Dezeen promotion: architect David Morley will discuss how installing Toto bathroom products at his office encouraged his team to cycle more, and also decreased water consumption, as part of a series of Clerkenwell Design Week talks.
Japanese bathroom brand Toto is hosting two talks at its London showroom during Clerkenwell Design Week, which takes place from 22 to 24 May 2018.
In the first talk, titled Talking Toilets, Morley will talk about the various Toto products he has installed at his Clerkenwell-based studio, which includes showers and toilets.
"Six years ago we refitted the David Morley Architects bathrooms with lots of Toto products," he said.
"It was the year of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we wanted to complement our work building one of the most sustainable Olympic Venues by creating environmentally responsible bathrooms in our own studios."
Paired with TOTO’s product, David Morley installed the reAqua unit – a grey water recycling system. The system takes used water from the shower and uses it for flushing the toilet on the floor below. According to Morley, the products have reduced the firm's water use by 30 per cent.
"We recycle shower water for WC flushing and we clad the walls with super thin tiles made from recycled offcuts," explained the architect.
"For the sanitary ware, the timing was perfect to get in at the beginning of Toto's UK launch. Their WCs, taps and accessories are the perfect complement to our office 'eco plan'. The super smooth ceramics are much easier to clean allowing no harmful disinfectants to be used and the clever hydraulics mean we use much less water – quite important when it's recycled!" he added.
"It also looks great and there is plenty of scope to adapt the specification to get as sophisticated a product as you could wish for."
Morley will be joined at the talk by Ana Monrabal, an associate at Roz Barr Architects, who will explain why her studio chose to install Toto products in the bathrooms of The Building Centre in London.
A second talk, called Bathing Rituals for Wellness, will feature yoga and spirituality experts Foca Yariv and Marilena Franghi. The pair will discuss bathing rituals from around the world and how these can be recreated in a contemporary bathroom.
Talking Toilets takes place at 12pm on Tuesday 22 May 2018 at the Toto London Showroom, at 140-142 St John St, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V 4UA. Bathing Rituals for Wellness will be held at 12pm the following day, Wednesday 23 May 2018, in the same place.
Founded in 1917, Toto was the first major company to introduce European and American-style sanitary ceramics to Japan. It signature product is the Washlet toilet, which boasts an integrated bidet, a heated seat and a warm air dryer.
During Clerkenwell Design Week, the brand will also offer a first look at the latest edition of the Toto Washlet RX, with a streamlined design intended to appeal to a broad international market.
The showroom will also host a photography exhibition showcasing hotels, restaurants, spas, museums and residences from all around the world.