TL;DR – Three Global Bathroom Moves Worth Noticing

• Roca partnered with Shanghai Tower (China’s tallest building) to create branded restrooms on the observation decks – 118 floors up.

• Kohler’s CEO visited Taiwan for the first time in nine years, where smart toilet sales have grown 5x in five years.

• American Standard supplied fixtures to a new wellness resort in Sanya (China’s tropical beach destination).

None of these are about “buy now.” They’re about where the industry is putting its money and attention right now.

1. Roca Goes Vertical – Literally

In mid-July, Spanish brand Roca unveiled a collaboration with Shanghai Tower – the second‑tallest building in the world. They designed and installed branded restroom spaces across the 118th, 119th, and 125th floor observation decks.

The launch event was held on the 118th floor, with Roca’s China CEO and Spain’s Deputy Economic & Commercial Consul in attendance. They dropped a giant curtain printed with “浴见乐家” (“Meet Roca”) to reveal the finished spaces.

What’s interesting here isn’t just the height – it’s the strategy. Roca is using a landmark building to plant a flag in luxury hospitality, not just residential plumbing. Their Litha smart toilet was the centerpiece, and industry watchers noted that high‑end hospitality bathrooms are moving toward warmer, natural materials like walnut wood and stone resin – shifting away from the cold, all‑white minimalism of the past decade. Roca’s Shanghai Tower project seems to lean into that vibe: warm, experience‑driven, and less “showroom” than “spa.”

2. Kohler’s CEO Visits Taiwan – and the Numbers Are Real

David Kohler, the fourth‑generation family leader and current CEO of Kohler, made his first trip to Taiwan in nine years this July. He visited the KOHLER Experience Center in Taipei, talked about sustainability and design, and dropped a couple of product announcements: the 2026 Leap fully automatic smart toilet and a health‑oriented device called Dekoda.

But the number that caught everyone’s attention: Kohler’s overall business in Taiwan grew 4x over the past five years, and smart toilet sales specifically jumped 5x. Kohler himself called Taiwan “one of the most promising and trendsetting smart toilet markets in the world.”

That growth aligns with broader global data – the smart toilet market is expanding fast, driven by aging populations, hygiene awareness post‑pandemic, and a general shift toward “wellness tech” in bathrooms. Kohler is clearly betting that smart fixtures aren’t a fad, and Taiwan seems to be the testing ground for what might come next in other markets.

3. American Standard Goes Tropical – Wellness Resort in Sanya

Down in Sanya, Hainan – China’s answer to Hawaii – American Standard supplied fixtures for the CPIC Home·Sanya International Wellness Center, a luxury “lifestyle manor” that blends resort living, wellness retreat, and senior care. The property opened in December 2025 in Haitang Bay.

They installed their New Acacia Series – a line that leans toward minimalist, light‑luxury design while keeping accessibility in mind (think: curbless showers, lever handles, slip‑resistant surfaces). It’s a good example of how hospitality bathrooms are becoming more inclusive and more design‑forward at the same time.

The project also recently won a 2026 MUSE Design Award (Platinum) for its architecture and interiors, which adds some design cred to American Standard’s involvement. What’s notable here is that wellness resorts are increasingly putting bathrooms front and center – not as an afterthought, but as a key part of the “slow down and recharge” experience.

American Standard’s New Acacia Series installed at CPIC Home · Sanya International Wellness Center.

A Few Takeaways – Without the Sales Pitch

Looking at these three stories together, a couple of patterns stand out:

• Location matters. Whether it’s the top of a skyscraper, a booming smart‑tech market, or a beachfront wellness resort – brands are choosing high‑profile, high‑experience venues to showcase their products.

• Smart is becoming standard. Kohler’s 5x growth in smart toilets isn’t an outlier – it’s a leading indicator.

• Wellness and hospitality are blurring with residential. The fixtures going into resorts today often end up in high‑end homes tomorrow.