Consumers are increasingly looking for sustainability in bathroom design, driven by environmental concerns and the growing cost of water and heating. Baths can be perceived as inefficient compared to showers, yet they have many wellness benefits. Victoria + Albert baths, part of the House of Rohl family of kitchen and bathroom brands, set their designers the challenge of creating a bath that would be as stylish and comfortable as the brand’s best, but use at least 30% less water.

The result is Victoria + Albert’s new Ledro freestanding bath. The Ledro is a slipper bath, just under 1.7 metres long. From above it has an avocado shape, with ample space for shoulders at the head end, then tapering towards the foot end, allowing space for the knees to rest. The angle of recline is gentle, comfortably supporting the lower back, with a flared rim to rest the head. The high sides cocoon the bather for a deeper sense of relaxation.

The maximum water capacity of the Ledro is 180 litres. For comparison, the compact version of Victoria + Albert’s iconic Barcelona freestanding bath has a capacity of 256 litres – some 40% more. (Note that this is for the Barcelona 1500, a small format freestanding bath, just 1.5 metres long. The savings are greater against larger models.).

These volumes are for an empty bath. With the displacement from a bather, the maximum will be around 50 litres less. Most Ledro owners will use between 100 and 130 litres per bath. So even those who bath only once a week might save over 2,000 litres of heated water a year.

And this means that taking a bath in the Ledro will use a similar amount of water to a power-shower. (In the UK, water utilities quote an average shower length of 8 minutes, and power-showers typically use around 15 litres of water per minute.)

The Ledro bath is made from Quarrycast(TM) a composite of Volcanic Limestone(TM) and a unique resin developed by Victoria + Albert. The material is strong, durable and relatively light, and is scratch and stain resistance. It is a natural insulator, so less of the heat of the water is spent warming up the tub, and the bath water stays warm for longer. Victoria + Albert baths are made to last (they benefit from a 25 year consumer warranty). They are so tough that in Australia they are often installed outside and do not deteriorate in the wide range of conditions they endure. By extending the replacement cycle far beyond most acrylic baths, which can discolour and crack, a Victoria + Albert bath is a more sustainable option.

The bath has been designed with an internal overflow so no ugly external pipework is needed, and a void underneath for easier plumbing with solid floors. The Ledro exceeds the latest UK guidelines and regulations – BREEAM Level 1, UK Government Building Regulations Part G, Unified Water Label – which represent some of the toughest in the world.

In an extremely technical product development process, Victoria + Albert’s design team never lost sight of the requirement to produce a beautiful bath. At first glance it seems like a conventional slipper bath, but by sculpting away unnecessary volume, the designers have given it subtle curves and a unique shape. Looking directly from the foot of the bath, it resembles the prow of some great ocean liner of the 1920’s. It looks especially luxurious in a Matt finish that diffuses the light for a relaxing ambience in the bathroom.
 
Like all Victoria + Albert baths and basins, Ledro can be specified in any of 200 RAL exterior colours, to match any bathroom scheme. Each finish is multi-layered using a special catalysed paint, and hand-polished between applications for a deep lustre. More durable than hand-painted surfaces, Victoria + Albert colours elevate baths and basins to bespoke, statement pieces.

The Ledro was formally launched in April 2024 at Salone del Mobile Milano, the Milan furniture fair. It is priced at £2,832.00 in the UK, in either Matt or Gloss finish. (Coloured finishes extra.) Dimensions are 738 mm at its highest point, 705 mm at its widest point, and 1670 mm long. The Ledro is now available across EMEAA, with North America to follow.

Category:Bath and AccessoriesAward Year:2025Designers:Eveline Simard, Declan Aldridge, and Lucy Milsom, House of Rohl, Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, CanadaManufacturer:House of Rohl, London, United Kingdom