Tokyo Design Awards Silver Winner

2026 | Professional

Tai Chi Drain-Harmonizing Ancient Wisdom with Modern Living

Entrant Company

Shanghai Anrro Building Materials & Technology Co.,Ltd.

Category

Product Design - Bathroom Fittings / Appliances

Client's Name

Country / Region

China

In traditional Chinese philosophy, water is the essence of flow and prosperity. The Tai Chi Drain reinterprets this ancient belief through a contemporary design lens, transforming a mundane utility into a centerpiece of cultural expression.The Tai Chi Drain redefines the utilitarian floor drain by fusing Eastern philosophy with high-performance engineering. Addressing chronic industry failures—clogging, odor leakage, and complex maintenance—this design draws from the I Ching, centering on the Tai Chi emblem and uniquely featuring four symmetrically positioned Kan trigrams (☵). The series translates Eastern domestic-water philosophy into a precision sanitary product, already honored as Gold Winner at French Design Awards 2026. Six hydrodynamic apertures optimize fluid dynamics while echoing "Liu Liu Dashun," a philosophical metaphor for unimpeded flow and prosperous continuity. The core innovation, the "Coreless Full-Bore Drainage" system, maximizes pipe diameter to eliminate debris buildup, supported by a Gravity-Activated Seal for permanent, climate-proof isolation. This invention is fortified by dual Chinese patents: a Design Patent protecting the iconic geometric aesthetics and a Utility Model Patent securing the proprietary structural mechanism. Crafted from marine-grade stainless steel, it adheres to the "Five Excellences" standard, incorporating a modular "Snap-and-Wash" feature for tool-free upkeep and universal compatibility with 40mm–75mm piping. By bridging millennia-old cultural wisdom with modern technological rigor, the Tai Chi drain transcends its functional role, setting a new benchmark for architectural hardware that harmonizes spiritual well-being with engineering perfection.

Credits

Shanghai Anrro Building Materials & Technology Co.,Ltd.
Xiufeng Mu
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