The result is named Argile (pronounced ar-geel) – which means clay in French and speaks to the organic, seemingly handmade texture applied to the freestanding bathtub and basin’s cocooning, half-moon shapes. The collection’s textural exterior surfaces, inspired by wood cuts and tooled clay, cascade over the exteriors in decorative relief bringing unexpected warmth to a modern material.

When design director Andrew Kline and designer Ruoxi Wang began exploring design concepts, it was clear that the market was full of sleek, shining fixtures. As an antidote to the steel, stone, and glass we surround ourselves with (and the smooth devices in our hands all day) they developed a textural gradient effect that goes from smooth, polished edges to a handcrafted, carved surface. There is wonderful contrast in these pieces – polished and hand-carved surfaces, glossy interiors and matte exteriors, and ethereal modern shapes transformed by age-old techniques and offered in soft matte white, a new Kallista shade making its debut on Argile’s bathtub and basin.

Crafted from a blend of fine mineral powder and resin, the 72-inch wide Argile Freestanding tub’s slanted sides were ergonomically designed to comfortably support one or two bathers for a deep relaxing soak. Its cast mineral and resin composition also helps to maintain optimum water temperature to keep bathers comfortable for extended periods.