Day in day out we spend on average 26 minutes in bathrooms. Which hardly seems a lot if we bear in mind that the bathroom is said to be an ever more central space for physical and emotional recuperation. In a study commissioned by the market researcher at tns Emnid 90 percent of those surveyed classified bathroom interiors as important or very important for their quality of life. In other words, while bathrooms may not be used quite as intensively as kitchens or living rooms in terms of the time spent there, to be honest we all know that anyone wanting a little time to themselves in the hustle-and-bustle of home life retreats to the bathroom.

The latest trends for the bathroom, but also everything about intelligent building automation and installation technology – all that you will find this year at the ISH, the world’s leading trade fair for the bathroom experience, building services, energy, air-condition technology and renewable energies that holds in Frankfurt March 10-14. The key theme is “Comfort meets Technology” and what manufacturers will offer there, you will read in our ISH space - we will report before, during and after the fair.And to help you always find your way at the fair, here are the key items at a glance:

"ISH Water" is all about the bathroom as our cherished sanctuary of well-being. Leading manufacturers including Alape, Axor, Bette, Dallmer, Dornbracht, Duravit, Hansgrohe, Laufen Bathrooms, Toto and Villeroy & Boch will be showcasing their latest innovations in Halls 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. It remains to be seen if the smartphone is going to make a notable appearance here. What is for sure is that digital technologies will take pride of place in the “smart” bathroom. After all, the days of simply turning on the tap are long since over – today’s bathroom users select their personalized shower scenarios.

Turning to “ISH Energy” (on show in Halls 8, 9, 10, 11 and in the Galleria) exhibitors will be showcasing new products on building services and energy technology, not to forget cooling, air-conditioning and ventilation technology. Taking “Energy efficiency plus” as their motto, companies such as Lindner AG, Bosch Buderus and Stiebel Eltron are investigating the possibility of integrating different systems destined to make our homes smarter.

In cooperation with World Architects and Messe Frankfurt, Stylepark will be offering seven tours in total. Stylepark founder Robert Volhard, journalist Thomas Geuder, interior designers Susanne Brandherm and Sabine Krumrey of brandherm + krumrey and Anna Philipp of philipp architekten will be taking you directly to the key innovations in the fields of bathroom design and HVAC. To register for one of the tours please click >> here .

Lectures and films on the latest heating technologies are to be found at the Technology and Energy Forum in Galleria 1, between Halls 8 and 9. The Building Forum, initiated by the Federal German Industrial Association for Building Services and Technical Installations (BTGA) and Association for Automation and Management of Homes and Buildings in the Federation of German Machine and Plant Manufacturers (VDMA) is hosting a Lecture Space in Hall 10.3 for facility managers, planners and architects who wish to find out more about modernizing buildings.

At the special “Bathroom of the Future – Change of Generations” show in Hall 3.0 artisans and design students from Offenbach’s Academy of Design will present new ideas for bathrooms designs and show what products and technologies will in particular assist older generations in leading independent lives within their own four walls. Fresh ideas for your bathroom you will also find in Hall 3.0, at the special show “Pop up my Bathroom”, organized by Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitärwirtschaft e.V. (VDS).

Worthy of mention also is that this year for the first time there will be an ISH partner country, Poland. There are numerous reasons for the choice, among others that in 2009 the Polish government launched its “GreenEvo” export promotion program to support Polish companies from the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energies, waste, water and waste-water management. Around 80 exhibitors from these fields will be present at the ISH this year.

www.ish.messefrankfurt.com