DESIGN MIAMI 2011
TOKYO DESIGN WEEK 2011
DUTCH DESIGN WEEK 2011
VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2011[Update: This project was originally and erroneously credited to a UK-based design firm, who posted the project on their site with no proper attribution, leading one to believe the work was theirs, whether by accident or negligence. Please note that the designer is Daniel Dobrogorsky.]
Daniel Dobrogorsky's Koolhaus concept is a faucet that lets you know how much water you're using--not just from the Koolhaus itself, but throughout the entire bathroom, even dividing the bath tap and shower tap into separate categories.
I'm not crazy about the form factor--seems like a part from an extreme athlete's bicycle--and the screen's a bit too small for my tastes, but I realize these things are subjective, and overall I find the concept solid. Am also glad Dobrogorsky left toilet water consumption off the display--while it's easy to take a shorter shower, I wouldn't know how to begin curtailing toilet usage.
Hit the jump for some cool developmental shots.
Comments
You'll probably delete this comment, but imho this here is a brutally obscure design, and I'm profesionally involved in 'mixers' design. Also mixing electronics with taps isn't a grat idea , at least for now - saw once at Milan design fair a bathtub mixer with dvd player - oh my!
I tried something similar for a school project, but opted to allow my concept to be screwed onto a regular tap. I also simplified the interface so the flow and temperature were displayed in one shape instead of two.
Koolhaus on the other hand uses more variables in their display and has a more developed final product. I like their prototype, but find their interface overloaded with information. It would be interesting to see if this faucet will sell.
Similar and better products existed many years ago in Japan and Asia nothing new.
I like the anodized aluminum look (if thats what it is) for sure. But the mixing post really detracts from the form. Maybe it could be hidden or done in a way that's less obtrusive. I'm not huge on the concept. Although it makes sense to have a display that's in your face telling you to not use as much water, I think it's a bit gimmicky. The information of how much water is used from which fixture would be helpful but I think it would make more sense to have a central display in the home that monitored all of the fixtures including things like the kitchen sink and outside water hose spout. I mean other than that, displays are pretty cool!
this is not a UK based design. it is by Daniel Dobrogorsky of Australia who is a current Industrial Design student at Monash university. here is the link to his blog (http://dandesign.org/) you should credit him for what is his design.
ryan
Hipstomp: For the toilet, one must live by the mantra: "If it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown, fluch it down." That's how you cut back on toilet usage.
Dobrogorsky left toilet water consumption off the display because he assumed that the client for this accessory reuses the bath and hand wash water to fill the toilet tank