If ever a venue were up to the challenge of facilitating an achievement in bathroom design comparable to those previously accomplished by Jaime Hayon and Marcel Wanders for Bisazza Bagno, one might conjecture it were Fuorisalone. For what better staging ground for the superlative talents of Nendo founder Oki Sato—“a dazzling environment to showcase the new pieces, which will be shown alongside Bisazza Bagno’s previous two collections.”

Nendo Collection. Designed by Oki Sato. Manufactured by Bisazza Bagno.

Intriguing New Material For Bathroom Design

This—the third line in the exclusive manufacturer’s bath fittings portfolio—is a synthesis of old world and new, of artisanal techniques with the best in minimalist functionality. The Nendo Collection’s biggest coup is its use of Larch Wood, a versatile material whose rich golden hues approximate the tonal modulations of a field of wheat in August.

Larch is gorgeous to be sure. The singular warmth of the wood provides an effective counterpoint to the spareness of the design. One of Sato’s objectives with Nendo was to evoke the sense of calm and serenity present in ancient places of meditation. The collection of bathtubs, sinks, and drawers accomplishes that and more. Owing to the unadorned quality of the pieces, the Nendo Collection gives a feeling of spaciousness as it allows room for passage between the different elements.

This last quality has an historical antecedent in the communal Japanese bathing experience. Formerly, a “place for communication,” says Sato, “Families bathing together as well as public baths were very common until a few decades ago.” In acknowledging the once public nature of the bath yet creating the high functionality and sense of privacy required today, Sato toes the line between preserving the past and embracing the future: “A silent yet comfortable space that enables you to communicate with yourself, just like the traditional tea rooms in Japan.”

About the Manufacturer: Founded in 1956 in Alta Vicenza in Northern Italy, Bisazza’s main claim to fame is as one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of glass mosaics for interior and exterior decoration. Presently, the company is one of the top design brands in the world, with work by renowned designers like Ettore Sottsass, Fabio Novembre, and Patricia Urquiola. The Bisazza Bagno Bath Collection includes designs by Marcel Wanders, Jaime Hayon, and Oki Sato: “Bisazza Bagno is a natural extension of the Bisazza brand and was created to complete the product offering to private clients as well as the hotel industry and top end contract sector.”