Victoria + Albert collaborates with architect and designer Steve Leung
Luxury British bathing brand, Victoria + Albert Baths, has unveiled its first collaboration with Steve Leung, acclaimed Hong Kong-based architect, interior and product designer. Named one of the world’s best interior designers at the Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year Awards, Leung is renowned for his signature contemporary touch that draws inspiration from Asian culture and arts. Steve Leung’s motto, ‘Design Without Limits’, results in unique design statements that balance and go beyond aesthetics and functionality.
Taizu is named after the great Emperor Taizu, founder of the Song dynasty, a golden age era in Chinese history, reputed for its radiant culture. The bath’s design was inspired by Song ceramics, revered for their elegant proportions and sophisticated, straightforward shapes. Taizu’s round form features gently sloping sides, a chamfered rim and delicate exterior detailing. The opulent 1500mm spa-style masterpiece is at home in luxury bathrooms. Taizu features a void space underneath the bath, easing installation on solid floors. The bath can be personalised in in six standard exterior paint finishes, or Victoria + Albert’s new palette of 194 RAL colours in gloss or matt finishes.
“I am very pleased with our first collaboration with Victoria + Albert, and I truly enjoyed the entire design process. Bathing is a relaxing experience, reinvigorating the body and mind. Daily life is increasingly intense – this moment of tranquility is a precious indulgence,” says Steve. ”I wanted to create an iconic bath that draws a connection between East and West, referencing the past with a view to the future. Taizu celebrates the Chinese wellness philosophy in a minimal and contemporary design, crafted in a one-of-a-kind material.”
Taizu is made from the brand’s exclusive material, QUARRYCAST a unique blend of volcanic limestone and high-performance resins that is naturally white, strong and easy to clean. Victoria + Albert is so confident with its material that each bath comes with a 25-year consumer (8-year commercial) guarantee, making it an ideal design for premium hospitality suites where practicality and ease of cleaning is key.