designboom has been invited to the hansgrohe factory in the black forrest to preview the new AXOR collection, before it goes on show at ISH in frankfurt, the world’s leading trade fair in the bathroom sector.
philippe starck‘s collaboration with AXOR, designer brand of hansgrohe, has seen the french designer reshape the traditional aesthetic of the bathroom mixer through the introduction of softer shapes and flowing lines; as previously evidenced in his AXOR starck organic collection. continuing with these creative sensibilities, he follows up with the ‘AXOR starck V’ mixer — a design that brings forth a transparent, sculptural washbasin mixer that bridges the gap between the functional and emotional aspects of water at the washbasin.
‘AXOR starck V’, elaborates on AXOR’s focus of the last 20 years, which observes human interaction in relationship to water and space. most noticeably is its transparent body — the first mixer of its kind — which puts the movement of water at the forefront. serving as a technical function which makes water visible, it also allows the mixer to blend into its environment, metaphorically indicating how water is a valuable resource that is at the base of our everyday lives. its open spout furthers this notion of the vitality of the natural resource, allowing users to experience the flow of water before their eyes — from faucet to basin, in a free-fall motion. at the heart of it all, is a swirling vortex which animates the design and brings it to life, with water always visible within its body, whether on or off.
from designboom