Effective drainage can also blend into the design of a room or structure
Because of its practical role, drainage might not seem synonymous with style or the aesthetics of a building or room. In reality, there are many examples of stylish and discreet drainage techniques to the point where, for example, some modern bathroom shower drainage grates may not even look like a drainage component, more a stylish embellishment.
Specific Rooms
When one thinks of certain rooms such as bathrooms, the traditional circular grate in a shower cubicle or wet room is what many would call to mind as the time honoured drainage method.
Nowadays, in keeping with the many different ways of creating a stylish bathroom, there are various types of stylish and discreet drainage structures – some are so well ‘camouflaged’ that at first or even second glance they may not even appear to have anything to do with drainage.
Wet room options – there are certain specialists who design a comprehensive range of wet room covers in various shapes and grating configurations; some can even make bespoke versions incorporating logos; ideal for, say, a hotel or country club.
It’s even possible to specify wet room covers that illuminate when they come into contact with water, and various materials such as stainless steel and even brass can be chosen.
Outdoor Areas
Outdoor drainage grates can do a practical job whilst looking stylish, again thanks to various design options such as square or rounded with a multitude of configuration options including bespoke. This offers a practical as well as aesthetic benefit as drainage strips mean level access to doors such as bi-fold types can be achieved without the need for grooved or sunken drainage channels.
Some drainage channels can be discreetly and stylishly incorporated into the door runner channels in the case of outdoor patio doors or screens surrounding swimming pools.
Slot drainage offers a discreet and effective way of keeping paved areas well drained. As its name suggests, narrow slots are provided either between areas of paving or maybe along a certain border of the area for water to run into.
Even manhole covers, essential to provide access for drain cleaning, can be made to look stylish and blend in with the design approach of the surrounding areas.
Whole Buildings
Various drainage challenges are provided by certain buildings with unusual design characteristics. One example is the London Design Museum, located off Kensington High Street in London, with its striking parabolic shaped roof.
Special piping had to be developed so as to retain the parabolic roof shape yet be able work within the constraints of such a structure. The company charged with developing the drainage solution, Swiss multinational Geberit, used a siphonic system called ‘Pluvia’ to enable the system to cope with the type of rainfall intensity only seen in the most severe of rainstorms.
The Design Museum is part of a public sector and residential area incorporating three new apartment buildings, and Geberit were again involved; this time in providing a drainage solution to minimise the noise of water running through pipes serving several apartments along with the provision of stylish sanitary ware.
Drainage by Design
Stylish drainage isn’t simply a case of specifying a few ornately styled wet room grates; it can be a considered part of any new building or renovation project to achieve effective and good looking results.