Michael Gottschalk, Creative Designer and Founder of BLU Bathworks, www.blubathworks.com
Canadian-born Michael Gottschalk has travelled the globe for almost 20 years designing projects for his award-winning international design practice. Using his education in architecture & landscape architecture combined with a great eye for design, he realized his vision by founding BLU Bathworks in 2006, offering high quality, modern bathware at affordable prices.
BLU Bathworks was born out of frustration when Gottschalk found there was a lack of European-inspired, modern bathroom fixtures & fittings at attainable prices for his projects. He decided it was time to produce something that did not compromise taste and style by offering attractively priced, architectural bathware balancing form and function.
Part of his vision for the brand’s growth has been achieved with the opening of an interactive studio space in the heart of Vancouver’s design community, to showcase the design process of BLU Bathworks’ products. ‘The dynamic curated space gives us the opportunity to engage with the architecture and design community, as well as consumers becoming part of the process to evolve our products; like a center for design intelligence,’ explains Gottschalk.
Collaborating with established designers and manufacturers in Europe has allowed innovative BLU concepts to very quickly reach a high level in both aesthetics and design structure. Influenced by shapes, textures and materials from around the world, Gottschalk is able to marry these unique concepts with a practical design style that works for the end user. ‘I tend to file and compile things I see in my head – like a mental melting pot of ideas. Understanding how an Italian sofa can be translated into a bathtub. Or adding an embossed detail to the surface of our blu•stoneTM products inspired by a Balinese woodcarving, the piece instantly becomes spectacular,’ he explains.
A unique base material developed by Michael is Blu’s signature eco-friendly, blu•stoneTM, discovered and refined from Japanese injection molded materials. Durable like stone, any texture or color can be conceived and molded to make stunning forms and shapes - including Gottschalk’s recently awarded black embossed blu•stoneTM bathtub for Innovative Design.
With little production wastage, the material is anti-microbial, non-porous and lasts a lifetime. ‘Being able to create these dramatic designs, with much less impact on the environment than traditional bathware products is a great source of pride for our brand.’
Blu Bathworks is the designers’ choice – designed by a designer and specified worldwide.
Luxury Spa Hotel:
Abaca Boutique Resort, Mactan Island, Phillipines
Luxury Lodge & Resort:
Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, Ucluelet, BC, Canada
Boutique Accommodation:
The Keefer Suites, Vancouver, BC, Canada
BLU Bathworks was born out of frustration when Gottschalk found there was a lack of European-inspired, modern bathroom fixtures & fittings at attainable prices for his projects. He decided it was time to produce something that did not compromise taste and style by offering attractively priced, architectural bathware balancing form and function.
Part of his vision for the brand’s growth has been achieved with the opening of an interactive studio space in the heart of Vancouver’s design community, to showcase the design process of BLU Bathworks’ products. ‘The dynamic curated space gives us the opportunity to engage with the architecture and design community, as well as consumers becoming part of the process to evolve our products; like a center for design intelligence,’ explains Gottschalk.
Collaborating with established designers and manufacturers in Europe has allowed innovative BLU concepts to very quickly reach a high level in both aesthetics and design structure. Influenced by shapes, textures and materials from around the world, Gottschalk is able to marry these unique concepts with a practical design style that works for the end user. ‘I tend to file and compile things I see in my head – like a mental melting pot of ideas. Understanding how an Italian sofa can be translated into a bathtub. Or adding an embossed detail to the surface of our blu•stoneTM products inspired by a Balinese woodcarving, the piece instantly becomes spectacular,’ he explains.
A unique base material developed by Michael is Blu’s signature eco-friendly, blu•stoneTM, discovered and refined from Japanese injection molded materials. Durable like stone, any texture or color can be conceived and molded to make stunning forms and shapes - including Gottschalk’s recently awarded black embossed blu•stoneTM bathtub for Innovative Design.
With little production wastage, the material is anti-microbial, non-porous and lasts a lifetime. ‘Being able to create these dramatic designs, with much less impact on the environment than traditional bathware products is a great source of pride for our brand.’
Blu Bathworks is the designers’ choice – designed by a designer and specified worldwide.
Luxury Spa Hotel:
Abaca Boutique Resort, Mactan Island, Phillipines
Luxury Lodge & Resort:
Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, Ucluelet, BC, Canada
Boutique Accommodation:
The Keefer Suites, Vancouver, BC, Canada
