Zencha by Sebastian Herkner: A homage to mindfulness and traditional craftsmanship

Perfectly balanced bathroom design that flatters the senses with tactile surfaces
• Inspired by Japanese rituals and craftsmanship
• Organically shaped sanitary objects
• Minimalistic, modular storage furniture
• Selected finishes from wood to textured glass
• High-quality materials such as DuraCeram® and
DuraSolid® for optimum look and feel
• Bathtubs with a pool-like feeling

The outstanding design of the Zencha bathroom collection by Sebastian Herkner was inspired by
traditional Japanese rituals and craftsmanship it combining as it does unusual above-counter basins
with minimalistic furniture.

The basins and bathtub are striking, they have a rounded shape that opens into a graceful, outwardcurving edge. These dual-walled sanitary objects made from DuraCeram® and DuraSolid® are paired with
modular, geometric bathroom furniture. The furniture is made from materials such as wood and a very
tactile ribbed, textured glass, it provides plenty of storage space and is extremely pleasant to the
touch. “I’ve always wanted to develop a bathroom series for Duravit,” said the designer from
Offenbach. He can now take his place in the rollcall of renowned designers such as Philippe Starck and
Cecilie Manz who have designed collections for this German manufacturer.

Striking & delicate: the design

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house and is increasingly becoming a place of
retreat and ritual. With its balanced shapes, colours, and materials, Zencha appeals to all our
senses. The inspiration for the design came from hand-made ceramic teacups that the designer discovered in Japan. Their gentle, organic shapes are designed as cambered rectangles, bulbous at the bottom and taper upwards with an elegant curve. The materials used are appealing both visually and to
the touch, with basins manufactured from DuraCeram®. This material enables above-counter basins to be
created with an extremely thin rim which are still robust and easy to care for. The bathtubs have a
pleasantly warm feel and elegant matt aesthetic and are seamlessly manufactured from DuraSolid®.

The straight lines of the furniture design creates an intriguing contrast to the organic sanitary
objects; complementing the collection’s subtle material and colour concept. The outstanding design
feature here is an elegant frame just six millimetres thick, creating a uniform shadow gap
that lends the furniture a graceful and effortless feel. “You can only manufacture technically
sophisticated solutions like this with consistent quality if, like Duravit, you have your own
manufacturing facilities, corresponding expertise and high levels of craftsmanship,” said Herkner.

Multi-faceted & functional: modular furniture
elements

The Zencha furniture collection is designed in a modular fashion and can be positioned in a variety
of ways, as open shelves, or drawers with push-open and self-closing technology. Combined with the
above-counter basin, they create a beautiful centrepiece in the bathroom. As a storage area for
everyday (bathroom) items, they offer structure to the room and imbue a feeling of gentle calm. The
carcass and frame of the furniture come with an easy-to-clean surface and anti-fingerprint effect
and are available in the subtle colours White Super Matt, Taupe Super Matt, and Graphite Super Matt. The
cabinet fronts add a playful element and are offered in a range of variants. While the options in Natural
Oak and Oak Black produce a warm and tactile effect, white plate or black textured glass introduce a
degree of sensual elegance into the bathroom. Herkner has further designed a separate mirror that
emulates the contour of the round basins. Its organic form is accentuated by an all-round LED
strip, and the light is turned on and off via a sensor on the bottom edge of the mirror.

Elegant above-counter basins

The sanitary objects made from DuraCeram® consist of two differently shaped above-counter basins: a
curved square measuring 420 x 420 mm and a rounded rectangle measuring 550 x 390 mm – with or without a
tap panel – in White, White Satin Matt, Gray Satin Matt, and Anthracite Matt. The square variant of the
above-counter basin with its ceramic cover is a particular talking point in the bathroom and is
covered by Duravit’s lifetime warranty. It can be combined with toilets from a range of Duravit lines.

Bathtubs with a pool-like feeling

The shape of the square version of the free-standing bathtub, made from DuraSolid® and measuring 1250 x
1250 mm, is drawn from the square above-counter basin. Bathers are invited to immerse themselves
into the deep water, an experience reminiscent of a Japanese Onsen bath. The bathtub is available in two
compact versions measuring 1600 x 850 mm and 1800 x 900 mm, optionally with the air whirl system
integrated into the base for a gentle massage effect.

Made in Germany
The Zencha collection combines delicate shapes with high-quality, sustainable materials such as
PEFC-certified woods. It comes in a wide range of variants and its shapes, colours, materials,
measurements, and equipment options can be individually configured for various interior
design settings. Both the sanitary objects and the furniture are manufactured at Duravit’s production
facilities in Hornberg and Schenkenzell in the Black Forest and are finished by hand. Surfaces
and edges of the furniture are painstakingly sealed to be water-resistant and are impervious to
splashes and high humidity. Optimum stability of the tall cabinets is ensured via 8mm-thick rear
walls that are bonded in a milled groove. Sebastian Herkner, who spent over four years working
on the project and made several site visits with his team, said: “Duravit represents tradition as well as
expertise in the design and technical sectors.”