Rapsel Wins 'Best In Bath' At International Contemporary Furniture Fair

May 26, 2009 - PRLog -- RAPSEL, the innovative luxury sanitary company based in Milan, is pleased to announce that an expert group of editors from the globe’s most esteemed design magazines voted Saturday, May 16th for their favorite exhibitors and products at this year’s 21st annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York.

Rapsel was honored for Best in Bath for the “ONE” Collection designed in larch wood with Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez at the ICFF Exhibitors Reception, among 16 companies that took home the 2009 ICFF Editors Award. See event details at Rapsel’s news blog located at http://rapsel.wordpress.com.

Finalists were hand-picked by the Editors Committee, including Interior Design's market editor Karen D. Singh, as well as Anniina Koivu of Abitare, Rita Catinella Orrell of Architectural Record, Catherine Osborne of Azure, Stefano Casciani of Domus, Sam Grawe of Dwell, Gilda Bojardi of Interni, Chantal Hamaide of Intramuros, Susan S. Szenasy of Metropolis, Arlene Hirst of Metropolitan Home.

Rapsel has been recognized in the international design world as the first to master the invisible bath environment concept with the debut in North America of “Il Bagno Non C’e” designed by famed architect Matteo Thun. Rapsel products are distributed in North America exclusively through AF New York, with new satellite showrooms located in Miami at Avant Gallery, Boston-area Zolotas Peabody and Horse Feathers Home in Toronto, Canada. More information is available via www.rapsel.it.

The Invisible Bath, a combination of transparent basin, toilet and shower manufactured in sustainable larch wood atop ceramic and stainless steel, creates a ‘floating bath world aesthetic’ and sensibility that foresees all amenities naturally receding into an interior that is as soothing as it is sanitary. Thun takes his patented transparent drain designs one step further by successfully creating an entire living space within the bath that visually achieves a poetic flow like water while in terms of actual engineering and plumbing, literally disappears with no underneath aspect discernable to the naked eye.

Matteo Thun’s designs for Rapsel have been celebrated as among the most visionary in the world of bath design. His Lavasca Mini in black matte Cristalpant produced with Rapsel in 2006 was inducted into the permanent contemporary design collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art this year.

According to European design curator, Dr. Kathryn Hiesinger, “The curatorial committee deigns Matteo Thun’s Lavasca Mini design and innovative use of new technology, material and organic spherical shape as paramount to Bernini’s boat fountain in Rome. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is thrilled to have this lovely tub in our permanent collection.”

Matteo Thun and Rapsel collaborate in an unprecedented manner to consistently combine art with inventive and functional design for the bath environment. The beauty of the pieces does not take away from their function. If anything, by having the pipes and drains disappear into the surrounding architecture improves the functionality of the entire room by leaving a larger open area free from bulky, unattractive elements, leaving only the clean, transparency that essentially creates an ‘invisible’ design.

Aldo Provini, CEO of Rapsel, has always been on the cutting edge of luxury plumbing design. Known for creating pieces that generate trends, Provini is more than just ahead of the curve---Provini curates the curve by identifying emerging global industrial designs and designers. His experience and reputation in the design world make his company, Rapsel, a first mover in the world of design.

Rapsel Melting Chic by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba won the prestigious Interior Design Best Product Award in 2007. The company’s designer and award roster reads as a Who’s Who in the pantheon of sanitary design, and continues to be the favorite in the international architecture community for vision, custom capabilities and innovative materials.

For more information, contact AF New York the North America distributor for Rapsel or visit www.rapsel.it. For product artwork or interviews, please contact GOTHAM PR at 212.352.2147.

# # #

Gotham PR Inc is a 7 year-old, NYC brand marketing and events communications agency specializing in design, development, hospitality and entertainment.
Info @ www.gothampr.com