Interview about Space Oddity Overflow Spa, winner of the A' Bathroom Furniture and Sanitary Ware Design Award 2023
Space Oddity plays with gravity with its sleek lines and use of stainless steel, allowing it to blend seamlessly in any indoor or outdoor setting, whether it be contemporary or classic. Its aesthetics do not compromise on comfort of use, featuring an ergonomic seat, a soft-touch interior surface, and the possibility of placing jets and blowers on demand. Options such as the choice of grid (shape and material), and the color of the tank make each Space Oddity unique. In addition, this stainless steel overflow spa is weather resistant and easy to maintain. Finally, it is completely recyclable.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsI initially used stainless steel to manufacture pools. The aesthetic of the material is undeniable. Its combination with water enhances the object, and its color, which depends on the environment in which Space Oddity is placed, allows it to fit in any context.From an environmental standpoint, I am well aware that we can’t really talk about an eco-friendly material when it comes to stainless steel (even though it is a recycled product and 100% recyclable). However—and this is a point that really matters to me—it is a durable material, and unlike many objects made from other materials, I believe my spas will outlast me… Durability is part of ecology too!
It is very difficult for me to answer this point. The fusion of retro-futuristic elements with contemporary wellness design is not a deliberate choice. It is just a fact. I do not start a project thinking I will create an object with this or that ingredient. I try to remain free. Then, like any creator, my inspiration comes from what I experience, what I have seen, and what has pleased me… However, as its name suggests, the space age universe and, more generally, that of modernists have nourished me.
We conducted a number of tests. I did not want a polished mirror-finish interior surface due to the risk of scratches… Brushed stainless steel was not the solution either because of the linear aspect of the brushing. We needed to find something else. We therefore tried sandblasting, projections of various materials with different consistencies at different pressures. Ultimately, it was the glass bead blasting that convinced me, both visually and in terms of touch: it is very pleasant.
Accessibility is achieved between the double walls (inner basin and outer shell). This was a crucial point during the design of the spa. And in the end, we succeeded in installing the nozzles where we wanted them, according to demand… For my part, I prefer to use Space Oddity as a Nordic bath (without bubbles).
The fact that Space Oddity can be installed either indoors or outdoors is mainly due to the material used: stainless steel. In fact, I use only one type of stainless steel for the entire spa (structure and walls): AISI 316L stainless steel, also known as marine stainless steel, which is the most suitable for this type of product.
It is certainly technically challenging to achieve this type of shape, but with good partners, manufacturing is not a problem. We always manage it… Then, the structural integrity of such shapes is, on the contrary, quite simple.
As with any luxury product, customization seemed essential to me. However, the identity of Space Oddity is primarily formal. Therefore, only a few details of Space Oddity could be modified without fundamentally changing the object. Customization through color was obvious and ultimately satisfying. For the overflow grid, it came up during the design phase: I designed several types of grids for the overflow, and the final choice was difficult because, in the end, I liked many of them and so they could be proposed… It’s a bit like a car: choosing the color, the bodywork, and the wheels is a way to make it your own without altering it.
The remote machinery system in spas, while rare, is not really a novelty. For Space Oddity, it was a technical necessity on one hand and indeed the desire to eliminate any noise disturbance so that one can fully enjoy a moment of relaxation.
For spas, it wouldn’t be a luxury if designers aimed a bit more at creating beautiful objects rather than engaging in tuning contests where the winner is whoever adds the most features… I firmly believe that aesthetics are a fundamental component of well-being.
This was evident from its creation. Like any object, a spa is not used all the time, and given its size, when it is not in use, it remains visible and difficult to hide. Therefore, it had to be beautiful. I believe this is a necessity for any object, at least for those I create. Functionality and beauty are always the first two points in my specifications. The technique adapts.
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