CGD23

In Czechia, design for everyday things is an often forgotten segment. We are able to make beautiful glass, fine carpentry or ceramics, but there are unfortunately not many companies able to design a product with added aesthetic value for masses of people. This makes Lucie Koldová’s current collection of toilet buttons made for Alcadrain all the more commendable. This is not the first time the producer of washroom equipment and accessories opted for fine design, and the company (founded in 1998 as Alcaplast) has received numerous awards. Their current collaboration with Lucie Koldová presents a unique approach to industrial design. The collection includes the minimalist and circular Dot.Dot. flush plates and Linka plates in the shape of a simple line. These crisp geometrical shapes are not unusual when it comes to buttons for flushing, but Lucie Koldová managed to include a degree of ergonomic design. The result is an example of design excellence. The buttons are immensely easy to operate. And although they are made of plastic, they do not feel at all cheap or conventional. With both these collections, Alca brings to market an interesting visual feature and a great sense for material. Especially in the case of the Dot.Dot. collection, the visible depressions are a welcome aesthetic feature. This product’s minimalist style, simple and intuitive operation and also its financial accessibility make these flush plates useful and beautiful house mates. The Alca brand has been working towards the company’s overall rebranding, and apart from its streamlined, modern visual identity it also invites customers to its new showroom in Prague 7. They have created a textbook project integrating design into its company DNA at various levels, and are ultimately helping integrate high-quality craftsmanship into the everyday context.

Veronika Pařízková