For the third time, Axor has won one of the most coveted international design and lifestyle media awards – the Wallpaper* Design Award 2015. The designer brand of the mixer and shower manufacturer Hansgrohe SE received the award for its washbasin mixer Axor Starck V. Growing out of Axor’s relentless drive for products that reflect the vitality and emotionality of water, the brand’s first transparent mixer was brought to life in collaboration with Philippe Starck. A high-calibre panel of judges, including the Serbian performance artist Marina Abramović and the Chinese architectural duo Neri & Hu, distinguished Axor Starck V for ‘Best Domestic Design’ on 15th January in London.
“Receiving the Wallpaper* Design Award is a great honour for us, and it confirms our innovative strength, as well as the quality of our design process,” explains Philippe Grohe, Head of Axor. “My father’s intuition that water could visibly be brought to the foreground through the vortex, was the starting point in the development of Axor Starck V. In our long-time friend Philippe Starck, we found the perfect design partner to create a shape around the vortex. Axor Starck V is the result of technical know-how and over 100 years of experience in handling water. We are delighted with this expression of appreciation for our work,” Philippe Grohe continues.
The Human Connection with Water
For more than 20 years the human interaction with water and space has been at the core of Axor’s innovations. Axor Starck V is one of the most prominent translations of this idea yet: with the beauty and dynamism of its vortex, the mixer bridges the gap between the functional and emotional aspects of water at the washbasin, transforming it from a basic commodity to a valuable resource. Axor Starck V can also generate a calming effect – optionally, the vortex can be deactivated.
Experiencing Water through Technology and Innovation
True to the Hansgrohe principle of producing highly aesthetic, functional and sustainable bathroom products, Axor Starck V shines with a multitude of innovations that together define a whole new category of washbasin mixers. For example, the mixer is produced out of the organic material crystal glass, which is sustainable and durable. With a flow rate of 4 l/min, Axor Starck saves water without compromising the user experience. The open, rotatable, and detachable spout offers additional comfort: flexible installation of the mixer body in combination with the washbasin and easy cleaning in the dishwasher.
About Wallpaper*
Wallpaper*, one of the most renowned international design and lifestyle magazines, is written for a creative audience with an affinity for good design. It reports on the latest trends in architecture, interior design, travel and fashion. The Wallpaper* Design Awards are among the leading media awards in the design industry. They are awarded annually by a select panel of judges representing the cream of the crop of the architecture, design and fashion industries. Individual brands cannot enter submissions for the award – they need to be nominated. In addition to Axor, winners of this year's Wallpaper* Design Awards include brands like Dior by Raf Simmons (‘Best Women’s Fashion Collection’) and international star product designers like Patricia Urquiola (‘Designer of the Year’).
