Maxwell made a pit stop in Berlin to attend today's launch of Phillippe Starck's new faucet for Axor. Armed with the camera on his phone, he sent back these images and descriptions.
Philippe Grohe under a pic of his father from the 1970's. The new faucet is covered on the stage.
Philippe Starck and his wife - a very pretty combo - in the front row. He said the shape of the faucet was inspired by her body.
Philippe Starck on stage - it's fun listening to him tell his story with Axor over 20 years. He's totally wired.
I call it ... Avatar! The new Starck Organic faucets almost speak in tongues.
It's a totally new faucet with no discreet handles at all. All the on/off happens through turning the ends of the "plant"
Maxwell got some hands on time with the new faucet.
Maxwell's notes:
The event was the worldwide launch of Axor's Starck Organic line, which features a much more organic, non linear shape and a turn on/off at the end of the spout. It's a pretty weird fun design that even Starck said would be considered both ugly by some and genius by others. It also features a "shower" spray and not the typical "one solid stream" spray as well as clickable positions that allow you to easily use less water. I thought it was cool and impressive and sort of reminded me of characters from Avatar :-).
MORE INFO: Axor Hansgrohe
(Images: Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan)
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
this is a beautiful faucet but I can't believe they are doing "reveals" like a new phone or computer. it's a faucet people! (wait, I wonder how the resume looks like. "10 years experience as faucet designer") new worlds...
I'ma gonna go ahead and say that content like this is perfectly fine on a design blog... that being said, that's a whole lot of marketing around a faucet that resembles a muppet.
That dude's dad is hot.
WTH makes a faucet "organic"?
It makes me think of a garden hose.
hansgrohe is a worldwide operating, traditional German manufacturer well known for innovative technics and designs and for excellent quality. Axor is one of their product labels working closely with international designers as Philippe Starck e.g.
So what is all the grumble about?
This faucet is very unusual, its design (not the faucet itself!!) is organic. It reminds me of branches. Love it!
Nice but I think I've seen that innovative faucet operation idea before...
Oh yes, in my own design from 2008!
:)