Alchemy
In the Alchemy tapware collection, the precision-engineered metals used by Meir are combined with the tactile concrete favoured by Nood Co.
Alchemy represents a close and thoughtful collaboration between two Australian brands – Meir, whose tapware highlights the subtle refinement of metal, and Nood Co., whose bathtubs and basins explore the sculptural achievements of concrete. Honouring both materials, the tapware series uses precise engineering to result in a line-up of products to elevate a range of interiors. “Meir’s language of steel and brass contains a sense of luxury that can be enhanced by the addition of concrete,” says Chris Walker, co-founder of Nood Co. “The Alchemy collection offers 12 concrete colours to pair with four metal finishes, allowing for bold combinations to be considered as well as restrained options. There’s potential to create something bespoke across the breadth of the industry.”
One project that illuminates this idea is Joy House, a playful residence located in Mount Eliza. “We used Alchemy mixers throughout the bathrooms in the lustre bronze finish,” says Ruby Shields, principal at interior design firm Studio Shields. “In the powder room, the lustre bronze complements the cross handles, while in the blue main bathroom, the finish is used in contrast to the cool-toned tiling. We paired it with the Nood Co. powder-blue hill basin, which reinforces the colour scheme. I think it’s important for bathrooms to have a point of difference – a distinct personality – because residents only occupy them for short periods of time. The Alchemy range allowed us to create spaces that effortlessly feed into the concept of a joyous home.”
Beyond its appearance and functionality, the collection also embodies a spirit of innovation; it emerges in spite of unique manufacturing challenges. “The concrete sleeve for the spout is the hardest piece of engineering we’ve made,” says Walker. “To construct it in a way that was sophisticated, subtle and easy to install required a thought process that went deeper than we had experienced making our previous products. It is the smallest component we’ve ever made – there were many occasions during the early stages when the prototype mould was out by half a millimetre, and the result was far from satisfactory.” It is by maintaining such high standards that the collection succeeds, not just as a strong pairing of materials, but as a timeless addition to the creative landscape.
