Sorrows and pleasures of panel house bathrooms

Sorrows and pleasures of panel house bathrooms

A small panel building bathroom is a common reality of European living estates. JIKA brand's head architect and designer, Michal Janků, sparks their unsuspected chances.

Bathroom and separate WC

“People often suppose that combining the bathroom with toilet will bring more space. It's true, indeed, but by this way they loose a wall, on which cabinets may be placed and storage space can be set up”, Mr. Michal Janků warns. Tall cabinets in the toilet can complete the space and provide other options where to place bathroom bits and pieces. Moreover, combination of the rooms becomes impractical where a populous family lives in the flat.

When to combine WC with bathroom
“I move towards the combination in the case where a small washbasin cannot be placed in the toilet room. In this case the separate room loses its purpose”, Mr. Michal Janků ushers.

It is important, for the small rooms, to select a correct toilet type and size. According to the architect, due to simple maintenance, people prefer wallhung toilets that represent trendy and clean equipment. The cistern is situated in the wall above it and to their fixing JIKA system veneers are used where sufficient bearing capacity is guaranteed, without high requirements on bearing walls.

Washbasins
“The corner washbasins do not bring any space saving, as many people suppose, on the other hand, they limit access, do not provide shelf area and hinder placement of cabinet. A better option is achieved by an asymmetric washbasin”, Janků explains. The JIKA Tigo asymmetric washbasins easily fit in the smallest bathroom, while providing enough shelf and washing area due to the non-traditionally located faucet. A vanity unit can be easily placed under them, by which further place for cleaning or bathroom utilities is set up.

Washbasins squared
“I oftne encounter that people want to place, even to small bathrooms, a double washbasin, or two separate washbasins. In such case they must choose double washbasins specially intended for small bathrooms. But when two family members meet in a bathroom, one of them usually washes him-/herself and the other possibly combs. Therefore, under highly cramped space I usually recommend to choose one washbasin and complete it with two mirrors.”

Mirrors
Big mirrors with suitable lighting are able to optically enlarge bathroom and give the space pleasant atmosphere. Moreover, bigger formats solve height differences between individual family members.
“In panel building and studio bathrooms I recommend selecting the JIKA Clear mirrors with a special foil against misting-up. All of us know well how a small bathroom looks like when we leave the shower. Moreover, we prevent continuous polishing”, the architect recommends.

Bathtub or shower enclosure
Selection of bathtub or of a shower enclosure is derived from the particular space and they become, most often, the reason for disputes during the reconstruction of bathrooms. The shower enclosure brings additional centimetres, therefore it is often preferred. According to the architect Michal Janků, people would often wish to have a corner bathtub in the panel flat, which they take for sign of a higher comfort and spare of space. However, the corner bathtubs will not solve the problem of space, on the contrary. A magnificent trade-off between the bathtub and shower enclosure is the asymmetric bathtub, JIKA Tigo, with a special screen of safety glass, which provides space both for a pleasant bath and convenient shower.

Colours in bathroom
“It is generally understood that a dark colour reduces and, on the other hand, light colour increases space. It's not quite true. If you imagine dark space, it often seems to us that it ends nowhere”, Michal Janků sets the record straight. Recently, a great comeback has been encountered by white colour, which had been previously taken as cheap. Now, on the contrary, it is considered a mark of luxury related to high quality. Therefore, JIKA has brought in the new, snow white Cubito Pure line. However, colour preference often changes with age. Younger people prefer darker colours, contrary to the older people, who prefer light tints of bathroom furniture.

Inspiration and ideas