An engineer, who appeared on Channel 4’s Grand Designs after building the Peckham House, has just secured a £160,000 investment for creating a way for toilets to be folded away.
The Hidealoo – a frame that allows toilets to be folded away in a cupboard when not in use – and is designed to support homeowners and property developers to maximise the space they have available.
It was invented by engineer Monty Ravenscroft, who was seeking a solution for his invalid father who needed the convenience of bathroom facilities in his bedroom, yet in a discreet way that preserved his dignity.
Sebastian Conran, an award-winning international designer spotted the potential of Monty’s idea and worked closely with him to perfect its design. They have received a £160,000 equity investment from the British Design Fund, to allow them to go international with the product.
Monty explains: “I’ve always been passionate about solving problems and engineering solutions for the home. While the idea for the Hidealoo was driven by my father’s ill health and the need to get clever with small living spaces, it has many other potential applications.
“The frame itself has been engineered to be incredibly robust and is capable of taking well over three times normal human weight. It’s also made to last more than a lifetime having been tested over 250,000 times.”
He added: “We’re delighted to have the backing of the British Design Fund who recognise the growth potential of our product and join us at a crucial time, as we look to take the Hidealoo to market in the UK and beyond.”
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Monty has spent the last 25 years pioneering designs for innovative moving elements in architecture.
This includes building a 3-bedroom home on a small plot in southeast London – the Peckham House project – which was featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme.
With very little space to play with, Monty needed to get creative with a range of space-saving inventions – including designing a master bed that slides away to reveal a spa bath.
Monty went on to appear as co-host of Channel 4’s ‘Inside Out Homes’ which focused on creating a new invention to solve a problem faced by a homeowner in each episode.
Damon Bonser, CEO of the British Design Fund, said: “The investment committee was really impressed by Hidealoo and the team behind its design. As champions of British design and engineering, we look forward to working closely with the team as they commercialise the product and brand in the coming year.”
British Design Fund works with ambitious British product start-ups who are ready to scale up and build thriving stand-out businesses. Alongside the capital investment, the fund provides expert mentoring to support such companies to accelerate their growth plans.
Peckham House is located on Consort Road, Peckham, SE15 2PH.
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