virgil abloh updates dieter ram's iconic wandanlage hi fi wall system for braun

in 1965, dieter rams designed the wandanlage for braun, a hi-fi wall system consisting of a control unit, a tape recorder and two flat speakers. ‘the design of the building blocks of the wall system corresponded to my ideas of developing a design that was more related to the technology and operation of the devices. I installed it in my home in 1965 — it still hangs today, it works and can still be heard acoustically,’ rams said in 1995.

for its 100th anniversary, braun tapped chief creative officer and founder of off-white and artistic director of louis vuitton menswear, virgil abloh, to update this classic piece of design that many of us admire and wish we had.

‘I have always had a deep appreciation for braun design,’ said virgil abloh. ‘for the brand’s 100 years, I jumped at the opportunity to reimagine this iconic braun product and challenge what we have come to expect from design. the “functional art” piece co-curated with braun design not only highlights the original function of the hi fi wall unit that was the best audio of its time, but also the quality and durable materials that are built to last. as a creator, I continue to question how art is perceived in today’s culture. “functional art” is a lasting legacy of the enduring power of good design that is simple, useful and built to last. in so doing, it advances the frames of design references beyond design ‘purists’ to broader audiences.’

the collaboration between braun and virgil abloh transforms the 1965 wandanlage hi fi audio wall unit into a functional art piece. the metallic finish of the 2021 version is a visual manifestation of the parallels between braun’s polished chrome design aesthetic and the high shine of abloh’s cultural and musical references of the past 100 years. by taking a ‘less but better’ approach to the design process, virgil abloh and braun ensure that the original hi fi audio remains the hero of the collaboration – and the technology still functions today as it did back in 1965. the result is a custom build “functional art” piece where design bridges the gap between form and function, with materials that ensure it lasts for the next 100 years.

a remix track by virgil abloh is also available on abloh’s soundcloud to bring the braun ethos of good design to life: it’s timeless and meant to be appreciated and enjoyed over time. ‘eclectic, genre-less, longevity, connection, using sound to paint pictures,’ commented virgil abloh on his musical taste. ‘I always have music on in the background of everything I do. my musical tastes know no boundaries; they don’t fit within a box or a category, very much so in the same way that I or my work don’t just sit in one space. internationalism is a diverse and varied track, yet cohesive in its sentiment. to me, this track exemplifies the braun ethos of good design – it’s timeless and meant to be appreciated and enjoyed over time.’