Award-winning design: Axor scores a hat-trick for Hansgrohe
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For the third year in succession, Hansgrohe SE has won the most prestigious official German design award. On 25th October in Berlin, the designer brand of Hansgrohe SE received one of only three Design Awards of the Federal Republic of Germany 2012, awarded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
It was for the Axor Bouroullec collection in the category ‘Product Design’. Winning the German state award for “good form” emphatically underlines the company’s superb design expertise. This is based on a design culture that has been developed for over 40 years, which the company, unlike virtually any other in the industry, has established and continues to foster. “Nobody in the sanitation industry has ever won this ‘award of all awards’ three times in a row, to my knowledge”, said a delighted Philippe Grohe, Head of the Axor brand, following the awards ceremony in Berlin. “So this is quite an outstanding achievement, which we are very proud of. It also signifies that our strategy from the outset, of relying on long-term cooperation with external designers, was the correct one.” However, according to Philippe Grohe, the fact that the concept of the Axor Bouroullec collection has received recognition in 2012 is particular cause for celebration: “Not only has the judging panel rewarded the design concept, but it has also recognised the unprecedented freedom of bathroom design opened up by the Axor Bouroullec collection.”
Hansgrohe SE also won Design Awards of the Federal Republic of Germany for its Raindance Connect EcoSmart showerpipe and the wash bowl from the Axor Urquiola collection in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
“Award of all awards” for Axor Bouroullec
As the judging panel cites in its explanatory statement, the Axor Bouroullec collection awarded in Berlin, which Axor developed as an open system in collaboration with Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, opens up entirely new options for developing perfectly customised bathroom solutions, and for setting new standards in terms of both functionality and design in the process. “The modular character of Axor Bouroullec and the ability to freely combine around 90 elements encourage more active dialogue as to what the perfect customised solution is in each case,” said Philippe Grohe. “This also encourages discussion about exactly how the users intend to utilise the water in their bathrooms. This is not a question of being right or wrong, but of finding out how people intend to use the water and what the ideal solution is for each person.” The collection’s wash basins, bath tubs and mixer elements can be freely combined. The shelves, which are integrated into the wash basin and bath tub, can be drilled individually, which means that the mixer can be positioned entirely in accordance with personal needs and preferences. The consistent, smooth design concept supports the ability to freely combine – and will even blend harmoniously into existing bathroom and style worlds.
Baden-Württemberg State Award for Axor kitchen mixer
Just a few days before the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany was presented in Berlin, Axor scooped yet another important award for outstanding design: in Stuttgart, the two-hole kitchen mixer from the Axor Citterio M collection won the gold “Focus Open” Baden-Württemberg International Design Award 2012.
Exclusive design, impressive functionality – and even greater individuality: the kitchen mixer, developed in collaboration with Italian architect and designer Antonio Citterio, won over the expert judging panel in regard to several aspects. According to the judging panel, “This mixer gives the market, which is essentially saturated, a fresh boost, breaking away from the conventional look in terms of its detail – with the basic transition of shapes or the freely-positionable operating lever, for instance.”
Hansgrohe
Units D1 & D2 Sandown Ind Park
Mill Road
Esher
Surrey
KT10 8BL
Tel: 01372465655
Fax: 01372470670
