An innovative Japanese inspired bath unit has won top honours in the Reece Bathroom Innovation Award.

Gavin Harris, a Senior Associate at futurespace was awarded the Professional Prize of $20,000, with his Japanese inspired freestanding bath unit, Shiro.

The judging panel applauded Harris’ clever incorporation of a basin and bath as one, use of a singular plumbing system, its freestanding qualities and suitability for stylish, modern homes and hotels.

ShanShan Wang, Industrial Design at the University of New South Wales, won the Student Prize, with Koeda, an innovative mixer tap inspired by the organic themes of nature and hand motions.

The judges admired Wang’s innovative use of light to indicate water temperature, awarding Wang with a $10,000 cash prize, along with $5,000 for her University.

Wang says winning the award provided validity for her future career ambitions.

“I am incredibly humbled that the judges chose my design. I didn’t expect to be shortlisted, let alone win the award. It was an unexpected surprise… it’s a step in the right direction for my design career. It’s only the beginning of my career and I can only hope to do even better in the future.”

Reece Bathroom Marketing Manager, Belinda Geels, is delighted with the results.

“The Reece BIA continues to uncover, recognise and celebrate both established and up-and-coming Australian designers. It’s fantastic to be able to offer such gifted and innovative talent a platform to further their design ambitions.”

The BIA 2012 judging panel included global industrial designer and Roca collaborator, Antonio Bullo, Vogue Living editor, David Clark, interior designer and TV personality, Shaynna Blaze, and two times Professional Winner, Justin Wagemakers of Blue Sky Design Group.

PROFESSIONAL WINNER

Gavin Harris, Shiro

The name Shiro derives from the Japanese word for white, in philosophical translation - the purest of all forms and functions, hence Shiro is one pure element.

The design features a freestanding bathtub with rounded ergonomic ends for sitting, plenty of room for storage provided in cupboards underneath and space for a circular basin to be incorporated.

Plumbing is centralised with a single waste point for the unit and one main spout feeding water to taps for both the surface-mounted basin and bath, freeing walls of fixtures.

Shiro is made from Cristalplant, a biobased product that retains the welcoming properties of natural stone.

Learn more about each winning design at www.bathroominnovation.com.au