Kallista® Collaborates With Celebrated Danish Architect Bjarke Ingels To Unveil Taper™ by BIG Collection

KOHLER, Wisconsin, March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bjarke Ingels, founder and head of the Danish architectural practice Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has joined Kallista, a leading designer and provider of kitchen and bath luxury products, to jointly unveil Kallista's latest collection, Taper by BIG – a KiBiSi collaboration.

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Taper represents a unique partnership in the design community as it is a first-of-its-kind collaboration for both BIG and Kallista. For BIG, it marks the practice's first collaboration in the home interiors industry, and for Kallista, it marks the first partnership the company has ever made with a world-renowned architect.

"Kallista has a rich legacy of partnering with leading designers in the interior space and now we're pushing ourselves forward to innovate in a very different way with this latest collaboration with Bjarke Ingels," said Adam Horwitz, General Manager, Kallista. "Bjarke is one of the world's fastest rising architectural visionaries and this partnership puts us beyond just thinking about the room aesthetics.  We're looking at how Kallista fits in within the entire bathroom environment and beyond."

The Taper Collection is unlike anything on the market today. It marries advanced engineering with a minimalist style that is deeply rooted in the principles of classic Mid-Century Danish design.  Ingels took design cues from the practical function of the products – to facilitate the passage of water – by stripping the forms down to their most elemental essence.

"The sculpted shape of Taper translates from the geometry of the pipe and sculpts the flow of water to the hands or body," described Ingels. The lack of overly complex and multi-piece components throughout the collection was born out of the "holistic strategy of creating one simple shape transition that offers a lot of character without excess," he continued.

One of the many reasons Kallista approached Ingels for this project was because of his very thoughtful process and how dedicated he is to making products that truly focus on improving life around us.  "Bjarke helped us deliver something quite remarkable – a one-piece spout. The entire faucet is three pieces – that's all you see. There's no base, no bonnet, no escutcheon and no seams. It was incredibly well thought-out," said Horwitz.  Ingels added, "The partnership with Kallista was incredibly exciting. I was inspired by their desire to create something very innovative and by the exquisite beauty and high quality of the end product we were able to produce together."

The signature cone-to-cylinder design represents a paring down of the product form to its most elemental components.  The faucet has an intentional, forward-leaning profile, and the unique 90-degree bend in the faucets and lever handles slyly references the stark geometry of the pipes behind the walls.  The faucet spout is designed with a spout tip that is uniquely flush with the faucet; the aerator is in the base where it can't be seen by the user, while the toilet paper holder cleverly opens and closes via a magnetic locking roller for easy paper roll replacement.

There are 14 pieces in the Taper by BIG collection and they are available in three Kallista finishes: Chrome, Nickel Silver, and Brushed Nickel. To give customers multiple options to customize their own look, the collection will also be available in nine additional specialty finishes that can also be ordered, including: Gunmetal, Black Nickel, Bronze, Antique Bronze, Weathered Bronze, Polished Gold, Matte Gold, Antique Silver, and Sterling Silver.

To view the entire Taper Collection, and other KALLISTA products, visit www.kallista.com. For more information about BIG and KiBiSi, visit BIG.dk and KiBiSi.com.

About Kallista

Kallista is known for its designs of decorative plumbing products, offering faucets and fixtures thoughtfully created for tasteful kitchen, and whole-bath solutions.  Kallista is a division of the Kohler Co. Interiors Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohler Co.  Kallista, Ann Sacks Tile and Stone, Inc., and Robern mirrored cabinetry and vanities are part of the Kohler Interiors Decorative Products sector.  Under its Furniture sector resides Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Inc., Baker furniture, Baker Knapp & Tubbs Showrooms and Baker Stores and McGuire Furniture Company.

About Kohler

Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., Kohler Co. is one of America's oldest and largest privately held companies.  Kohler is a global leader in the manufacturer of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, cabinetry, tile and home interiors, and international host to award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.

CONTACT: 
Alicia Hart
Ketchum for KALLISTA
O: +1.646.935.4393
M: +1.602.694.0232
alicia.hart@ketchum.com

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