We spoke with Sven Baacke, Head of Design, Lucas Schulte Campos, User Experience Designer and Mikkel Brandt Bugge, Industrial Designer about Gaggenau’s ground-breaking new generation of cooling.
What is the overarching vision of the new Gaggenau appliances and the new generation of cooling?
Sven: I believe the essence lies in our commitment to crafting appliances that seamlessly integrate into the modern living environment. It’s about achieving a flawless balance between aesthetics and functionality, creating an elevated experience for users. Our latest cooling series exemplifies this ethos, but we’re taking it further. I’m particularly drawn to the notion that our appliances are not just machines; they enhance functionality while adding to the overall aesthetic appeal, bringing joy and satisfaction to everyday tasks.
Mikkel: One of the standout features of our redesign is the furniture-like appearance, which has been a focal point of our efforts.
Mikkel, you mentioned a ‘furniture-like appearance’, could you elaborate on that?
Mikkel: Our success relies heavily on collaboration with kitchen designers, architects, and retailers, who play a crucial role in selling our products. We’ve gathered extensive feedback, particularly from our core audience of architects and designers, who have expressed new desires for home appliances. Therefore, we sought to create a new, more furniture-like design that aligns better with kitchen aesthetics. This involved refining the geometry and introducing darker tones, as well as implementing an impressive new lighting concept.
Lucas: As a built-in appliance, our aim is for seamless blending into the kitchen environment, whether closed or open. This distinguishes our product from others on the market.
Photo: Mikkel Brandt Bugge, Industrial Designer
Why opt for dark tones?
Mikkel: Integrating dark tones across our product portfolio is essential. Dark brushed stainless steel also addresses several functional issues prevalent today, such as fingerprints.
Lucas: When combined with appropriate lighting, the black stainless steel creates the perfect environment for staging the contents of the appliance.
How can the user customise their experience, both aesthetically and functionally?
Lucas: The front panels offer complete customisation, allowing users to choose materials like marble, stainless steel or wood to suit their preferences. Within, they can adjust the shelves and their positions. We even provide a split shelf for added flexibility. In terms of functionality, our appliance features two compartments where users can not only set the temperature but also control humidity. Determining the ideal settings can be challenging, so we incorporated programs to guide users. Alternatively, users can fine-tune the settings if they prefer.
Sven: We offer the option of dark stainless steel cladding for the exterior, as well as handles or a handle-less design. You can make it stand out or integrate it seamlessly with the rest of your kitchen cabinets, which is particularly valued by architects and designers working on modern kitchen designs.
Photo: Lucas Schulte Campos, User Experience Designer
How will this product appeal to designers and architects?
Sven: Architects will have greater flexibility with their design. Traditional appliances often disrupt an architect’s vision, especially if they are too prominent. However, with our fridges and integrated walls, they blend into the environment. Architects and planners appreciate this focus on the kitchen’s aesthetic rather than the machinery.
Lucas: It’s like a playground for architects, offering endless possibilities for creativity. You can choose to showcase the refrigerator with bold black-tone stainless steel fronts, making it a striking focal point in the room. Alternatively, you can seamlessly integrate it behind door panels, allowing it to blend harmoniously with the surrounding cabinetry.
How do you ensure longevity of design while maintaining relevance and appeal?
Lucas: Sustainability is a key consideration. We prioritise timeless design in our research, ensuring that our appliances have longevity. Our goal is for our appliances to transcend fleeting trends, maintaining their relevance and appeal over time. To achieve this, we meticulously select materials known for their durability and longevity.
What technological advantages are present in the new generation of cooling?
Mikkel: It boasts the best cooling capabilities we’ve ever developed at Gaggenau, extending the freshness of your food up to three times longer.
Lucas: This is a very technological appliance, but you don’t see it. All the technology is in the background, we don’t want to show it. HomeConnect is one part of this, allowing user to control the appliance from their mobile phone: set the temperature and activate different functionalities. It is the same interface as in the appliance, it’s like a mirror. We also introduced internal cameras, useful when you’re grocery shopping and can’t remember what kind of fruit you have in the compartment.
How does all this design ultimately benefit the user?
Lucas: Our focus goes beyond just materials and finish; it extends to enhancing the overall user experience. Returning home after a long day, you enter your living kitchen where soft lights illuminate the space. You approach the handle-less fridge and, effortlessly push to open, thanks to advanced kinematics with self-closing capabilities. Within, warm-toned illumination adjusts to the perfect brightness, ensuring you can see inside without being dazzled. The lighting gently highlights the contents, creating a welcoming atmosphere akin to a specialty store. Our design not only considers the appliance itself but also how it enhances the experience of using and interacting with it, ensuring every aspect, from the interior organisation to the soft closing mechanism, contributes to a seamless and delightful user experience.
