Few design partnerships have endured as long as that between bathroomware manufacturer Duravit and French architect/designer Philippe Starck — 30 years as of 2024. The latest result of this collaboration is the SensoWash Starck f wall-mounted shower toilet.

While not widely known in New Zealand, shower toilets — a combination toilet and bidet — have been around since the 1980s and are becoming increasingly popular as advancing technology makes them even more accessible.

The SensoWash Starck f is the latest iteration in the SensoWash range of high-quality shower-toilets, which have been designed to meet every requirement for the contemporary bathroom — hygienic cleanliness, high operating comfort and sustainable design.

First launched by Duravit a decade ago, SensoWash was a leap forward in bathroomware technology at that time. While the innovation was market leading, the design was compromised with the componentry housed externally of the toilet bowl.

SensoWash Starck f is next-generation; all components have been optimised so the technology is ‘invisibly’ located within the ceramic body. The flat seat and the white cover located behind it form a precise, harmonious unit — a shower-toilet with the latest, comfort-enhancing technology in an uncompromising, minimalistic look.

As well as its new, refined look, the SensoWash Starck f also features: an automatic lid, which can be configured to open as the user approaches and close again as the user leaves; an ergonomic programmable heated seat, which includes an energy-saving mode allowing seat heating to be activated at individually specified times and turned off afterwards; and, programmable user-specific profiles for up to two users. These features can be accessed via the remote control or smart phone app.

Additionally, SensoWash Starck f features Duravit’s antibacterial finish — HygieneGlaze 2.0 — a durable glaze that is baked into the ceramic bowl, as standard. HygieneGlaze 2.0 is not only effective, it is also quick-acting with tests showing that after just six hours, 90% of bacteria is eliminated with that number rising to 99.999 per cent after 24 hours, an unprecedented level.

Clear forms and uncompromising functionality for maximum comfort — features that are unmistakably, Duravit. Features such as Duravit Rimless, which, thanks to the open design of the toilet rim, enables a new type of flushing action that rinses the entire inner surface of the bowl while only using 4.5 litres of water.

There is the retractable spray wand, which provides pleasant and safe cleansing in rearwash and ladywash modes. Water temperature, spray intensity and wand position can all be individually adjusted and saved via the remote control or app. The spray wand and nozzle are cleaned automatically before and after each use.

Water temperature, spray intensity and wand position can all be individually adjusted and saved via the remote control or app. The spray wand and nozzle are cleaned automatically before and after each use. Lastly, a convenient night light provides orientation and additional safety without the need for turning on the main bathroom light.