishings: off-white, terracotta and gray. The furniture in this collection is made of resistant materials with natural and modern finishes, offering an infinite number of storage options and possible layouts. In short, it is a versatile collection that works in both rustic spaces and minimalist bathrooms.
Roca designs, produces and markets bathroom products for architecture, construction and interior design. Founded in 1917, the company combines tradition and knowledge with a passion for innovation and respect for the environment, with the aim of satisfying people's needs and contributing to the improvement of society's well-being. With sustainability incorporated into all its production processes, and the commitment to preserve a better planet for future generations, Roca has implemented this philosophy in the 170 countries in which it operates and in all its 76 factories, and the company transmits this message on a daily basis to its more than 21,000 staff. The family-owned business is the market leader in Europe, Latin America and India. It also has a strong presence in China and the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Africa.
