WOW!house 2026 x Rigby & Rigby

WOW!house Introduction

Rigby & Rigby is delighted to announce its involvement in this year’s WOW!house project, where we will be designing and delivering an exceptional bathroom space in collaboration with renowned brassware and bathroom specialist Samuel Heath, the room’s principal sponsor. WOW!house has become one of the industry’s most celebrated showcase events, bringing together leading designers, artisans and luxury brands to create an extraordinary collection of immersive interiors under one roof. Rigby & Rigby is proud to contribute to a project that champions craftsmanship, innovation and timeless design excellence.

The concept for the space is centred around a minimal Japanese aesthetic, designed to evoke a sense of calm, simplicity and retreat. Authentic natural materials, soft textures and a muted palette are used throughout to create a harmonious and grounding bathroom environment, with an emphasis on craftsmanship & timeless design.

At the heart of the space sits a striking Ofuro bathtub — a traditional Japanese soaking tub that serves as the room’s central feature — reinforcing the bathroom’s focus on ritual, relaxation and wellbeing. The design also seeks to engage all of the senses, creating a fully immersive experience for guests. Digital screens transport visitors to other landscapes, while the gentle visual of steam and diffuser aromas filling the space introduce scents that evoke serenity, relaxation and escape.

Samuel Heath - www.samuel-heath.com

The Bathroom Space

The shell and core of the WOW!house space has been designed to create a calm and architectural backdrop, rooted in Japanese-inspired minimalism and craftsmanship. The walls and stepped ceiling feature are finished in a rich stained oak, expertly produced by James Wellesley Interiors, bringing warmth, depth and texture to the space.

Contrasting sections of the walls are finished in a soft grey polished plaster by Armourcoat, adding a refined and tactile quality that complements the natural timber tones. At the centre of the stepped ceiling, a bespoke Japanese-inspired lattice detail has been designed and crafted internally by the Rigby & Rigby MAKE Lab team, acting as a focal architectural feature within the room.

Underfoot, the flooring combines large-format tiles with mosaic detailing in complementary grey tones, carefully selected to harmonise with the polished plaster walls and complete the serene, tonal palette of the space. The tiles are supplied by Domus Tiles.

James Wellesley Interiors - jameswellesley.co.uk

Armourcoat - armourcoat.com

Rigby & Rigby MAKE Lab - www.rigbyandrigby.com

Domus Tiles - domusgroup.com

Samuel Heath

The collaboration with Samuel Heath was rooted in a shared appreciation for craftsmanship, heritage and precision engineering. A key source of inspiration throughout the design process was celebrating the enduring British craftsmanship of the Samuel Heath brand, particularly the traditional hand-finishing and tooling techniques still carried out today within the company’s Birmingham factory.

Working closely with the Samuel Heath design team, Rigby & Rigby explored ways to express these craft principles through the finer details of the brassware collection. Particular emphasis was placed on celebrating the round rivet joint & the idea of 2 sheets of metal coming together; while the handle profile itself takes inspiration from traditional Japanese woodworking tools. Subtle cut-out detailing to the rear of the handle introduces additional visual interest and creates a tactile quality when interacting with the piece.

Together, Rigby & Rigby and Samuel Heath developed a bespoke collection including a three-hole basin mixer, a feature floor-standing bath tap designed specifically for the Japanese Ofuro bathtub, and a sculptural floor-standing shower — each piece carefully balancing British manufacturing heritage with the refined simplicity of Japanese-inspired design.

Samuel Heath - www.samuel-heath.com

The Bathtub

At the heart of the space sits the hero feature — a bespoke cylindrical timber Ofuro bathtub, beautifully handcrafted by David Hayward. Inspired by traditional Japanese soaking rituals, the sculptural bath acts as both a functional object and an architectural centrepiece within the room.

Designed to engage the senses beyond the visual, the bathtub also incorporates a concealed diffuser hidden beneath an integrated panel within the tub itself. This subtle feature allows gentle vapour to rise around the bath, mimicking the appearance of steam and creating a calming, immersive atmosphere that enhances the feeling of tranquillity and escape. This diffuser feature & panel concealing the diffuser steam unit, has again been created & designed by the Rigby & Rigby MAKE Lab team (Jin Yan).

The scent in the space will be provided by Jo Malone, and will evoke a scent similar to that found in a Japanese Hinoki cedarwood forest.

David Hayward Models - davidhayward6.wixsite.com

Jo Malone - www.jomalone.co.uk

Rigby & Rigby MAKE Lab - www.rigbyandrigby.com

Digital Screens & Soundscape

Digital elements are thoughtfully layered throughout the scheme to create a more immersive and sensory-led experience within the space. Integrated digital screens positioned at the floor-standing shower and between the two basin vanities will showcase landscapes and locations from around the world where Rigby & Rigby operates, celebrating the global reach of the studio and the international nature of its projects.

The digital content will evolve throughout the day, moving from brighter sunrise scenes in the morning to calmer, more subdued environments in the late afternoon and evening. This approach subtly references the principles of circadian lighting, helping to influence mood and atmosphere within the room. Accompanying soundscapes, carefully curated to align with each visual setting, will further enhance the guest experience. This media has been created by our Creative Team & also our AI Lab at Rigby & Rigby (Daisy Watson & Yuchen Wu)

The digital equipment and all background supporting technology to host the digital content, has been provided by our Technology consultant Powerplant.

