British K/B Manufacturer Commissions Zaha Hadid to Design Line of Taps

The taps feature touch-sensitive technology and a three-way, patented flow system isolating warm water, cold water, and drinking water.

Laurel Petriello -- Interior Design, 2/10/2009 12:00:00 AM

Are you beginning to hear the name Zaha Hadid in your sleep? The ambitious architect—a seemingly modern-day Superwoman—strikes again in the world of product design, recently completing kitchen and bath fixtures for British brassware manufacturer Triflow Concepts.

The line, which launched last month in London, was inspired by the movement of water. The shape of the taps represents the continuous flow of liquid attempting to merge spout, body and handle in a seamless curvilinear fashion.

“Our starting point was a series of formal studies on the conceptual terms of ‘fluidity’ and ‘seamlessness’ as we wanted to generate the fluid geometries of water in motion,” stated designer Zaha Hadid. “By applying advanced 3D software to our experiments into the viscosity of liquids, we were able to explore complex forms and their productivity for domestic environments.”

Due to the nature and innovation of the design, the taps required advanced methods of production and a unique ceramic coring process. They feature touch-sensitive technology and a three-way, patented flow system isolating warm water, cold water, and drinking water. To ensure drinking water remains sanitized, all drinking water flows through a dedicated waterway, and the taps then alerts users to replace the built-in water treatment filter when necessary.