©Roca I Nu
When Roca set out to create a new faucet collection, it sought something deceptively simple: a design that could condense emotion, functionality and Mediterranean spirit into a single gesture. The result is Nu, a collection by the Spanish design practice Inma Bermúdez Studio that turns the everyday act of using water into an encounter with colour and precision. Within months of its debut, Nu had already won eleven international design awards, including Red Dot, iF Award, Dezeen and Good Design, becoming one of Roca’s most celebrated creations to date.
©Roca I Nu
At first glance, Nu captivates through colour. Six glossy shades – green, blue, yellow, white, black and chrome – redefine what a faucet can be. Their origin lies in the studio’s Mediterranean surroundings: whitewashed walls, sea-light reflections and the painted doors that punctuate the villages of southern Spain. “We wanted strong colours that would say ‘Here we are,’” explains Inma Bermúdez. Rather than follow the trend of muted tones, the studio sought saturation and shine, hues that express optimism without excess, sophistication without restraint.
This fearless use of colour is balanced by remarkable precision. Nu’s body, only 35 millimetres in diameter, the thinnest Roca has ever produced, embodies a mastery of proportion and technology. The collection presents three distinct handle designs: Pin, Dome and Stripes. Each expresses a different attitude toward form. Pin, slender and elongated, recalls the poised silhouette of a bird about to take flight. Dome embraces soft curves and architectural solidity. Stripes, inspired by the ribbed knobs of vintage stereos, adds a tactile rhythm to the collection, merging function and decoration in a single gesture.
©Roca I Nu
Every detail is intentional, from the discreet red and blue dots placed beneath the handles, which when turned create the subtle outline of a smiling face, to the invisible integration of technology. “We wanted to make the products come to life,” says Bermúdez. “Objects have an essence, and if we can evoke a smile in the process, then all the better.”
Behind this apparent simplicity lies complex engineering. The aerator is hidden within the spout, and Roca’s Cold Start system ensures that each use begins with cold water, reducing energy consumption and unnecessary CO₂ emissions. Sustainability extends beyond operation: packaging is free from single-use plastics, and all components are made in Europe to minimise transport impact.
©Roca I Nu
The identity of the collection is inseparable from the philosophy of the studio itself. Inma Bermúdez and Moritz Krefter often describe themselves as two halves of the same thought. “Moritz is precision and technique,” says Inma. “Inma is language and emotion,” he adds. From their base in Valencia, they have spent nearly two decades designing objects that balance humour, light and environmental awareness. Nu captures this internal dialogue: German rigour meeting Mediterranean warmth, minimalism enriched by colour, function infused with joy.
©Roca I Nu
For architects and designers, Nu offers freedom. The six colours can become focal points or quiet accents, allowing for compositions that play with rhythm, contrast or harmony. Its rounded silhouette brings softness to hard surfaces, while the collection’s versatility enables coherent design across different spaces and applications.
Ultimately, Nu is more than a faucet collection. It is an argument for beauty in everyday rituals, for a kind of design that dares to smile back.
