A few years ago Sieger Design and manufacturer Dornbracht, both based in Germany, collaborated on this striking Supernova bathroom concept.

Less a practical exercise and more of a boundary-pushing demonstration along the lines of an automotive manufacturer's concept car, the design focused on the idea of "high-gloss surfaces of the fittings [that] constantly reflect the island's individual laguna-like water zones."

It subsequently caught the eye of both the iF Product Design Award people and the Chicago Athenaeum's Good Design Award Jury.

More recently Sieger and Dornbracht have worked together on the very Teutonic-looking IMO line of faucets, which will be on display at next week's ISH 2011 Trade Show in Frankfurt:

Another noteworthy collaboration of theirs is a new and practical shower technology called ATT, which brings electricity into showering service. From an interface standpoint, the Ambiance Tuning Technique system is reminiscent of a stereo--albeit one designed to be used with soapy hands—that provides "preprogrammed or even customized shower experience[s]."

"The use of electronics in a bathroom setting is something that can only be justified if it serves to simplify increasingly complex features and uses," says Benedikt Sauerland, a manager at Sieger. "With Ambiance Tuning Technique, we've managed to replace a host of manually operated taps with a single simple and intuitive control panel whilst simultaneously expanding the range of water control options."