Ahead of the Curve: Futuristic Bathrooms for the Present Day
In bathroom design, it's not hip to be square anymore when curve culture and sci-fi gadgetry are trends poised for lift-off into the future
Susan Redman
20 May 2015
Houzz Australia Editorial Staff; writer, author, dreamer.
With a distinct nod to the futuristic and curvaceous shapes we’ve become so used to in our favourite, iconic sci-fi films, bathroom designers are showing us a way to incorporate forward-thinking features in homes, and especially in bathrooms.
The power of pink. A vivid pop palette and curvaceous shapes are two of the key characteristics in bathrooms that look to the future for design inspiration. By taking a playful approach to design, the architecture and interior design practice Atticus & Milo have created this bright bathroom pictured here for a home in Melbourne.
TIME WARP: Vivid purples, lilacs and pinks were considered futuristic colours in the dystopian sets for the classic film A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick.
TIME WARP: Vivid purples, lilacs and pinks were considered futuristic colours in the dystopian sets for the classic film A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick.
Ground control. Take a post-modern approach to design by incorporating an under-lit floor (considered by designers, especially in the 1970s, as a ‘space-age’ feature) and adding opulent Rococo features, especially gold fittings, in a clinical ice-white bathroom.
TIME WARP: This bathroom, in particular its flooring, appears to be inspired by the futuristic decor in the final scenes of the 1968 science-fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
TIME WARP: This bathroom, in particular its flooring, appears to be inspired by the futuristic decor in the final scenes of the 1968 science-fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Beam me up, Scotty. Star Trek fans will love the shape of things to come in showers. Featuring an extra large shower head fitted with LED downlights that create a blue (or multi-coloured) beam of light around the body, new showers have functions that allow bathers to alter their showering experience. By tweaking thermostatic and pressure controls at hand height within an all-glass frameless cubicle, bathers can not only change temperatures but also the power of water stream from hard to soft.
More space-age ideas for your home
More space-age ideas for your home
Floating floral. One thing that many designers for film include in futuristic home sets is decidedly ‘other worldly’ decoration. Their production designs suggest that super-real images and holograms will depict those things that we once took for granted as we move away from natural rural settings to high-density urban environments. The space age has been embraced in this silvery bathroom that features a huge image of an orchid that’s been framed and installed into a back-lit ceiling. This trick is especially effective for a bathroom with no window.
TIME WARP: The 1982 film Blade Runner by Ridley Scott set the gold standard for sci-fi production design. The iconic multi-award winning film features flashing neon signs and sky-high electronic advertisements in a post-industrial, over-crowded urban environment.
TIME WARP: The 1982 film Blade Runner by Ridley Scott set the gold standard for sci-fi production design. The iconic multi-award winning film features flashing neon signs and sky-high electronic advertisements in a post-industrial, over-crowded urban environment.
Orange slice. Designers have stuck to the square for so long many seem to have forgotten that curves, especially arches, were once firm favourites in interiors (particularly in the mid-20th century). A contemporary version is turning the arch on its side as an entry to the shower. Vibrant orange floor-to-ceiling tiling further emphasises the division of the area from the rest of the white bathroom.
More space age designs at home
More space age designs at home
Soft serve. Curved benchtops can be made using acrylic polymers that are moulded into shape – in fact, just about any shape you can imagine. They are particularly attractive when produced in organic shapes and curved contours because they have seamless joins. Other benefits include being easy to wipe clean and their stain-, bacteria- and heat-resistant qualities. Contrast a curved bathroom benchtop with triangular windows for a truly dramatic look.
Liquid sky. It’s a brave sci-fi fancier that would want to install LED light throughout their home, but some bold lighting and high-tech gadgetry in the bathroom can transform a dark and dated space into one full of light and sensory appeal. In this bathroom, a grey agate Caesarstone panel has been back-lit to provide a brilliantly patterned surface that contrasts with the crisp white and curved vanity. This is complemented by another LED-lit feature – an indulgent walk-in rain shower that delivers the ultimate spa experience.
TIME WARP: In the arthouse sci-fi movie of 1980s fame, Liquid Sky, an alien spacecraft lands on the rooftop of a New York penthouse apartment causing confusing with the inhabitants. Neon and UV lighting is a feature of the production design.
TIME WARP: In the arthouse sci-fi movie of 1980s fame, Liquid Sky, an alien spacecraft lands on the rooftop of a New York penthouse apartment causing confusing with the inhabitants. Neon and UV lighting is a feature of the production design.
Space station. Bathrooms that are not delineated by rectangular rooms and doors offer an organic entryway. In this bathroom, pleasure seekers could imagine they have been transported to the utopian mothership Elysium in the film of the same name.
TELL US
Have you any futuristic features in your bathroom? If you have a high-resolution photo, we’d love to see it in the comments section.
MORE
Bathroom Inspiration: 20 Cool Contemporary Designs
14 Bathroom Trends Expected to Be Big in 2015
Luxe Bathroom Additions That Aren’t as Far-Fetched as You Think
TELL US
Have you any futuristic features in your bathroom? If you have a high-resolution photo, we’d love to see it in the comments section.
MORE
Bathroom Inspiration: 20 Cool Contemporary Designs
14 Bathroom Trends Expected to Be Big in 2015
Luxe Bathroom Additions That Aren’t as Far-Fetched as You Think
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Hi ladyrob1! Please don't let distance deter you if there is a piece of artwork you love! I have already sold 7 paintings to very happy buyers, via the Houzz Marketplace. I represent the vintage work of two talented professional artists: Tom Hamilton and Audrey Mabee. :-)
http://www.houzz.com/photos/products/audrey-mabee
http://www.houzz.com/photos/products/tom-hamilton
Hi Mid Century! Hope I did not imply that I would be interested in buying paintings. As a professional artist myself and "doer" of paintings to go with decor and all sorts of other fantastic persuits...themes for festivals, murals, private commissions, theatrical sets...all really heaps of fun....( and then there's my dark side and private works). Personally, just for me, I am extremely interested in what goes on elsewhere than here in OZ...especially at the top end of the creative processes in artists' psyches...Love Tom Hamilton's works...that's all I meant. Sending one of my really sad pieces...a death from inoperable lung cancer... it gives an idea...of my personal stuff.
I look terribly upset...truth is I was trying not to sneeze!. My cheeky photographer would have loved it and not let me live it down had he got the shot! Again LOVE Tom Hamilton's work! Thanks for the links, much appreciated window on an artist!
Hi ladyrob1! Your work is very interesting, and yes, it is always thrilling to see what other artists are up to. Congratulations on your artistic achievements; it can be very rewarding, as you know. Tom Hamilton died (too young) of a cancerous brain tumor, so interesting you would choose that personal piece to show me... very sad, indeed. Best wishes on your future endeavors!