The toilet and the bathroom sink are two fixtures that epitomize function. Generally, they receive little attention in the design world, though they exist in every home and office and are used repeatedly every day. Roca, a global leader in bathroom solutions, in collaboration with Buratti + Battiston Architects, addressed these two utilitarian objects simultaneously: merging them functionally as well as physically.

W+W. Designed by Burrati + Battiston Architects for Roca.

The result is W+W, Washbasin + Watercloset, winner of the bi-yearly ISH 09 Design Plus Award in Frankfurt this month for its innovative concepts in sustainability. W+W is a fusion between a washbasin (sink) and water closet (toilet). The form, an extruded rectangle pulled by the force of gravity, seems to serve as a simple diagram of the way in which it functions. From the sink’s faucet and through the drain, the water moves downwards through the sleek porcelain form and into the toilet. Water from the washbasin (sink) is reused to fill the water closet (toilet bowl), thereby reducing water consumption by 25% in comparison to a standard dual flush toilet. W+W’s automatic cleaning system prevents bacteria and foul odors in the toilet water.

W+W is a compact bathroom solution capable of fitting in the smallest of bathrooms. It successfully combines two objects that differ in height and depth for pragmatic reason into a simple and clean solution that does not compromise functionality. Designers Buratti + Battiston, have made innovation look so easy. ISH, International Sanitation Heating, is one of the leading trade fairs concerning bathrooms. Axor Urquiola was another showstopper at ISH; the collaboration between renowned Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola and the esteemed Hansgrohe which transforms the bath into a flexible space of “intimacy, encounter and family sharing.” While Urquiola’s project was not about technical innovation, W+W is. Roca Innovation Lab’s endless research in sustainability combined with Buratti + Battiston’s skillful conceptual and design capabilities has brought about an innovation that is sure to influence the future of bathroom design.