A common thread connecting the history of design and architectural styles through the ages from antiquity till today is the celebration of nature and references to its curved lines. Nowadays is no exception, in fact with today’s technology it has never been cheaper in relative terms to produce curves. With CAD (computer aided design) and sophisticated software no surface need necessarily be confined to two dimensions anymore. One notable example is the range of three dimensional tiles readily available today for the bathroom. Perfectly suited for cladding humid walls the bathroom provides a perfect space to make a design statement using a tried anc tested material, ceramic tile but in a innovative and impacting manner.
Textured tiles, moving into the third dimension
Whether is be irregular or repetitive, monochrome of colourful the options for three dimensional tiles are only limited to the scope of the designer’s imagination. The three dimensional effect can be achieved with a lightly textured tile, a light wall relief can be enough to provide the illusion of depth. Sinuous lines or waves for example not only provide a continuous pattern but also reference the world of liquid and watery movement that turn the bathroom into a space to spend time in rather than simply a utility.
Less is more
Rather than covering every surface in the bathroom with the same 3d tile the effect can be just as impacting if not more so by selecting a panel or a specific wall for cladding.
This can be framed with a matching border tile to achieve an overall mural like effect. If used in the shower area, combined with a glazed finish the liquid effect is further underlined.
The sensuous of the curve
The bathroom is above all a sensuous space, a refuge for self pampering, a space of water, steam and relaxation. The emerging trends in bathroom design are breaking the barriers between the bathroom and other rooms in the home, treating the en-suite as a home Spa almost. Curved tiles with a three dimensional pattern evoke both the sensuous lines of the body and liquid on a flat wall. If the wall is curved already, like that of a shower enclose, flat tiles or mosaic can be used to clad curved walls in an equally sensuous approach.
The tree dimensional effect in 2d
However even without resorting to the third dimension similar results can be achieved with the help of trompe l’oeil and two dimensional wall tiles. Compositions of geometric patterns that recreate the effect of depth and thus expand the space, creating greater visual comfort in what is usually a confined space. This is achieved through colour combinations that suggest shadow. Alternatively mosaic compositions recreate naturalistic images of nature and artworks.