Powerplant - www.powerplant.co.uk

Rigby & Rigby AI Lab - www.rigbyandrigby.com

The Vanity Area & Shower

The feature vanities, supplied by Lapicida, introduce a sculptural quality to the space through two bespoke Onyx stone basin vanities. Defined by their unusual organic forms and rich natural texture, the pieces act as functional artworks within the scheme, bringing depth and refinement to the bathroom environment.

To complement the distinctive shapes of the Onyx, the Rigby & Rigby team designed a series of bespoke supporting bases and plinths, manufactured by MHB Interiors. Finished in a deep grey tone, the plinths anchor the vanities within the wider palette of the space and create a harmonious relationship with the polished plaster walls and surrounding materials. Mirrors are provided by Chelsea Glass which sit above the vanities.

The shower area shall feature a glass screen provided by A Touch Of Glass, which will protect the shower area form the main bathroom space.

Lapacida - www.lapicida.com

MHB Interiors - www.mhbinteriors.com

Chelsea Glass - chelseaglass.co.uk

A Touch Of Glass - www.atouchofglassltd.co.uk

Lighting

Lighting within the WOW!house space has been carefully considered to enhance the atmosphere and reinforce the calm, immersive quality of the scheme. A layered lighting approach combines subtle strip lighting, discreet spotlights and feature decorative lighting to create depth, warmth and visual balance throughout the room.

Integrated strip lighting is used to softly highlight architectural details and materials, while focused spotlights provide gentle illumination to key features within the space (provided by Lutron & Mr. Resistor) . Positioned centrally within the stepped ceiling feature, a statement pendant by Holly Hunt acts as a sculptural focal point, adding elegance and softness to the architectural composition while drawing attention to the Japanese-inspired lattice detail above.

Lighting control within the room will be controlled via a control panel provided by Tewke.

Holly Hunt - www.hollyhunt.com

Lutron - www.lutron.com

Mr Resistor - www.mr-resistor.co.uk

Tewke - www.tewke.com

Furniture

A carefully curated selection of furniture has been introduced throughout the space to complement the overall Japanese-inspired aesthetic and add moments of warmth, texture and craftsmanship. An occassional side chair and table by Ceccotti Collezioni feature a distinctive Japanese fabric, bringing subtle pattern and artisanal detailing into the scheme.

Alongside this, a low Japanese-inspired stool also upholstered in a textile by Tokyo-based designer Sudo Reiko adds another layer of authenticity and tactile richness to the interior.

A console provided by August & Co (manufactured by Pouenat) provides a refined area for presenting marketing collateral, accompanied by a portable battery-powered lamp from the brand, adding a soft decorative glow and further enhancing the calm atmosphere of the space.

Ceccotti Collezioni - www.ceccotticollezioni.it

August & Co - august-and.co

Pouenat - pouenat.fr

Sudo Reiko (Nuno Fabrics) - www.nuno.com

Accessories

Accessories throughout the space have been carefully curated from a range of specialist makers, artisans and suppliers, helping to reinforce the layered, sensory nature of the design. Decorative objects and handcrafted pieces sourced from Musubi Kiln in Tokyo and Japan House London introduce an authentic connection to Japanese culture and craftsmanship, while floral arrangements by Underleaf bring softness and natural texture into the scheme.

Robes and towels have been supplied by Glancy Fawcett, adding another tactile layer to the bathroom environment. A curated selection of books, provided by Ultimate Library, will rotate throughout the month of June, encouraging moments of pause and reflection within the space.

A large-scale feature artwork by Hannah Ludlow is positioned on the left-hand wall upon entering the WOW!house bathroom, acting as a striking visual focal point. Together, the accessories and styling elements create a tangible connection to the function and atmosphere of the room, while select pieces — such as the traditional Japanese Daruma doll — introduce moments of character and whimsy within the otherwise tranquil setting.

Colombia Road Gallery - Hannah Ludlow - columbiaroadgallery.com

Musubi Kiln - musubikiln.com

Japan House London - www.japanhouselondon.uk

Underleaf - www.underleaf.uk

Glancey Fawcett - www.glancyfawcett.com

Thank you & we look forward to welcoming you

Rigby & Rigby & Samuel Heath would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of the collaborators, makers and suppliers who have contributed materials, technology, furniture & accessories to help bring the WOW!house bathroom space to life.

This project has been made possible through the shared passion, craftsmanship and dedication of every contributor involved, and we are incredibly appreciative of the time, effort and expertise that has gone into helping realise the overall design concept.

Special mentions at Rigby & Rigby who have designed & will be constructing the bathroom space go to

James Ashfield (Studio Director - Interiors), Jin Yan & Yuchen Wu (Architecture & Interior Design Team),

Will Rigby (Construction Manager) & Amber Kemp who has collaborated with the WOW! House team & suppliers in advance of the construction stage.

We would also like to thank Samuel Heath for being such supportive room sponsors; special thanks goes to Martyn Whieldon, Adam Daniels & the rest of the Samuel Heath team in Birmingham.

We very much look forward to welcoming and hosting all collaborators & members of the public once the bathroom space officially opens on 2nd June 2026.