Spoon

Spoon (1998)
Designer | G P Benedini
Manufacturer | Agape
Dimensions | cm 181.5 L 98.5 W 44 H in 71½ L 38¾ W 17"3/8 H
Price | US$$,$$$
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Yes, my favorite room in the house is the bath room. That's "bath room", not bathroom. These days, I don't get as many "Are you mad" looks when I say that my dream house requires a master bath room at least the size of a living room with wall-hung fixtures, taps, and sinks; a frosted glass-enclosed toilet room, including bidet; open-plan state-of-the-art shower, with seating; and, of course, a tub. Deciding what car you going to buy is a major financial decision. Did I say 'car'? I meant 'bathtub', of course.

The Spoon tub, by the beloved Italian firm Agape, is such a design classic that I was hesitant to include it at all; it would be like posting Eames's La chaise. Nonetheless, I think the concept of the bath room is still young enough that Spoon deserved its 15 minutes here. Iconic status is often reflected by a design's durability. Eight years later, this piece is still featured regularly in the design press- which is no small feat for bathroom fixture that costs as much as a Fiat. When any contemporary interiors magazine runs a bath room/tubs feature, if you don't still find Spoon itself, you'll find one inspired by it. While evoking a Noguchi-like organic serenity, it distinguishes itself as absolutely contemporary in both its scale, nod to pure function, and only-in-Italy sense of surreal humor: it isn't called spoon for nothing. Made from "Exmar", a composite material of resin and quartz powder and avilable in white or sand. Hardware available both wall-hung (top) and in "tower" form.