ISH 2025 – Review
One solution for everything

‘Solutions for a sustainable future’ was the motto of the trade fair, whose halls were filled by 2,183 exhibitors from 54 countries. New approaches are in demand and an event structure with eight areas was devised for this – from sanitary rooms and installation to software and the manufacture of HVAC products. Developed on the basis of a survey of ISH visitors, this overview facilitated orientation. An extensive supporting programme was also on offer, such as the well-attended ISH Festival with numerous entertainment options or the "Value of Water Conference", which brought together international experts from business, science and politics to discuss sustainable water use and forward-looking strategies and technologies. The ‘Building Future Conference’ was also dedicated to the question of how buildings can be made more sustainable and what framework conditions are needed to drive forward the energy transition in the building sector. The systems should be simple, networked, flexible and efficient and intuitive to use from installation to utilisation.

With an exhibition area on the topic of ‘Sustainable Living’, Hansgrohe SE followed on from the ‘Green Vision Beyond Water: Rethinking Bathroom Culture’ concept first presented at ISH 2023, a bathroom whose CO2 emissions such as water and energy consumption are reduced by 90 per cent. The insights into the concepts of sustainable solutions for the use, treatment and reuse of water are intended to inspire a more conscious approach to this valuable resource in everyday life. Part of this is a grey water recycling solution that Hansgrohe has now implemented with the company Hydraloop: The cabinet-sized treatment system collects waste and condensation water from the building's water and heating appliances. Purified and disinfected using a biological process, it is suitable for reuse in toilet flushes, for the washing machine and for watering the garden. ‘We are convinced that this effective and reliable solution will enable us to tap into the potential of grey water recycling at the right time, particularly for hotels, public and semi-public buildings and all construction projects that focus on sustainability. We are also working at a political level to promote the increased reuse of water. Circulatory solutions in buildings, in which different qualities of water are used for different purposes, offer enormous potential. In order to utilise this potential, the regulatory framework must be adapted to enable innovation,’ says Hans Jürgen Kalmbach, CEO of Hansgrohe. By 2030, Hansgrohe SE wants to switch its entire water-bearing product portfolio of the hansgrohe and AXOR brands to water and energy-saving technologies.

At the Laufen stand, designed by Studio Snøhetta, visitors were able to discover an installation of the new electric tunnel kiln, which was developed together with the company Keramischer Ofenbau and marks the turning point that will make the plant in Gmunden the world's first net-zero production facility for sanitary ceramics. At the same time, the plant was equipped with a solar system to generate the required electricity from renewable sources.

Resource-saving technologies were also part of the special ‘Green Roofs & Facades’ area at ISH, where Aris Systeme GmbH, for example, presented complete systems for rainwater utilisation and management from a single source, which are also intended to strengthen the green infrastructure in urban areas. Bosch exhibited heat pump hybrid systems such as the ‘Compress Hybrid 5800i G’, which can be operated as a stand-alone gas or oil condensing boiler or in combination with a heat pump outdoor unit. Conversion to purely electric operation is also possible. With the ‘ClimateHub’, Samsung offered a compact complete solution for heating and hot water that is suitable for both new and existing buildings. This was honoured with the Designplus Award 2025, which Stylepark presents together with the ISH.

Bette has also succeeded in efficiently optimising systems and creating new perspectives in combination: with the ‘BetteUltra Space’ shower tray and the ‘BetteCompact+’ drain set, standard-compliant installation can be achieved from as little as 90 millimetres. This ensures freedom of design when planning shower areas and enables simple installation even in challenging structural installations. With the ‘Everstream’ shower system, Grohe treats waste water hygienically and, according to its own information, uses up to 75 per cent less water and up to 70 per cent less energy compared to a conventional shower. The company's ‘Rapido Heat Recovery Shower System’ also pumps the hot waste water from the shower through a separate pipe surrounded by the cold water supply, thus transferring residual heat. Kaldewei's exhibits included the lightweight ‘Aluvia’ shower surface, which is filled with recycled glass and can be installed without time-consuming alignment work or additional sound insulation. It can also be customised for any installation situation. Kaldewei also combines infrared heat, music and light for the new ‘Nuio Duo’ bathtub in the Zen Edition. The functions can be controlled via an LCD display on the edge of the bath. VitrA presented for example the world's first 100 per cent recycled ceramic washbasin, in which the waste materials, including the discarded ceramics, from the production process are reused.

