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 and luxurious Home Retreat design, which featured Villeroy & Boch’s Memento washbasins, Aveo bathtub and 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 the grand prize of a trip to Germany to attend the industry-renowned trade show in Frankfurt, ISH 2015, and to experience Villeroy & Boch’s historic headquarters in Mettlach. While in Mettlach, Chu will stay at the traditional European castle, meet with the in-house design team, visit the Villeroy & Boch Museum and Spa, and experience craftsmanship firsthand during the private tour of the porcelain factory.
