Designer Yves Béhar creates a harmonious wash basin for Laufen, following the natural flow
Laufen's Volta Sink: A Revolutionary Leap in Sustainable Bathroom Design
Swiss designer Yves Behar has made his mark in the bathroom design world with the launch of Laufen's Volta sink during Milan Design Week 2025. This collaboration with the over 130-year-old Swiss brand marks Behar's first foray into bathroom fixtures.
The Volta sink, inspired by the shape of a water droplet, embodies a blend of fluidity and organic form. Its minimalist, smooth silhouette showcases elegance and practicality, while its distinctive shape transforms a bathroom fixture into a sculptural piece. This design is a testament to Behar's philosophy of balancing utility and emotional connection through everyday objects.
The Volta sink is crafted using Laufen's innovative SaphirKeramik, an ultra-thin, high-performance ceramic material. This material, along with the cutting-edge technology used by Laufen, results in more efficient production while significantly reducing its environmental footprint.
One of the standout features of the Volta sink is its design, which creates an aesthetic of movement with the swirling water that cleans the basin effectively. The sink allows water to pool at the bottom, making it suitable for activities like shaving or washing one's face without filling the entire sink.
The complex interior and exterior profile of the Volta sink does not increase the overall size of the basin, making it a harmonious blend of form and function. This unconventional design, with its functional, unconventional interior shape that contrasts with the simple exterior form, makes the Volta sink a standout piece that could potentially become an icon in bathroom design.
Yves Behar's design approach for the Volta sink was fresh and resulted in an unconventional concept for the bathroom. The sink was designed to express Laufen's commitment to sustainability, embodied in their CO2-free industrial electric kiln. This world-first tunnel kiln, powered by solar and green electricity, is used to produce ceramic sanitaryware.
The production process in the tunnel kiln streamlines the firing of products as they move through the tunnel, reducing the need for loading and unloading compared to batch kilns. This technological advancement further cements Laufen's position as a leader in sustainable bathroom design.
For those interested in staying updated on design stories from around the world, Laufen offers a daily digest via their newsletter on their website. The Volta sink is a testament to Laufen's dedication to pushing the boundaries of design and sustainability, and it serves as an inspiration for the future of bathroom design.
- Yves Behar's unconventional Volta sink design, showcased during Milan Design Week 2025, breathes new life into home-and-garden products, with its blend of artistic form and sustainability, particularly evident in its use of cutting-edge technology like Laufen's solar-powered, CO2-free industrial electric kiln.
- In the realm of lifestyle, technology, and home-and-garden design, Laufen sets itself apart with innovations like the Volta sink, whose minimalist shape, fluid silhouette, and sustainable manufacturing process pave the way for a more eco-friendly future, redefining bathroom fixtures as works of art rather than mere products.