Clever ideas are also available for fire protection, such as the new Dallmer fire protection elements for vertical drain housings: they fulfil all the necessary requirements, such as fire resistance classes, and are completely ready for installation thanks to a clamping mechanism. With the ‘TECEsystem-Pro’, Tece presented prefabricated installation walls with blown-in insulation that ensure vertical and horizontal fire protection. ‘The HVAC industry is continuously developing valuable innovations that can advance the energy transition and contribute to progress in the heating supply and water management sectors. However, they can only be implemented across the board together and under the right framework conditions. ISH is the industry's central platform where manufacturers, planners, tradespeople and political decision-makers meet to develop sustainable solutions and actively shape the future of the built world,’ says Wolfgang Marzin, President and CEO of Messe Frankfurt. As part of the trade fair, a strong network of six central trade associations was also founded in the form of the new ‘Building Technology Task Force’, which aims to strengthen cooperation between the building technology and air conditioning trades in order to contribute to the energy transition.

Strong together – this motto was emphasised by companies such as Villeroy & Boch with its new brand Ideal Standard, Hansgrohe SE with AXOR and the Roca Group with Laufen and Alape. On the market leaders' spacious areas, there was a multitude of scenarios to discover that presented the bathroom as a fully-fledged living area: Christian Haas, Gesa Hansen and Roberto Palomba designed a trade fair stand with two semicircles for the Villeroy & Boch Group, which invited visitors on a voyage of discovery with a central plaza. A high-contrast interplay of the currently trendy ‘warm minimalism’ with light natural colours, combined with dark blue, red and black. This included the ‘Vea’ tap by Christian Haas for Villeroy & Boch, inspired by a perfume bottle, the ‘Artis’ countertop washbasins made of TitanCeram in new plain colours by Gesa Hansen and the ‘i.life O’ collection by Roberto Palomba for Ideal Standard, which extends the established ‘i.life A, B and S’ series with the efficient HydroTwist® flushing technology. At AXOR, the ‘AXOR ShowerSphere’, a new overhead shower collection by Antonio Citterio, could be experienced under the ‘Escape the ordinary’ campaign, offering numerous variants for the design of luxury bathrooms - including a wall-mounted overhead shower with two spray types and a movable shower arm. The entire range can be customised in a large selection of ‘AXOR FinishPlus’ PVD surfaces. In addition to the currently popular brushed black chrome finish, the new lust for brilliance has been showcased, whether in gold, bronze or brass. Thanks to its new owner, the Italian sanitary specialist Paini, KWC now also offers stainless steel taps with different surfaces.

As washbasins, the exclusive triad in metallic colours could be discovered at ‘Rivo’ by Alape. However, these were the exception – when it came to washbasin design, the walk through the halls revealed more restrained statements, expressive but reduced in form and colour. Like the ‘Balcoon’ bathroom series by Patricia Urquiola for Duravit: ‘The design plays with height differences, projections and the overlapping of materials and textures,’ says Urquiola. In many places, wood veneer in light oak and dark walnut was chosen for the panelling of the bathroom furniture, often with haptically appealing ribbing. The oval or round washbasin shapes were usually softly illuminated by the indirect light of LED strips, which were preferably installed behind or around the mirrors. These were also predominantly seen in oval and round designs. Depending on the mood, the lighting can be dimmed continuously and switched between cold and warm white. The mirror cabinet also made an unexpected but stylish comeback, as with the oval ‘Float D2’ from Schneider, the front of which slides gently forwards with a swivelling mechanism, or as the ‘Pure-Line’ mirror cabinet series from Sprinz, which is also available in matt black. In addition to the digital operating displays, the grooved thermostat handle is also back in demand, such as at AXOR in the form of the ‘ShowerSelect ID’ from Phoenix.

