Designer Toan Nguyen is experimenting with SaphirKeramik: the innovative material from Laufen has impressive possibilities. The developers added to the ceramics the mineral corundum, which is naturally found as a component of sapphire. Its presence gives ceramics exceptional strength. According to tests conducted at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing in Berlin (BAM), it is twice as high as the sanitary porcelain. This allows you to achieve a minimum wall thickness without compromising mechanical strength. The Nguyen collection for Laufen is called Ino. The author presented sinks, countertops and semi-recessed sinks from SaphirKeramik, as well as a free-standing bathtub in two different designs from another innovative mineral-based material - Sentec®. The series ends with a collection of furniture. Advanced materials open up attractive prospects for designers, it’s not surprising that the opportunity to work with SaphirKeramik along with Toan Nguyen attracted another star - Munich-born Konstantin Grchich. His collection for Laufen is called Val.

47-year-old Toan Nguyen is at the peak of popularity today.

Тоан Нгуэн родился в Париже, экзотическое имя досталось ему от отца-вьетнамца. В 1995 году Тоан окончил ENSCI-Les Ateliers, получив диплом промдизайнера. Пробовал себя в разных студиях Парижа и Барселоны, но уже через три года перебрался в Милан, где 10 лет проработал у Антонио Читтерио (Antonio Citterio). За это время Нгуен на правах соавтора великого архитектора создал более 40 продуктов для Axor/Hansgrohe, B&B Italia, Flos, Kartell, Technogym, Vitra. Наконец, в 2008 году основал в Милане собственное бюро. В 2012-м к Тоану Нгуэну пришла настоящая слава: он получил сразу две премии Red Dot за изделия для Walter Knoll и Laufen — тогда и началось сотрудничество со швейцарским брендом. Недавняя коллекция Ino удостоена премии ISH Design Plus Award.

The Ino collection is based on classic forms, but delivers them in a subtle (literally and figuratively) version. The collection includes both sinks and furniture - it is also distinguished by simple and noble forms. Products from SaphirKeramik are easily recognizable by the minimum wall thickness. Washing tables are presented in different finishes, including natural veneer.