Precision, Purity, and the Poetics of Stainless Steel for Contemporary Bathrooms

"Communicating an idea using only the essentials is a far greater challenge than it often appears. From Japanese haikus to the refined sculptures of Constantin Brâncuși, many artistic expressions have sought to condense the maximum meaning with the minimum of elements. This economy of form is not a sign of scarcity, but of intensity: every stroke, every word, every silence gains weight."

"That same principle, which transcends various artistic languages, resonates deeply in contemporary design. When reduced to the essential, furniture or everyday objects reveal a form of beauty that arises from precision and transcends their function. This is exemplified by HUM, the new collection of taps developed by designer Philippe Malouin for QuadroDesign, in which a simple gesture is transformed into a complete language."

"His work spans furniture, lighting, and everyday objects, and is often described as a process of editing, removing the unnecessary until only the essential remains. "Holding a cylinder of stainless steel in my hand, I was drawn to its clarity and the sense of permanence it held," he recalls. From this minimal form, he introduced a contrasting curve, the opposite of the rigid cylinder, which became the spout and defined the entire project."

Economy of form concentrates meaning and intensity, granting weight to each stroke, word, and silence. Simplicity and well-resolved gestures produce intrinsic appeal across arts and performance. Contemporary design applies the same principle, revealing beauty through precision when objects are reduced to essentials. The HUM collection for QuadroDesign translates a single gesture into a complete language for taps. Philippe Malouin removes the unnecessary to produce radical, timeless pieces across furniture, lighting, and everyday objects. A stainless steel cylinder paired with a contrasting curved spout—inspired by a hummingbird beak—defines HUM's form, while proportion, gesture, and touch counter stainless steel's clinical associations.

Read at ArchDaily