Shower toilet technology is evolving – helping reshape bathroom design, as architects embrace these multifunctional solutions. Sophie Weston of Geberit shows how they blend luxury with space efficiency and sustainability in a variety of settings.

Achieving the balance between space and style remains one of the biggest challenges for architects when designing bathrooms. Homes are generally getting smaller (down 20% in the last 40 years), as are bathrooms in commercial spaces such as hotels. Despite this, demand for design-led spaces is growing, particularly in the bathroom, which is increasingly seen as one of the most important places to switch off from our ‘always-on’ world.

Homeowners want sanctuary, inspired by the spa-like hotel bathroom spaces they see around the world. And hotels want to lead the market in delivering spaces built for wellbeing. Achieving this in bathrooms, where space optimisation is crucial, is no easy task for architects and designers.

The role of shower toilets

One of the most effective ways to optimise space through design is through the development of multifunctional, technology-enabled bathrooms.

Shower toilets are the forefront of this shift, with the latest models offering smart technology, personalised comfort settings and sleek designs that contribute to a spa-like bathroom experience. They are proving increasingly popular in high-end residential and commercial projects, made possible thanks to a significant development in design and perception of these smart bathroom appliances.

To set the context, it is important to understand the products’ functionality. Setting new standards in the bathroom, modern shower toilets combine a modern toilet with spray functionality at the touch of a button for gentle, hygienic and thorough cleaning of sensitive, intimate areas. For many years in the UK, they were considered (and often looked like) institutional bidets, reserved for care sectors in particular. Now, like many other countries around the world, perceptions are changing. The latest designs offer an aspirational product that adds to any design-led project, in both domestic and commercial settings.

From a practical, space-optimising point of view, shower toilets combine the functionality of two appliances (toilet and separate bidet), which is obviously one of the most effective ways to save space. In reality, modern solutions can solve multiple design challenges simultaneously.

Aside from the footprint in smaller bathroom spaces, some shower toilets include a concealed cistern and supply connection, as well as wall-hung design. These features are all recognised as tools to make a bathroom space feel bigger, particularly in compact spaces.

They are straightforward to install in around one to two hours, subject to any minor adjustments that might be necessary for the water and power supplies, and can offer enhanced hygiene through touchless operation via apps or remote controls. Despite the sophisticated functionality, they are incredibly easy to use, and very easy to clean and maintain too.

Some solutions offer an ergonomic, rimless ceramic design that ensures optimum cleaning of the pan, easy cleaning and uncompromising hygiene for the user. They also include heated water for a comfortable cleansing experience and an automatic descaling programme for hassle-free maintenance.

Sustainable solutions

In addition, shower toilets tick the box for sustainability in more ways than one – an increasingly important feature for any solution, particularly when considering BREEAM and other green project goals.

Cleaning with water is not just hygienic and more gentle than cleaning with toilet paper, but it also eradicates toilet paper use, as well as reducing water use. The average household uses around 27.5 kg  of toilet paper per year and opting for a shower toilet will reduce the amount of wood used for toilet paper by 61 kg per year. In addition, the production of toilet paper requires 2,350 litres of water per year for one household. In contrast, some offer spray functionality which consumes only 1,500 litres of water, saving 850 litres each year.

These shower toilets perform well in the life cycle assessment, with studies showing that the additional water consumption for the shower function is hardly worth noting in comparison to the impact of toilet paper production and the electricity consumption for heating water.

Overcoming challenges

With all of these key drivers in mind, as perceptions continue to evolve, shower toilets are set to become a staple of modern bathroom design. The last remaining challenge is to overcome inertia and outdated thinking and embrace a design-led, feature-enhancing solution for any high end project.

Sophie Weston is head of marketing at Geberit