Design

Discreet Design: Water Works by GROHE

This article was sponsored GROHE. For more information on sponsored content, please see our Disclosure Policy.

Design can be big, flashy and in-your-face. Or it can be so subtle that you don’t even think about it. That’s the case with many of our most vital household items; things like toilets, pipes, heating vents and water taps.

GROHE is a Germany company that is the number one producer of sanitary fittings worldwide. You’ve probably used their fittings many, many times, but may not have heard their name. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Brands like GROHE create discreet design; items that work so well and are so ubiquitous that you don’t even register that they’re actually designed.

In addition to their conventional water fittings, GROHE is at the cutting edge of water technology. This includes everything from their impressive corporate social responsibly (CSR) work – they focus heavily on sustainability in both their corporate culture and in their technology development, including reduction of water waste and the carbon footprint of water systems – to smart home devices.

We attended the ISH Design Fair in Frankfurt to get a look at their latest product, the GROHE Sense. This small circular device detects water leakage, humidity and frost. It is connected to an app on your smartphone that alerts you when something might be off in your home or office so that you never have to deal with the fallout of water or frost damage again. This is particularly useful for people who may be away on holiday for an extended period, or who keep valuables in areas vulnerable to flooding or frost (e.g. basements or attics). The Sense can be self-installed, is sleek-looking and fairly inexpensive at 60 EUR.

 

This is a clever device that can potentially save you a lot of trouble and money, whether you own or rent your home. It’s in-line with GROHE’s growing stable of sanitary tech products and, though you may notice the Sense a bit more than you notice your faucets, they’ll both make sure you have water when you need it – and none when it could be harmful.

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Rebecca Thandi Norman

Rebecca Thandi Norman is a co-founder and Editor-in-Chief at Scandinavia Standard.