Zencha by Sebastian Herkner

A tribute to mindfulness and traditional craftsmanship. Balanced bathroom design that subtly appeals to the senses with unusual surfaces.

• Inspired by Japanese rituals and craftsmanship
• Organically shaped sanitary objects
• Purist, modular storage furniture
• Selected materials from wood to
• textured glass
• High-quality materials such as DuraCeram® and
• DuraSolid® for the finest feel
• Bathtubs with wellness feeling

Inspired by traditional Japanese rituals and craftsmanship, Sebastian Herkner has designed Zencha, a sophisticated bathroom collection that combines extraordinary countertop sinks with purist furniture. The most striking design feature of the sink and bathtub is its rounded shape, which extends into a fine, soft rim. DuraCeram® and DuraSolid® double-wall sanitary objects meet modular, geometric bathroom furniture with a fine frame. They are made of materials such as wood and textured glass, which offer plenty of storage space and a special, high-quality feel. “I always wanted to develop a bathroom series for Duravit,” says the designer. He joins the ranks of renowned designers who, such as Philippe Starck and Cecilie Manz, have designed collections for the German manufacturer.

Distinctive & sensitive: the design
The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house. It is increasingly becoming a place of retreat and ritual. With balanced shapes, colors and materials, Zencha appeals to all the senses. The starting point for the design are handmade ceramic tea bowls that the designer discovered in Japan. Their soft, organic forms appear abstractly in the sanitary objects. They are designed as curved rectangles, flared at the bottom and tapered at the top with a subtle curve. The materials used are equally sensual: the sinks are made of DuraCeram®. This material makes it possible to form countertop washbasins with an extremely thin rim, which are absolutely easy to maintain and strong. The baths are seamlessly made of DuraSolid® and convince with their pleasantly warm feel and high-quality matte look.

With their straight lines, the furniture forms an exciting contrast to the organic sanitary objects and completes the collection’s subtle material and color concept. The striking design feature is a fine frame that is only six millimeters thick. It forms an even shadow joint that makes the furniture look elegant and light. “Producing such technically complex solutions with consistent quality only works if, like Duravit, you have your own production facilities with the right know-how and high craftsmanship,” says Herkner.

Versatile & functional: modular furniture elements
The furniture in the Zencha collection has a modular structure and can be used as open shelves or as drawers with push-open and self-closing technology. Combined with the countertop sink, they become an attractive eye-catcher in the bathroom. As Provide storage space for everyday (bathroom) items they structure space and create atmosphere in different style worlds. The furniture has an easy-to-clean surface with anti-fingerprint and is available in the subtle colors white super matte, taupe super matte and graphite super matte. There is also a playful element in the form of cabinet fronts, which are available in different designs. While the variants in natural oak and black oak have a warm effect, white flat glass and black textured glass bring sensual elegance to the bathroom. In addition, Herkner also designed a loose mirror that reflects the contours of the round sink. The organic shape is accentuated by a wraparound LED strip, while the light is turned on and off with a sensor at the bottom of the mirror.

Fine countertop sink
DuraCeram® sinks are under other countertop sinks in two different shapes: a convex square of 420 x 420 mm and a rounded rectangle of 550 x 390 mm – each with or without faucet surface in white, white satin matte, gray satin matte and anthracite matte. Especially in the square version, the top-mounted washbasin with ceramic cladding is a real statement in the bathroom, on which Duravit provides a lifetime warranty.

Bathtubs with a wellness feeling
The shape of the square version of the freestanding DuraSolid® bathtub, measuring 1250 x 1250 mm, is derived from the square countertop sink. With the right depth, it invites you to immerse yourself in the water and is reminiscent of a Japanese Onsen bath (A Japanese bathing facility with water from a geyser). The bath is also available in two compact versions of 1600 x 850 mm and 1800 x 900 mm, optionally with the integrated air whirl system with a gentle massage effect.

Made in Germany
The Zencha collection combines filigree design with high-quality, sustainable materials such as PEFC-certified wood. It is highly varied and can be individually configured by shapes, colors, materials, sizes and equipment options for different interior fittings. The sanitary objects and furniture are manufactured and refined by hand at the Duravit production facilities in Hornberg in the Black Forest. Surfaces and edges of the furniture are sealed with the utmost care to repel water and are impervious to splashing water and increased humidity. The 8 mm thick back walls, glued into a milled-out groove, provide high stability for tall cabinets. Sebastian Herkner, who worked on the project for more than four years, says, “Duravit stands for tradition, design and technical know-how.”