The Roca Group's strong commitment to pioneering solutions was also evident in its products at the ISH: Yves Béhar designed a washbasin made of sapphire ceramic for its premium brand Laufen, the design of which places the water itself at the centre and at the same time helps to use the resource sparingly. With ‘Volta’, the water flows down a curved ramp that is inscribed into the round basic shape of the washbasin like a spiral. The water can also come out of an opening at the top of the ramp, which emphasises the dynamic aesthetics all the more. When the drain is closed, the water collects at the foot of the ramp and forms a small ‘pool’. This means that the entire basin does not have to be filled when washing or cleaning. The dry zones then serve as storage areas. Another effect of the basin shape is that the rotating movement of the water cleans the ceramic at the same time. With the design of sanitary ceramics, Béhar, one of the co-founders of the ‘Cradle to Cradle’ organisation and founder of the Fuseprojekt studio, has opened up a new field in his commitment to recyclable products and materials. ‘Form follows social relevance’ is a statement from the Roca Group.

In the 1,000 square metre Roca pavilion, which was designed by the Mesura architecture firm, visitors were able to experience the bathroom as a system in numerous showrooms, for which Roca offers complete designer bathrooms as a manufacturer. Altherr Désile Park have redesigned the ‘Meridian’ bathroom collection and lent a new balance to its lightness of arches and curves inscribed in the square. Stefan Diez and Madeleine K. Wieser developed the ‘Kay’ tap collection, which is inspired by the architectural projection of bollards and cranes in harbour facilities. The collection will be available for washbasins, bathtubs, bidets and showers. In terms of toilets, the smart ‘In-Wash® Vorea’, where all the advanced functions of a smart toilet are subtly concealed in a familiar, elegant silhouette, and the space-saving ‘Avant’, which saves up to 20 centimetres compared to conventional toilets with front wall installation thanks to the integrated cistern, could be explored. ‘Roca Connect’ also offers a cloud-based smart bathroom solution that digitalises and simplifies water management in public buildings by connecting all devices via a dashboard and an app. During a press conference, the plans for ‘Roca City’ near Barcelona Airport were also presented, which will offer a net-zero industrial facility, training centres, residential buildings and a hotel. Hewi demonstrated the major influence that branding has on the positive reception of inclusive product design: as part of the cooperation with the internationally recognised Barbie™ brand, which has been around for decades, universal design has been given a new emotional appeal. The Barbie™ x Hewi collection was honoured with a special mention at the Designplus by ISH Awards.

User-orientated design – Toto is also exemplary in this respect and offers the new option of upgrading some of its WC models, such as the ‘WC RP’, to a washlet. The installation openings for water and electricity are already present in the toilet models intended for an upgrade. As long as the ceramics are used as a toilet with a normal lid, the necessary holes in the ceramic are covered with FlexCovers. If the toilet is then converted into a washlet, the FlexCovers can be removed, the washlet placed on the ceramic and the water and power connections routed through the openings. The upgrade is particularly quick with one of the installation frames from Toto, as the toilet does not have to be removed from the wall. Burgbad also presented a material library developed with Studio Besau-Marguerre, which will also be available online, as a compass through its extensive range. KWC presented the ‘KWC Homebox’, a compact flush-mounted solution for the stylishly minimalist designer bathroom that is easy to install and whose design can be customised in a variety of ways. The Choice function is operated at the touch of a button and, depending on the version, an integrated flow regulator also controls the water volume.

