February 20, 2015

Villeroy & Boch has chosen the winner of its first-ever North American Designer Bathroom Challenge. Saoli Chu of BuiltIn Studio in Manhattan was selected by an expert panel of judges for her innovative Home Retreat design, which featured Villeroy & Boch’s Memento washbasins, an Aveo bathtub and a Subway wall-mounted toilet.  

“When designing for the competition I thought about how ‘design shapes life’ and how the reverse, ‘life shapes design,’ is an inspiration,” said Chu. “To help me achieve a balanced, multi-sensory personal haven, I looked back to my California roots where I began cultivating the beliefs I hold for design. The Pacific coastline view, Japanese minimalist influences and details that warm and personalize a space are all reflective of how I feel design shapes life and how the experience of life shapes my design.”

Chu won a trip to Germany and will visit Villeroy & Boch’s headquarters in Mettlach. Villeroy & Boch launched the introductory competition in October 2014, inviting architects and licensed designers to create a floor plan for a luxurious bathroom oasis using Villeroy & Boch products.