Plus One: Axor

When Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby design something, it is not uncommon for them to come up with completely new typologies: tilting skid base chairs, sofas with power sockets or tiles with an infinite number of laying patterns. A few years ago, the British design duo developed a shower thermostat module for AXOR that was the first of its kind. The control element, called AXOR One, made its debut at the 2015 London Design Festival and enthusiasm came guaranteed.

As with nearly all of Barber and Osgerby’s designs, the focus was on tactile interaction with the product. The operability proved not only innovative, but also intuitively ingenious. A rectangular panel with rounded corners contains a central circular dial with two superimposed functions. A small lever on the rear ring controls the water volume, while the water temperature is set by turning the front ring. Large push-activated paddles to the left and right of the dial control the individual overhead, hand or body showers. These buttons are large enough to be easily operated with soapy hands, for example, or with the back of the hand or elbow. The duo also designed a matching hand shower.

This spring, the Black Forest-based manufacturer is expanding AXOR One into an entire bathroom collection. For this, Barber and Osgerby have now developed various wash basin mixers, overhead- and hand showers as well as enclosures for built-in and freestanding bathtubs. Their approach: radically minimalist.

‘Archetypes have been reinvented,’ explains the company. The most striking proof of this is probably the Select arched wash basin tap, which is available in several different heights. The taps and the curved spout with its gently tapering silhouette rise from the flat base, as if cast from a single mould. This monolithic form is shown off to particular advantage in the Matt Black lacquered surface finish. With AXOR, the simple word ‘Select’ stands for a pressing motion: instead of raising and lowering the lever on the single-lever mixer as usual, the water flow is started and stopped by gently pressing down on the tap. The temperature is increased by swivelling the tap clockwise. Pressing once more turns the water off again.

In addition, there is a basin mixer for concealed installation that works in the same manner, as well as two- and three-hole basin mixers. The latter is operated with gently rounded rotary knobs. Pressing the right-hand knob turns the water on and off, while a turning movement changes the temperature. The knob to the left of the water spout is used to control the water volume.

The slender design is facilitated by positioning the cartridge below the wash basin, while an ingenious mounting system ensures simple installation. The cartridge and mixer are separate, and are connected to one other with a bayonet fitting. A small water guide conduit ensures the flow of water.

Alternatively, the wash basin mixers and three-hole taps are also available with conventional lever handles – whose design is in no way inferior to the aforementioned mixers. A newly developed cartridge makes it possible to achieve an especially flat handle design, which further underscores the minimalist streamlined aesthetic.

The designers have also developed innovative solutions for the shower. For example, the water outlets on the spray discs of the overhead and hand showers are arranged in characteristic patterns of five circles per spray type – there is a choice of Rain and PowderRain. Distantly reminiscent of the earpiece of an old telephone, the hand shower provides a relaxing shower experience with micro-fine droplets emitted at a flow rate of just nine litres per minute.

The AXOR One Showerpipe combines the most important shower functions – overhead shower, hand shower, wall bar with swivel shower arm and wall outlet – in a single product. The set-up is completed with the AXOR One thermostatic module for two functions. Purism that is plain to see.

In addition to Matt Black, the entire collection is available in Chrome, Brushed Brass, Polished Black Chrome and other AXOR FinishPlus surfaces.

With its soft corners and balanced proportions, the AXOR One collection thus aligns with the language of experimental clarity represented by the Barber & Osgerby office. As the two designers put it: ‘AXOR One provokes the memory of water but heralds a new way of controlling it that is much more precise and incredibly refined.’ What more could be welcome in this oasis of relaxation than showing the precious commodity of water the respect and recognition it deserves.

© Architonic