CYO taps: Boldness and personality

CYO is an unmistakable collection of bathroom taps and accessories from the German brand Dornbracht that combines the avant-garde with the extravagant. Designed by Sieger Design and launched in 2021, it was conceived as a reinterpretation of the 1969 Series 2000, the same brand's first luxury tap range.

In this article we look at where its C-shaped spout comes from, what the new bi-structural finishes and customisable handles bring, which pieces make up the series, how Dornbracht presented it in two bathroom settings and what to bear in mind when specifying it.

A C-shaped spout born in 1969

Timeless in design and balanced in its proportions, the family's hallmark is its circular spout, which extends all the way to the aerator so that the water flow follows the same geometry. According to Sieger Design, a jet regulator developed specifically for the series guides the water and achieves the clean outflow that follows the curve of the spout.

The starting point lies in the brand's archive. In 1969, the Series 2000 opened up the luxury tap category at Dornbracht with an opulent, sophisticated form; CYO takes that C-shaped spout and brings it into the present with current manufacturing techniques. “Interpreted in a contemporary way, CYO feels familiar and, at the same time, completely new,” sums up Michael Sieger.

The series is the result of a long collaboration: Dornbracht and Sieger Design have been working together for more than 35 years, a relationship that has produced series such as Tara, Meta and MEM.

Bi-structural finishes: gloss and matt in a single piece

For the first time, Dornbracht combines two surfaces on the same tap body: a brushed front and polished sides. The contrast between matt and gloss emphasises the lines of the spout and adds sophistication. This bi-structural version is available in platinum and brass; on its Spanish website, Dornbracht associates it with the three-hole basin mixer.

In total, the series is offered in six finishes, which can be freely combined with the handles:

• Mono-structural: chrome, brushed platinum, brushed brass (23k gold) and brushed Dark Platinum.
• Bi-structural: platinum / brushed platinum and brass / brushed brass (23k gold).
• Bespoke: Dornbracht also offers adjustments to dimensions and function, such as spout projection or flow rate, and engravings on the pieces in the series.

Handles: a rotating ring and stone inlays

The circular form is repeated in the handles. The control is operated by a rotating outer ring whose fine ridges give the user precise tactile feedback with every turn, adding to the material quality of the finish. At the centre, the handle accepts interchangeable inlays, so the control can be in the same finish as the spout or contrast with it.

These are the handle options Dornbracht shows:

• Metal: chrome, platinum, brushed platinum, brass (23k gold), brushed brass (23k gold) and brushed Dark Platinum.
• Natural stone: polished Nero Marquina, Bianco Carrara C and Verde Guatemala.
• Relief: the “Circle” structure, a textured surface.

“With the handles, their different finishes and inlays, we offer architects, interior designers and clients an almost unlimited platform for their wishes, ideas and whims,” explains Christian Sieger.

Pieces in the series for basin, bath and shower

The collection includes wall-mounted and deck-mounted basin taps, both single-lever mixers and three-hole mixers; according to Sieger Design, the single-lever mixer was added to the three-hole mixer as an alternative. For the bath there is a floor-standing single-lever mixer for freestanding installation and a five-hole bath-rim mixer; for the shower, an xTOOL thermostat module with three valves. A matching round towel ring completes the series.

The table summarises the pieces with the main data from their product sheets:

The Metropolitan and The Oasis: two bathrooms to present CYO

Dornbracht presented CYO with two architectural settings under the motto “Coming Home”: “The Metropolitan” and “The Oasis”. They were designed by creative director Mike Meiré (Meiré und Meiré) to show the collection as a means of escape and to demonstrate its versatility in a space halfway between bathroom and spa, with a strongly avant-garde character.

The Metropolitan

A bathroom high above a metropolis, conceived as a retreat and a source of energy in the face of the pace of the city, where gym and private spa meet. A green-veined granite, brass, concrete and white marble create strong contrasts of material and texture. The CYO taps, in brass, are combined with other Dornbracht pieces, such as the WATER SHEET cascade spout and the WATER BAR side shower.

The Oasis

Here the bathroom opens up and brings the outside in. The circle is the guiding thread of the architecture: a curtain hung in a circle creates spaces within the space. Concrete, river stones, Nero Marquina marble, recycled green glass and plants stimulate the senses, and the CYO taps, in a brushed Dark Platinum finish, provide the sculptural counterpoint.

Key points for specifying CYO

Beyond aesthetics, these are the points worth resolving at project stage, according to Dornbracht's product sheets:

• Basin with overflow: the three-hole mixer and the single-lever mixer with pop-up waste are only suitable for basins with an overflow.
• Single-lever mixer clearances: the centre of the tap hole must be at least 55 mm from the wall or 40 mm from the front edge of the basin. The manufacturer rules out combining it with an instantaneous water heater.
• Wall-mounted version: the wall-mounted single-lever mixer requires its concealed body, which must be planned for before the wall is closed.
• Finishes and handles together: the finish of the body and that of the handles or inlays should be defined at the same time, because they can be freely combined and the combination greatly changes how the whole reads.
• Flow rate and certifications: the basin taps have a maximum flow rate of 4.5 l/min. Dornbracht declares them lead-free and states that they can help meet LEED, BREEAM and DGNB requirements.

Dornbracht: “Leading Designs for Architecture”

Dornbracht was founded in 1950 in Iserlohn (Germany), where it still has its headquarters and production. CYO was the brand's first product under its new 2021 motto, “Leading Designs for Architecture”. The wide variety of finishes and customisation elements gives architects and interior designers the tools to make spaces distinctive, in keeping with that motto.

Since its launch, according to Sieger Design, the series has received several design awards, including the Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum, the NY Product Design Award, the European Product Design Award and the Robb Report Best of the Best.

The form of a tap, the feel of its finishes and the response of its controls are better appreciated in person than in a catalogue. At Matter we help you choose the taps and materials for the bathroom and combine them with your technical team.