How to obtain heating elements that effectively save water and energy,

which offer high performance even in complex situations and which, at

the same time, indicate a path that can also be followed with succes-

sive products, without losing any of the classic, ‘solid’ qualities of

design – material, colour, aesthetic and tactile pleasure? A project of

this kind set up by Tubes, together with Ludovica and Roberto Palomba,

which has gone into production, has demonstrated several of these quali-

ties, allowing considerable savings on water (around 75% less compared

to a traditional tubular radiator) yet maintaining unaffected heating

performance. The use of extruded, totally recyclable aluminium light-

ened the weight and reduced the quantity of material used, according to

a principle of sustainability that is increasingly being proven. The

radiator, tested by Milan Polytechnic, is eligible for EN442 certifica-

tion. As regards its use, the features of the model, produced with the

name Soho, seem ideal for even the most modern settings: class A or B

buildings with a high level of thermal insulation can be heated more

effectively with elements like this, which react extremely rapidly to

changes in temperature.

In terms of construction and aesthetics, the project is inspired by an

industrial idea of modular units, as if to pay tribute to the origins

of Italian design, when the utopia of the ‘beautiful and functional’

industrial object led many people (industrialists, designers and users)

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