![[Image: Jury President John Pawson, Designer Li Xi and BCD Director Isabel Roig]](/database/images/display/sb4ac51d4daf8f2.jpg)
Above: Jury President John Pawson, Designer Li Xi and BCD Director Isabel Roig
01 October 2009
Roca announces Breathing Bathtub by young Chinese designer Li Xi as winner of 3rd Jump the Gap contest
Barcelona (Spain) - Roca has announced the name of the winning project of the 3rd edition of the International Jump the Gap Competition, chosen from 382 project presentations and coinciding with the opening of the 100% Design Exhibition in London.
On 24 September, John Pawson, architect and president of the jury, announced the competition winner, chosen among 11 finalists. The winning project is Breathing Bathtub by the young Chinese designer Li Xi.
Above: Breathing Bathtub design by young Chinese designer Li Xi
Breathing Bathtub is an innovative concept that turns bathing into a healthier experience for the users and is significantly more efficient in terms of energy and water consumption. The bathtub is lined with a revolutionary material similar to a sponge. The material molds itself to the shape of the users, guaranteeing maximum comfort and as a consequence uses less than half the water used normally.
As its name suggests, the Breathing Bathtub can breathe as the sponge material filters the water through a process similar to the osmosis of plants meaning that any impurity in the water becomes trapped in the lower layer of the lining, guaranteeing clean water and an important reduction in consumption. Another surprising characteristic of the bathtub's lining is the product feature indicating when the water should be renewed.
The full list of finalists included projects from seven different countries: three from Spain, two from China and Russia, and one from Czech Republic, France, Poland and Portugal.
John Pawson, president of the contest's jury, announced the winning project in an excellent and enjoyable award ceremony attended by not only representatives from Roca but also members of the jury such as Chantal Hamaide, Director of the Intramuros magazine and Josep Congost, Director of the Roca Center Design.
All attending agreed that initiatives such as Jump the Gap help to raise the bar and see new proposals and working methods of the young emergent talent that's defining the future.
In the words of Pawson, "Architecture can be a very introspective process. When you are so intently focused on your own work, it is interesting to spend time looking at how other people are addressing some of the same questions. All of the projects which made the Jump the Gap shortlist had something, but, for me, the Breathing Bathtub stood out from the beginning, not least for the environmental intelligence of its design."
In addition to John Pawson, the jury was composed of prominent figures within the fields of architecture and design and included Héctor Serrano, Carlos Ferrater, Josep Congost, Alfredo Häberli, Carlos Lamela, Alberto Meda and Chantal Haimade.
From 24-27 September, Roca was present in the 100% Design Exhibition and its stand, whose theme this year is the interaction of people with water and bathroom spaces, offered visitors the opportunity to enjoy and experience its different contents.
On 24 September, John Pawson, architect and president of the jury, announced the competition winner, chosen among 11 finalists. The winning project is Breathing Bathtub by the young Chinese designer Li Xi.
Above: Breathing Bathtub design by young Chinese designer Li Xi
Breathing Bathtub is an innovative concept that turns bathing into a healthier experience for the users and is significantly more efficient in terms of energy and water consumption. The bathtub is lined with a revolutionary material similar to a sponge. The material molds itself to the shape of the users, guaranteeing maximum comfort and as a consequence uses less than half the water used normally.
As its name suggests, the Breathing Bathtub can breathe as the sponge material filters the water through a process similar to the osmosis of plants meaning that any impurity in the water becomes trapped in the lower layer of the lining, guaranteeing clean water and an important reduction in consumption. Another surprising characteristic of the bathtub's lining is the product feature indicating when the water should be renewed.
The full list of finalists included projects from seven different countries: three from Spain, two from China and Russia, and one from Czech Republic, France, Poland and Portugal.
John Pawson, president of the contest's jury, announced the winning project in an excellent and enjoyable award ceremony attended by not only representatives from Roca but also members of the jury such as Chantal Hamaide, Director of the Intramuros magazine and Josep Congost, Director of the Roca Center Design.
All attending agreed that initiatives such as Jump the Gap help to raise the bar and see new proposals and working methods of the young emergent talent that's defining the future.
In the words of Pawson, "Architecture can be a very introspective process. When you are so intently focused on your own work, it is interesting to spend time looking at how other people are addressing some of the same questions. All of the projects which made the Jump the Gap shortlist had something, but, for me, the Breathing Bathtub stood out from the beginning, not least for the environmental intelligence of its design."
In addition to John Pawson, the jury was composed of prominent figures within the fields of architecture and design and included Héctor Serrano, Carlos Ferrater, Josep Congost, Alfredo Häberli, Carlos Lamela, Alberto Meda and Chantal Haimade.
From 24-27 September, Roca was present in the 100% Design Exhibition and its stand, whose theme this year is the interaction of people with water and bathroom spaces, offered visitors the opportunity to enjoy and experience its different contents.
About Roca
Roca is a world leader in the definition of bathroom spaces and is a reference in the world of design. Currently, Roca is present in more than 135 markets and has 65 manufacturing plants in 17 countries.
Constantly evolving, Roca believes in the excellence of product design with the objective of offering spaces for users to live unique experiences with their five senses. As a global brand, Roca creates versatile products that can adapt to different consumer habits around the world, offering unique solutions for all needs, for both today and tomorrow.
With the continual support of research, Roca is creating a future where design and innovation are united to achieve users' well being. Roca also works with prestigious designers, architects and interior designers such as Moneo, Chipperfield, Herzog & de Meuron, Benedito, Giugiaro or Schmidt & Lackner among others. All of this has made Roca the referential global brand it is today in the creation of bathroom spaces.
www.roca.com
Constantly evolving, Roca believes in the excellence of product design with the objective of offering spaces for users to live unique experiences with their five senses. As a global brand, Roca creates versatile products that can adapt to different consumer habits around the world, offering unique solutions for all needs, for both today and tomorrow.
With the continual support of research, Roca is creating a future where design and innovation are united to achieve users' well being. Roca also works with prestigious designers, architects and interior designers such as Moneo, Chipperfield, Herzog & de Meuron, Benedito, Giugiaro or Schmidt & Lackner among others. All of this has made Roca the referential global brand it is today in the creation of bathroom spaces.
www.roca.com
About Jump the Gap
Roca's belief in new talent is behind the creation of initiatives such as the International Design Contest Jump the Gap, organised in cooperation with the BCD (Barcelona Centre de Disseny) and the support of Icsid. The contest targets young architects and designers, 35 years old or younger, and offers the winning project and its author the opportunity of international exposure.
www.jumpthegap.net
www.bcd.es
www.jumpthegap.net
www.bcd.es
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