Zencha: wellness for the environment

When it comes to creating sustainable aesthetic concepts, architects and planners shouldn't have to worry about the need to make compromises, and with Duravit, they don't. As with all of the company's designs, technical know-how, craftsmanship and tradition form the basis of the company's new Zencha bathroom series. When creating it, designer Sebastian Herkner relied explicitly on the use of natural materials to maximise quality as well as support a sustainable approach.

DuraCeram® – an innovative evolution of classic ceramics based around the raw materials of clay, kaolin, quartz and feldspar – is used for the basins. Thanks to its special formulation, the material enables the creation of extremely thin wall thicknesses and a high level of dimensional accuracy. The smooth glaze made of quartz, chalk, feldspar and mineral rock dolomite is hygienic, robust, scratch-proof and easy to clean.

If desired, the protection provided by the surface glaze can be supplemented by WonderGliss, a baked-on coating that prevents residues caused by limescale and dirt. Duravit has also developed DuraSolid®, a durable, stable and malleable high-tech material for bathtubs that consists exclusively of natural minerals, resin as a binding agent and colour pigments. DuraSolid® makes it possible to easily cast even the unusual shape of the Zencha tubs which at the same time offer a warm, silken soft feel.

PEFC-certified wood is used for the Zencha bathroom furniture range, which is manufactured in Germany. In addition, Duravit takes care during the manufacturing process to support the quality of the natural material, for example through the optimal creation of joints using thermosetting PUR adhesive. By avoiding open edges on the furniture, the individual modules are ideal for wet and damp rooms. Additionally, free space is maintained between the wall and the furniture, resulting in better circulation.

The feeling of wellbeing that Zencha brings with it is primarily based on the fact that the design is in harmony with nature – from the design to the materials to the implementation. Accordingly, both Duravit and Herkner are committed to paying attention to sustainability throughout the entire process – for example, by conserving resources as much as possible, keeping transport routes short and increasing energy efficiency – so wellness benefits here extend past the bathroom and beyond to the wider environment, too.

© Architonic