The first flagship store in the Asia-Pacific for the premium German sanitaryware brand.
The first flagship store in the Asia-Pacific for the premium German sanitaryware brand.
Being surrounded by fashion boutiques is par for the course while shopping along Orchard Road, so it’s somewhat surprising to chance upon a shop front featuring sanitaryware instead. Yet, that’s the location Grohe chose for its first spa-inspired boutique, situated at Shaw Centre in the heart of Singapore’s main shopping district.
Officially opened in March, the store is Grohe’s first flagship in the Asia-Pacific, and its sprawling 6,000sqf space showcases many hightech, interactive displays split between two floors. One of which is the live water area on the upper floor, where visitors can test out Grohe’s showerheads built with the trademark Dreamspray technology. These showerheads eject four unique sprays to deliver sensational showers – ranging from the classic Rain Spray, to the uber-relaxing Massage Spray.
Also on that floor overlooking Scotts Road are six opulent bathroom suites that replicate those of international luxury hotels fitted with Grohe’s products. For instance, the bathrooms of Sri Panwa Phuket, a six-star beach resort on the popular Thai island, feature the sleek, minimalist and rectangular designs of Grohe’s Allure collection. The hotel showcase aims to help developers, architects and interior designers, as well as homeowners, match the brand’s collections with their dream bathroom interiors.
The store also features a built-in Shower Configurator on the first floor, where visitors can recreate showers by selecting shower systems and accessories, and “experience” these showers through virtual reality technology.
On opening the flagship store, Bijoy Mohan, the Asia Pacific CEO of Lixil, which owns Grohe, says: “This showroom is a stage where Grohe’s advancements in water technology are brought to life.
By upping the ante on the retail front, we aim to inspire and change the way consumers interact with our products.”
In an age where technology, namely the Internet, looks to threaten brick-and-mortar retail stores, Grohe Spa demonstrates that combining the two delivers the ultimate shopping experience.
The Sri Panwa Phuket resort is one of six luxury hotels whose bathrooms are replicated in the showroom.
Four hundred products from the bathroom, shower and kitchen collections are displayed across two floors.
Bathrooms in Istanbul’s Swissotel The Bosphorus feature Grohe’s angular Allure Brilliant collection.
text ISABELLE TOW photos GROHE
