When the time came to upgrade the bathrooms at Sandton Towers, the challenge wasn’t just about updating outdated fixtures; it was about maintaining the integrity of an existing design. The marble tiles in the bathroom were a timeless feature, but the taps had lost their shine and no longer met the needs of modern luxury. Enter Vortex Sanitaryware, tasked by Steve Franklin, a skilled water engineer, to re-engineer the perfect solution. Due to the sheer size of the project, the Vortex design team was able to custom design and re-engineer the concealed mixers. Here’s how they achieved a sleek, sophisticated upgrade without losing the beauty of the original design.
The challenge
The bathroom taps in Sandton Towers had seen better days. Over time, the once-glorious finishes dulled, and their function became less than ideal. However, replacing them wasn’t as simple as just installing new ones. The marble tiles around the taps were too beautiful and too expensive to remove for a standard installation. The team at Sandton Towers needed to find a way to update the taps without disrupting the surrounding marble, a solution that could easily integrate with the existing space.
Enter the solution
Steve Franklin, the water engineer in charge of the project, turned to Vortex Sanitaryware for a solution. Rather than replacing the marble tiles or opting for a less-than-ideal cosmetic solution, the Vortex Design Team proposed a custom retrofit special design. This precision-crafted design would allow the existing tap to be replaced with a newer, more modern design. The retrofit design would fit seamlessly into the existing setup, preserving both the design and the functionality of the bathroom.
Why it worked
The key to this solution was the balance between innovation and respect for the original design. The custom design allowed the new taps to be installed effortlessly, without compromising the bathroom’s aesthetic appeal. Vortex’s design expertise in custom manufacturing and Steve Franklin’s understanding of water engineering came together to create a solution that was both practical and visually stunning.
Conclusion
In the world of design and engineering, sometimes the best solutions come from thinking outside the box, literally. The team at Sandton Towers didn’t just settle for a quick fix. They embraced innovation, creating a solution that not only modernised the space but also respected its original beauty. The innovative design engineering by Vortex Sanitaryware didn’t just solve a problem; it demonstrated the power of collaboration and creativity in maintaining both functionality and elegance.
