Shaping Bathrooms Around The World

The success story of the Hangsrohe company stems from over a century of design, innovation and a genuine passion for the element of water

The bathroom as a sanctuary is hardly a new thing. Long enjoyed by people from all walks of life, it is an archaic indulgence dating as far back as the ancient Roman baths to Japanese sent to bathhouses to Middle Eastern hammams. The bathroom has come a long way since our forefathers and over time has evolved into a sanitised, hygienic version of its former self. Today, modern bathrooms come in all forms and sizes: large and extravagant, small yet comfortable. No matter the size, it remains a place of privacy, luxury and a personal haven for its owner.

While bathrooms were once regarded as communal areas shared by many, the private bathroom only began to emerge in the early 20th century with the invention of internal plumbing, which made the installation of toilets and showers in the home a possibility. It is during this era, in 1901, that a young innovator named Hans Grohe, who operated a small metal pressing workshop in the Black Forest town of Schiltach in Germany, decided to ride on the early yet exciting wave of bathroom technology and founded a company of the same name.

Driven by his passion for water, Hans Grohe drew from the skills of his workshop to specialise in producing tin showers, an innovation which was regarded as an affordable replacement for the bath and a convenient alternative to the overhead shower. Since then, Hans Grohe remained relentless in the continuous development of his innovation in sanitary ware, a feat which earned him the reputation as a specialist and a pioneer of the German sanitary industry.

Today, the hansgrohe brand has remained one of the world’s foremost bathroom fittings manufacturers, encompassing showers, shower systems, bathroom and kitchen mixers, and kitchen sinks – all of which are designed to focus on the needs of the user.