a swirling vortex animates philippe starck's AXOR starck V faucet

a swirling vortex animates philippe starck’s AXOR starck V faucet

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 group

‘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.

the ‘AXOR starck V’ in motion
video courtesy of hansgrohe

‘the vortex phenomenon has occupied my father klaus grohe for several years‘, explains philippe grohe, head of AXOR. ‘his 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 not only found the perfect design partner to create a shape around the vortex, but also a valuable sparring partner in the developmental process. ultimately, the realization of the project was not made possible by creativity and determination alone, but by technical know-how and over 100 years of experience in handling water.’

AXOR starck V single lever chrome

‘it is a mixer that represents the absolute minimum: totally transparent, almost invisible, and enclosing a miracle that is the vortex.’ – philippe starck

AXOR starck V single lever chrome handle left

the technical innovations of ‘AXOR starck V’ cannot go unmentioned. the transparency of the spout is rendered in organic crystal glass material, which is both sustainable and durable. with the importance of AXOR / hansgrohe’s ecological values in mind, the mixer produces a flow-rate of 4L per minute, saving water without compromising user experience. what is unique about the open two-piece design is that it has a detachable spout, which is easily removed and installed via a click-in connection between it and its body. this feature allows for effortless cleaning (as it can also be removed and put in the dishwasher), spare part handling and flexible installation of its mixer body with the washbasin.

AXOR starck V high riser chrome handle left

the spout itself is available in a range of options which include diamond and bevel cut versions, that bring an opulent glass elegance to the bathroom. these are a result of a high-quality diamond polishing technique, which is renowned for producing harmonious geometrical shapes that refract light. the precise placement of the cut edges at the spout’s base, ensures that the water and vortex always remain visible to the eye. additionally, a porcelain option is also available, which gives the seemingly fragile material hints of a softer dimension, and which visually harmonizes mixer and washbasin as one. each mixer comes in 15 different finishes, and can be installed with either a lever or joystick handle.

AXOR starck V chrome lever handle

the ‘AXOR starck V’ revolutionizes the way we look at faucets, and paves the way to new formal and technical standards for the standard bathroom mixer.

AXOR starck V high riser chrome lever handle