Philippe Starck Designs His 1st Shower-Toilet Seat

Philippe Starck is no newcomer to the world of personal hygiene and care. He first got involved with the bathroom and cleansing arena in year 1994 when he joined forces with Duravit, the German manufacturer of bathroom and wellness products. The resulting “Edition 1” is a highlight of modern bathroom culture and has long since become a classic. With the Starck 2 (1998) and Starck 3 (2002) ranges, Starck and Duravit set new standards in terms of affordability by offering outstanding design at prices that had previously been the preserve of faceless, no-name products. So all that remained was to create a range for the luxury segment, and Starck did just that in year 2004. Drawing on abundant resources, always seeking things as yet unforeseen, he designed the Starck X range.

From the simple towel holder to the luxury whirl tub – all the bathroom furnishings bear Starck’s signature at different price levels. Always searching for new design dimensions, he is now combining his vision of “good design” with a new level of comfort for Europe in terms of hygiene and purity. On May 26, 2010, the designer presented his first shower-toilet seat, the SensoWash Starck, in Shanghai.

Sophisticated symbiosis of WC and bidet

His interpretation of “good design” resulted in a shower-toilet seat with an unusually flat and slim line design that curves gently up into the wall and that finishes in an elegant silver-coloured panel. To ensure the continuous flow of the clear lines, the technical components have been miniaturised so the entire technology fits between the ceramic body and the seat. It’s only when you actually look inside the WC that you see the stainless steel spray wand that is part of the bidet function.

There are three different types of wash to choose from:

• The Ladywash uses a water jet for a particularly gentle wash that is specially designed to meet the needs of female users.

• The Rearwash leaves you feeling fresh and clean.

• The Comfortwash offers a more attentive wash that cleanses with the forward and backward movement of the spray wand or with a pulsating water jet.

Water temperature, water volume and spray wand position can all be individually adjusted. After feeling clean and fresh, the next stage is the warm, drying air. The spray wand and nozzles are cleaned automatically before and after each use. As a preventative measure, both the stainless steel spray wand and the WC seat have anti-microbial properties. The entire unit can be easily removed for cleaning.

Starck attached particular importance to the design of the wireless, intuitive remote control, which can be used to operate all functions, ranging from the Comfortwash to the Warm Air Dryer.

The remote control as a design element

A silver-coloured, elegant cuboid no bigger than your hand, the remote control becomes a design element in everyday use. Thanks to a membrane keypad, the keys are extremely flat and feel pleasant to the touch. The three-dimensional alignment of the remote control enables a logical layout of the keys that, thanks to clear symbols, are operated intuitively – when selected, the symbols are briefly illuminated. The remote control can be used to open and close the lid of the WC at the push of a button.

The seat itself is heated and the temperature can be individually controlled; a sensor makes sure that it doesn’t get too hot. Once you’ve taken a seat, you can select the desired wash function or dryer by remote control. Use the arrow keys to change the position of the spray arm. Water pressure and dryer, seat and water temperature can be individually adjusted via the +/- keys. However, to facilitate things even more, personal preferences can be stored in two profiles, which can then be selected at a later date. There is also a central stop key to interrupt all functions. When the remote control is no longer needed, it can be returned to the cradle with magnetic holder where it is stored neatly until the next use.

The SensoWash (L-R): With the remote control, one can open and close the lid of the WC; The LED night-light function; When the remote control is no longer needed, it can be returned to the cradle with magnetic holder where it is stored.

Safety and power saving mode

Duravit paid particular attention to safety. An LED night-light function provides the necessary orientation without waking the body fully from sleep. In addition, the shower-toilet seat has a child safety feature which prevents unwanted splashing.

There is a sensor integrated in the seat that only allows the function to be used when it recognises a “real” user. Temperature sensors for water, water heating and the Warm Air Dryer offer triple protection. The electronics are waterproof-moulded and so are completely safe. An in-built fuse offers protection in the event of any electrical problems. SensoWash Starck also includes a standby mode and a power-saving mode.

Source: Star Property