KWC America is bringing the contemporary styling of its KWC ZOE kitchen faucet to the bathroom with the introduction of a luxury lavatory faucet and shower valve collection with the identical name. As a result, designers and their clientele can now extend the same minimalist, yet sculptural design concept throughout an entire living space.
Intended for private residences, hotel guest rooms and washrooms, the KWC ZOE Bath faucet range was designed by NOA Design Studio of Aachen, Germany, designers of the KWC ZOE Kitchen Faucet. The bath collection includes three options for the lavatory: single-lever and two-handle, widespread basin-mounted models, as well as a single-lever, wall-mounted unit. The spout on the latter model is a straightened version of the two basin models, whose design echoes the same elegantly curved shape of the original kitchen faucet.
Also included in the KWC ZOE Bath collection are a bathtub spout and a choice of four shower valve trim kits: two thermostatic models (with and without diverter, depending on whether the application is for shower only or for a tub-shower); and two pressure balance models (again, with and without diverter). Both types of shower valves are intended to keep the water in the shower at a safe temperature.
In addition to its aesthetics, the KWC ZOE Bath collection offers a number of user-friendly functions:
- Swivel spout: Like its kitchen counterpart, KWC ZOE Bath features a spout that rotates 90 degrees, or 45 degrees in either direction from its center point. The intent is to make it easier to rinse soap, toothpaste and the like from the basin without splashing the countertop and its surroundings. But this lateral movement also enhances the sculptural qualities of the faucet.
- Easy to keep clean: The basin-mounted models of the KWC ZOE Bath have only one major seam, positioned at the swivel point of the spouts. Fewer interfaces and joints, combined with smooth transitions between the faucet’s various shapes, are all part of the modern look of KWC ZOE. But these design characteristics also offer the practical advantage of making the faucet easier to clean.
- Simple lever design: Like its kitchen predecessor, the single-lever lavatory model operates with a slender pin lever, whose darkened tone is designed to blend into the background and not draw attention from the faucet’s stately spout, which measures 9 1/8 inches tall. The pin lever near the base of the spout moves smoothly and precisely in three different directions to control both flow and temperature. The latter is modulated by pulling the lever forward for colder water, or pushing it back for hot—exactly opposite the way many lever faucets work. This common-sense feature is designed to protect users—especially young children—from coming into contact with excessively hot water.
- Neoperl spray: All three lavatory faucets are equipped with a pressure-compensating, Neoperl aerator that features a water-saving flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute. In the near future, KWC expects the faucets to earn the WaterSense label, given only to bath and shower products that have been independently tested and certified to use at least 20 percent less water than average products—without sacrificing performance or quality.
Available in two finishes, chrome and splendure stainless steel, the KWC ZOE Bath series will be available through select dealers nationwide until July 1, when it will be made available to all KWC showrooms. The series will expand to include other faucet, tub and shower products later this year.