When design takes shape

It all begins with an idea, a shape, a vision. But it takes far more than mineral raw materials and a blueprint to transform this initial inspiration into a durable ceramic product that meets high design standards and works reliably. Ceramics call for extensive experience, precision workmanship and a deep understanding of how the material behaves. On the back of the expertise which it has acquired in this field over more than 200 years, Duravit is able to develop complex design ideas into marketable products.

Precision that can be seen and felt

The apparently effortless perfection of the finished product is actually the result of many precisely coordinated steps. Consistent wall thicknesses, precise radii and clearly defined edges all call for a wealth of experience, as does appropriate handling of the changes that ceramics undergo during the firing process. Complex geometries in particular demonstrate how crucial ceramics expertise is to ensuring that the finished product truly embodies the original design idea. It generally takes around two years to develop a range from the initial draft design to the finished product.

The glaze also plays a central role here: It must be evenly applied, be pleasant to the touch and produce an immaculate surface. Such details are hallmarks of meticulous craftsmanship and high quality standards – when design and the special properties of ceramics are combined in accomplished fashion.

Quality manifested in daily use

Just how well manufactured ceramics are often only becomes apparent over the course of time. During installation, precise dimensions provide for smooth transitions and a harmonious overall impression – and fitting ceramic units is all the easier when the components are all matched for a perfect fit.

In daily use, other material properties come into play: High-quality glazes are heat-resistant and lightfast. Their hygienically smooth surface is wear- and scratch-proof, easy to clean and robust in everyday use. This is a particular advantage when it comes to toilets – also in heavily frequented public and semi-public areas in which hygiene and easy cleaning play an important role. The surface is also impervious to regular contact with suitable cleaning products. Innovative developments, such as DuraShield®, augment these properties and are designed to make everyday care and cleaning even easier.

Many of these merits go unnoticed at first glance – and this is the special strength of good ceramics. Form, color, look and feel shape the first impression, while manufacturing quality becomes apparent over the years: when surfaces stay attractive, transitions remain smooth in appearance and the product retains its character in daily use. This understanding of quality is also reflected in the lifetime guarantee which Duravit provides for correspondingly labeled ceramic products.

Balcoon: From concept to ceramicware

The design of the Balcoon range by Patricia Urquiola is defined by volumes, planes and clear surfaces. The furniture washbasins take the form of monolithic cuboids into which the basin is seamlessly integrated. A narrow rim describes the outline and establishes a gentle transition from the level surface to the recess.

It requires a particularly meticulous approach to realize this calm, minimalist design idiom in ceramics. Extensive surfaces, fine transitions and clearly defined geometry must be elaborated such as to retain the design's sculptural character while also ensuring that the washbasin is suitable for everyday use and easy to clean.

Design expertise begins with the material

Balcoon exemplifies an approach which has shaped the development of ceramics at Duravit for generations: Design evolves not as a separate entity to the material, but rather from the potential embodied within the material. With this in mind, Duravit combines design aspirations with a knowledge of the material, manufacturing experience and craftsmanship.
This gives rise to ceramic products whose quality extends well beyond their design, as manifested in well-conceived details, surfaces of enduring quality and a robustness that stands the test of daily use. It is this synergy between design, material and manufacturing which is at the core of Duravit's competence in ceramics.