Interview with Johannes Dallmer

Johannes Dallmer studied plastic process engineering and business management and has been a managing partner in his own business since 1976. For him it is important to closely supervise the design and development of products, placing greatest importance not only on the technical quality and functionality of his products, but also on their aesthetic design. With the “Zentrix” shower drainage, he has created a product line of sculptural appeal that sets new standards in terms of design.

With the sculptural appearance of the “Zentrix” shower drainage line, you have created a new aesthetics. What was the inspiration for this product?
Johannes Dallmer: The floor drainage in a barrier-free shower is an integral part of the interior design. Without compromising any of the technical requirements – such as drainage performance, down pipe accessibility, ease of cleaning, as well as ease of installation by a qualified plumber – the visible part of the system, the drain hole, had to integrate into the surface of the shower floor in an unobtrusive yet functional manner. Water disappearing through a fissure in the floor provided the impulse for the design.

What challenges does designing modern sanitary fittings imply?
Johannes Dallmer: Depending on the market, sanitary fittings have to comply with various European and other international standards. In some cases, these standards become something of an obstacle for the design of a product, but as a general rule they are indispensable. End users hardly know about these standards. They want a product that works, is easy and safe to operate, durable and aesthetically designed. A shower drain can thus either have an unobtrusively functional design or serve as a visual focus to support the overall floor design. It is often the actual layout of the bathroom space that runs contrary to these demands.

To you, what defines a well-designed product?
Johannes Dallmer: It has to be recognisable in terms of its function at first sight. For the items that we produce, for example, it is also important that they can be installed easily for safe operation. Structural damage that may show later has to be excluded from the very beginning. Users do not want to deal with the technical aspects of a product, yet they should be able to do simple maintenance tasks, if necessary, by themselves. The product simply has to work and also look good.