A Matter of Form
What do you get when you pair an internationally renowned architect with Australia’s leading bathroom manufacturer? Bathroom heaven of course! Caroma Dorf accepted Ian Moore’s challenge that, as in all of his architectural projects, there would be no differentiation between the most luxurious and the most utilitarian bathrooms. Material and detail would be treated equally, with scale being the only difference. Aurélie Toulemonde talked to Ian to find out more.
Three words to describe your work?
Timeless, clean, elegant.
How did you get where you are today?
With hard work, passion and a refusal to compromise.
What inspires your projects?
The site, a desire to create a great work of architecture, and a desire to create work that is appropriate to our own time and technology.
Your greatest success?
Every project that manages to get built is a great success and, as with your children, you cannot single out one project over another as they all contribute something to your success and knowledge.
Your greatest challenge?
Dealing with local government and getting a project approved is without doubt the hardest and most frustrating aspect of my job.
If you had one piece of advice for designers who are just starting out, what would it be?
If you’re not passionate about what you do, change professions.
What is your design philosophy when it comes to bathrooms?
Bathrooms must feel clean and uncluttered, and have significant concealed storage. All fixtures are therefore wall hung to maximise the perception of space and allow for easy cleaning. Natural light is always preferred with an indoor/outdoor connection via either a view or a private courtyard. Materials must be timeless and have little or no need for maintenance. Finally, mirrors are utilised to increase the sense of space. I hate small showers or showers over baths, so I’ve been developing bathrooms with a large wet zone incorporating very large showers and often freestanding baths. I’ve been utilising full-width grated drains rather than floor wastes for many years to signify the boundary between the wet and dry zones within a bathroom. Wherever space permits I do away with shower screens altogether or use a simple frameless sheet of glass.
Tell us about the new Designer Bathroom Series you designed for Caroma Dorf. What brought about this joint venture?
I’ve been dealing with Caroma Dorf for more than 25 years and have often given them product feedback. To their credit they would frequently modify a product in response to my comments.
What were you hoping to achieve in its design?
To design a suite of bathrooms that would showcase Caroma Dorf’s new product range while incorporating my vision of what a bathroom should look like.
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