Neutra Vitality Bathroom Suites
9 July 2010
“Now We Know”
Those of a certain age remember the TV Show Ben Casey, mostly, I think, because of the opening credits. There was a close-up of a hand drawing chalk symbols on a blackboard, intoning the name of each as he drew: “Man, woman, birth, death, infinity.” As a kid I was never sure what the hell he meant with that, and looking back on it after so many years, I still don’t know what the point of that particular exercise was. But I bring it up because I recently came across a website for a line of bathroom fixtures that takes this as its introductory motif: “water, wellness, stone.”
And just on cue, the opening notes of Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto, a piece that is esoteric, ethereal, beautiful, and well-constructed, and something that exists on another level altogether. It’s the sort of piece that was exactly designed for one groping for the right words to describe the working philosophy of a company that goes about manufacturing items for bathrooms in a way that is entirely different from that of the competition. For most manufacturers, and for most of the rest of us, I suspect, the emphasis is on “what will sell.” Neutra
company, though, approaches this whole idea of bathroom designs from a different point of view altogether. To them what is first important, is not what is lucrative, but what is inspirational, and what inspires them most are the concepts that guide their lives. Water, wellness, stone.
For them nature’s poetic language has become the source for a different approach to well being. They have created an original collection of bathroom furnishings and fittings that takes as its motif something completely different from the design aspect of the many. They seek nothing less than a harmony of shapes and spontaneity of materials, which, in turn, works to reconcile the mind and body to the most authentic rhythms of life.
Stone is at the center of what they create for their bathrooms. And in this primitive element lies a world history, all that we are and all that we can be, a reconciliation of mind and body to the most authentic rhythms of life. Touch this natural material, become one with the earth, experience the inexhaustible solace of running water. Theirs are bathrooms intended to restore equilibrium, harmony, and vitality.
Well, all that, of course, is design in the abstract, all sound and fury signifying nothing, as the Bard would have it, unless, of course, they manage to actually deliver the goods on those ideals. Well, sir! The Vitality Bathroom Suite by Neutra embodies all of their core beliefs about life and renewal and rejuvenation. I was first attracted to this display by the innovative use of wood, but as I dug deeper into things (I have a tendency to do that!) I learned that the wood they used for the wood surround is Kauri wood, which is, as the kids would say, an absolutely “insane” wood from New Zealand.
It’s from prehistoric Kauri forests that were buried and preserved in peat some 50,000 years ago and are now being harvested. The trees themselves grew for something like 2000 years before they were buried, so some of them have a girth of forty feet! Well, needless to say, the wood is rare, and harvesting it is expensive, and the cost to the end consumer is pretty much in the “Holy Smokes!” range. But on the other hand you have a product that has some of the most fascinating woodworking properties I believe I have ever seen in wood, and it’s still wood, now, not fossilized wood. Sand it to 600 grit, and this stuff has absolutely incredible sheens and color values. But the other part of that, which is surely the reason it was chosen for this line of bathroom fixtures, is that it is very much in line with Neutra’s operating philosophy, because with them it really is a philosophy, not just a bunch of words lined up into one of those vapid corporate “mission statements.” Water, wellness, stone. Now we know what they mean.
Joseph
Leave a Reply
4 Responses to “Neutra Vitality Bathroom Suites”
July 9th, 2010 at 8:09 AM
It looks like George Nakashima’s bathroom. Looking at this from the point of a woodworker I would think that the wood surrounding the tub will self destruct if you don’t keep the humidity up. I do like the design concepts.
Joe
July 9th, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Joe, Joe, Joe… what’s it going to take, man! There are finishes that will seal wood to a fare-thee-well. No water damage! Remember our recent visit to L.A? When we visited Christopher Peacock Cabinetry, the Designer who showed us around pointed out a teak countertop they’ve had for years and actively used during those years. They got it from Brooks in New York State, one of several people doing this kind of work that I’ve blogged about. The finish works. Accept it as an Article of Faith, man.
July 9th, 2010 at 10:33 AM
Actually, I was thinking of expansion and contraction issues. If the humidity goes down I can just picture that slab trying to shrink around the tub. It will probably open up a 1/2″ gap on the left of the tub. Or maybe that wood does not move…
Joe
July 9th, 2010 at 10:53 AM
That’s the glory of a bathroom setting. Lots of excess humidity. It oughta get loaded up and stay loaded up. I suppose they might also have expansion slots that have escaped our scrutiny. They’re people of integrity. I’m sure they worked it out before they offered it to the public.