Villeroy & Boch organised an event dedicated to design professionals, providing an opportunity for discussion and in-depth analysis designed to convey the group’s vision, evolution and new strategies in the international design and architecture scene.
The event, held on 4 November at the spectacular VIU Terrace of the Hotel VIU Milan, offered an opportunity to explore the identity and evolution of the Villeroy & Boch Group through presentations by Simona Finessi, founder of Platform Network and moderator of the meeting, together with Safak Fila, Sales Director B&W Southern Europe and Country Leader Italy for the group, and Barbara Maieli, Project Director at Villeroy & Boch Italia. A structured dialogue that highlighted the solidity, vision and design approach of a brand that, with almost three centuries of ceramic know-how, supports architects and developers with integrated systems for bathrooms and living spaces, transforming design, performance and durability into real design tools.
Villeroy & Boch is now a global group operating in over 140 countries, with more than 12,000 employees worldwide, a position strengthened by the addition of Ideal Standard, which was acquired with a view to complementarity and synergy between products, markets and distribution channels. This integration has enabled the group to consolidate its competitive position in Europe, moving closer to leadership in the bathroom and wellness sector, expanding its offering in the taps and fittings segment and strengthening its position in the premium and smart premium sectors aimed at design professionals, from residential to hospitality, healthcare and contract.
During the meeting, it became clear that Villeroy & Boch is now a strategic partner for the world of architecture, capable of bringing aesthetic identity, design quality, a comprehensive range, integrated solutions combining furniture, ceramics, taps and technology to projects, as well as an international perspective that represents value for studios and developers. This approach is based on a clear mission: to bring well-being and quality of use to domestic and professional spaces through innovative materials, technical research and constant attention to people’s needs.
The group’s transformation process, which culminated in the integration of Ideal Standard, has often been cited as a key moment in understanding the brand’s new identity. On the one hand, Villeroy & Boch, a European icon recognised globally for its tableware culture, porcelain and the art of bringing beauty into everyday life; on the other, Ideal Standard, with a strong heritage focused on technical bathroom products and a long-standing presence in the world of project business. The synergy between these two worlds has created a unique ecosystem in which lifestyle and technical expertise, consumer recognition and solid professional relationships, aesthetics and functionality coexist and enrich each other. This cross-pollination has broadened the group’s horizons, making it one of the leading European players in the sector, with significant growth in markets outside the DACH area, a substantial increase in the importance of taps and fittings, and a distribution network that has never been so extensive.
The Italian focus, a particularly relevant topic for the audience present, highlights both a challenge and an opportunity. In Italy, Villeroy & Boch’s reputation is still strongly linked to the world of dining and lifestyle, while it is less established in the bathroom segment. Ideal Standard, on the other hand, brings with it technical expertise, a well-established design culture and a long tradition of dialogue with architectural firms, companies and interior contractors. It is this B2B experience that positively influences Villeroy & Boch, with the common goal of strengthening relationships with professionals and positioning the group as an authoritative partner for the design of quality bathrooms, both in Italy and globally.
The Lookbook 2025 fits into this framework, serving as a tool through which Villeroy & Boch communicates with designers. It is not just a simple catalogue, but a design guide that combines method, atmospheres and compositional possibilities, transferring the traditional sensitivity towards the end consumer to the world of design. The Lookbook organises the brand’s universe into four stylistic concepts that interpret the bathroom as a space for expression and identity: Classic Elegance, where tradition meets contemporary sophistication; Natural Simplicity, which draws inspiration from nature and its tactile materials; Urban Clarity, a synthesis of urban minimalism; and Colour Statement, where colour becomes a characterising and narrative element.
These visions are accompanied by a comprehensive range that includes ceramics, bathtubs, shower trays, sanitary ware, furnishings and taps, a coherent ecosystem designed to meet the needs of different application scenarios.
In closing, the meeting conveyed the image of a rapidly evolving group, capable of combining tradition and innovation, aesthetics and technology, international vision and attention to local markets. Today, the Villeroy & Boch Group presents itself as a reliable and versatile design partner, ready to support architects and developers with premium solutions, dedicated services and an approach focused on the value of spaces and investments. The goal is to transform the bathroom into a distinctive element of the project, enhancing the quality of the experience and helping to define new standards of contemporary living.
