d46 DESIGNER KITCHEN & BATHROOM AWARDS 2018


Bathroom Design of the Year (over £15k)


WINNER: David Aspinall, Sapphire Spaces Sponsored by


T


MAR 2015


NOV 2018


he brief was to design an ensuite bathroom for a disabled man and his able-bodied wife, creating a space that meets both their needs. Designer David


Aspinall began by posing the question ‘what makes a bathroom feel disabled’, and the main product that typically changes a bathroom into a disabled one are grab rails. The grab rail then became the start design point of the bathroom, as it is such an important part of a limited mobility bathroom, providing an element of safety that would not otherwise be there.


After observing the client in his home and understanding his disability further, it became apparent that while grab rails are helpful, they would only help him in part. This was because his wrists were weak and a grab rail places all the upper body load on one joint the wrist, so Aspinall looked for a solution that would take the weight and disperse it over a greater area. “I originally gained inspiration from fl ying buttresses used within cathedral architecture which help to take the weight of the roof,” he explained. “I then had a moment of inspiration and remembered archery, where the weight of the bow is transferred over the forearm so that all the load is not placed on the small wrist joint. I then used this principle within the bathroom by slightly recessing the grab rails into the walls.”


designer kitchen & bathroom designerkbmag.co.uk


Pictured with award winner David Aspinall (centre) is Jamie Welch on behalf of category sponsors Laufen (left), and awards host George Lamb


This created a grab rail that the user does not need to


grab but just place their hand on, as the forearm is ergonomically positioned on the wall which naturally spreads the load over a greater area. Aspinall was able to make this work and designed a bespoke grab rail that not only has concealed hidden fi xings, but becomes the main design aesthetic in the room. It means that if the client came into the room on his wheelchair, he would be able to stand up and use the grab rail either to the WC can now stand up to use the toilet for the fi rst time in eight years – or go in the other direction and use the shower, providing complete independence.


The bespoke fl oating D-Rail by Bard & Brazier was designed to work in conjunction with the grab rail to emphasise the design aesthetic. The design included a bespoke glass


shower screen with grab rails attached, designed so that the


grab rails are the stabilising bars. The 3m x 1m large format tiles had to be taken up to the fourth fl oor apartment which took three men 20 minutes per tile. The large format tiles were used at there are only two grout lines on the fl oor which would work better with wheelchair use. The installation was a real labour of love and every tile edge around all the recess were polished.


Aspinall said: “This was without a doubt the most challenging and rewarding project I have ever worked on with installation challenges to overcome, but to be able to design a bathroom that actually changes someone’s life is a humbling experience.”


Sapphire Spaces / sapphirespaces.co.uk


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