At first glance, the Laria 80 and Habit 80 share a very similar footprint. Yet Rocal has reworked the design to focus on the visual impact of the flames. The Laria offers a larger visible glass area, giving more panoramic fire views without increasing the overall dimensions of the stove.
The internal firebox has also been redesigned. Instead of the Habit’s 25mm cream vermiculite, the Laria features a thicker 30mm black vermiculite lining, delivering a premium, contemporary look while increasing durability. Another big improvement is the new spring-loaded, cool-to-touch, silicone door catch. This makes operation smoother — the door opens and closes with effortless ease, compared to the Habit’s concealed latch system, that requires a tool when hot.
However, these gains come with some trade-offs. The ashpan that many Habit owners appreciate has been dropped, in favour of the larger glass window, making the Laria more minimalist but slightly less convenient for ash removal. The firebox itself is slimmer in depth, which lowers the nominal outputs compared to like-for-like Habit models. On the flip side, the efficiency and emissions remain firmly ahead of EcoDesign 2022 standards and the equivalent model, so these will be highly clean-burning stoves.
Modular Logstores – A Designer Feature Wall
One of the standout innovations in the Laria freestanding line is the introduction of modular logstore options. Unlike traditional fixed bases, these modular units can be combined to create a striking feature wall around the stove.
Buyers will have a choice of wood or steel inlays, along with the option of adding doors for a cleaner finish. This flexibility gives homeowners the chance to create a bespoke look, ranging from minimalist steel to warm, natural wood finishes. It’s a stylish touch that elevates the Laria above many of its competitors and sets it apart even within Rocal’s own line-up.
For those looking to integrate a woodburner seamlessly into their wall, the Laris is Rocal’s answer. As the inset sibling to the Laria, it takes over where the ARC left off. The Laris mirrors the model sizes of the Laria (50–100), ensuring a consistent offering across freestanding and inset formats and increases the range, with a 65, 70 and 70c available exclusively as inset stoves.
For the larger 80 and 100 models, Rocal is offering corner glass and even three-sided versions, allowing for wide, wraparound views of the fire. This places the Laris firmly in the designer fireplace category, competing with the likes of the Rocal ARc but offering a bolder look.
Interestingly, Rocal has made no mention of a double-sided version at launch. This isn’t a surprise, given that double-sided stoves are notoriously difficult to make compliant with EcoDesign emissions standards. Still, with customer demand for see-through designs remaining strong, it’s possible that Rocal could explore this option in future. Afterall there is a Habit 100 DC freestanding double sided stove and an ARc 100 DC inset double sided stove available now, so we will have to see if these models make there way to the Laria and Laris ranges in time.
