Laufen has given a first look at its plans for HIX 2024: Colour Archaeology by Roberto Sironi.

Designers, developers and hoteliers are increasingly challenged to create environments that not only maximise the potential of the buildings they inhabit, but also connect deeply with the communities they serve. At HIX 2024, Laufen will demonstrate its pivotal role in this evolving design movement, offering designers an opportunity to incorporate historically rooted colours into hotel bathrooms, creating environments that are authentic and connected to cultural history.  

At the Laufen booth, visitors are invited to experience Colour Archaeology, which showcases a new colour palette built upon the culmination of an academic research project led by Roberto Sironi on the brand’s behalf. Drawing from over 10,000 artefacts curated from global museums, Sironi has meticulously categorised them into vivid colour clusters reflective of their cultural heritage.

Collaboration with the Laufen team has resulted in the offering of a refined palette of harmonious tones, allowing designers to ground spaces in a rich historical context while providing sustainable, timeless design solutions that transcend fleeting trends.

Renowned for his research-based and process-oriented approach, Sironi explores eight civilisations from around 3000 B.C. to 1500 A.D. From the azure hues of Egypt to the vibrant blues of Mesopotamia, the celadon greens of the Chinese Empire, and the earthy reds reminiscent of the Roman Empire, Sironi’s historical journey reveals a spectrum of colours that have either been created chemically or from natural materials.

The booth design draws from the ancient ceramics of two specific regions: the blue-green hues of ancient Egyptian ceramics are realised in Egyptian Cerulean, while Babylonian Sand delves into the warm tones found in the Tigris and Euphrates Basin, presented through the visual medium of The New Classic and Sonar collection.