Unfortunately, there were hardly any positive surprises in the stand architecture this year. Only a few companies opted for sustainable structures, such as Hansgrohe SE and Burgbad: Burgbad ‘s aesthetic stand consisted of a purist shelving structure made of birch plywood, designed by bottega + ehrhardt architekten GmBH & Studio Besau-Marguerre. 90 percent of the stand materials were recycled for the ISH 2023 – wrapped in light curtains with a pleasant colour gradient in cool yellow. The concept received the Designplus Award by ISH. Schneider opted for a raw assembly frame and Viessmann showed with a modular metal structure, which was partially clad, that even in very spacious areas a simple stand architecture is possible that can be both functional and appealing. Tilla Goldberg and her team from Brand Spaces presented the modular ‘House of Geberit’ concept.

The expansive declarations on the buzzword of sustainability had disappeared from the halls; instead, the focus shifted to the egg-laying wool-milk sow: a product that can be flexibly adapted to any requirement. In the area of energy, hybrid heating was therefore a focal topic, for which energy sources such as gas, oil and renewable energy such as solar energy or environmental heat can be combined. The retrofitting of existing condensing boilers with an external heat pump unit was also in demand in order to gradually heat buildings in a climate-neutral way. For example, Buderus presented the new ‘WLW MBE+ AR’ heat pump outdoor unit with the natural refrigerant R290 (propane). Another highlight on the stand was the display of a Delorean DMC-12 in the style of the science fiction film trilogy ‘Back to the future’. This emphasised the Buderus leitmotif ‘Off to the future’ in an eye-catching way. Kermi presented the ‘x-Flair Vmulti’ heat pump radiator, which, according to the manufacturer, offers up to 80 per cent more output with the same size compared to classic panel radiators and covers simple installation with six connection variants. With the ‘wpnext’ family, Stiebel Eltron presented air-to-water heat pumps, brine-to-water heat pumps and integral ventilation units for every living and building situation. In addition, there is a standardised installation and connection concept, the natural refrigerant R290 and rapid commissioning via an app.

At the ISH, Mitsubishi Electric presented the ‘MEHP-iB series’, a compact air/water heat pump that also utilises the natural refrigerant R290. The system achieves water temperatures of up to 75 degrees Celsius and is available in seven output sizes from 12 to 38 kilowatts. BlueHeart Energy B.V. has developed a new sustainable technology to drastically improve the performance of heat pumps: The refrigerant is replaced by a thermoacoustic motor that works with sound waves to create temperature differences. This is the first time that thermoacoustics, previously used in industry, has been transferred to heat pumps in residential buildings and is suitable for both new and existing buildings. The concept was honoured with the Designplus Award by ISH.

What is the summary of ISH 2025? The interest in and commitment to energy-efficient solutions and resource-saving concepts remains strong in view of the wide range of products and services offered by companies and the numerous guests who shuffled through the aisles – even if the exuberant optimism for rapid progress in the energy transition has suffered a noticeable setback in the last two years. Fortunately, leading sanitaryware manufacturers are increasingly joining forces with science to offer products and systems that are designed from the ground up with the environment in mind – ‘lab and lifestyle’ are no longer opposites. In addition to intuitive operation and individualised design, rapid installation in new and existing buildings is increasingly being taken into account.

A look beyond the established brands at the products and presentations, however, also shows that there is still plenty of room for improvement in the HVAC sector in order to be fully progressive. Digitalisation is also rapidly transforming the traditional trades in the HVAC sector and the search for new talent is already a challenge. In the current uncertain times in many respects, it is therefore important to set priorities and respond to the dynamic situation with an open mind. The discussion as to whether the concept of the trade fair itself is still fit for the future was not an issue at the ISH. Complex topics such as energy, water and air supply in particular require centralised platforms that enable direct exchange, provide the opportunity to address the young target group directly, bundle expertise in one place and allow ideas to be experienced in a tangible way. Advanced technologies, responsible use of resources and intelligent control systems are needed to achieve the climate targets. The design of HVAC products and processes involves responsibility for setting the course for the future. The fact that the market leaders are increasingly addressing this was clearly visible at ISH 2025.