It all began with a spark.

In 1683, Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden founded an ironworks in the town of Gaggenau, in Germany’s Black Forest. Named after its hometown, the foundry produced nails and useful metal ware, capitalising on iron ore deposits occurring naturally in the area.

By the late 1800s, this enterprise would eventually herald in the Industrial age, when Gaggenau would begin to make agricultural machinery and tools, as well as manufacturing the Badenia bicycle.

With a growing range of diverse products, Gaggenau honed their techniques to gain unmatched expertise across a variety of specialised production skills.

The company became one of the earliest masters of enamelling, and went on to produce enamel signage for advertising – some of the first commercially made products developed for private enterprise, rather than industrial labour. By the end of the nineteenth century, the focus turned to coal-fire, applying their proficiency in enamel to the fabrication of the earliest gas-powered stoves.

“There’s simply no other luxury brand in the world with so much history!” says Denise Tan, regional head of the brand’s cooking portfolio. “What has been constant is that Gaggenau has been able to continually adapt and cater directly to people’s needs over time.”

Gaggenau survived bombing through both Great Wars to emerge in the 1950s, a time of long awaited homecoming and newfound revelry in domestic life. The world’s first integrated appliances, including a separate cooktop and the built-in wall oven, were released. And with keen home chef Georg Von Blanquet at the helm, Gaggenau’s status at the forefront of kitchen design and cooking technology was cemented.

“Gaggenau plays an important role, because we offer leading technology in a very beautiful package,” says Denise. In fact, the technology is often so advanced that Gaggenau’s broad community of company representatives and culinary ambassadors play a crucial role in educating enthusiastic foodies, designers and home chefs about ways to integrate cooking techniques and equipment previously considered beyond the grasp of everyday life.

Today, with techniques far beyond their early smithing days, the spark is evident in the revelatory brilliance of the unexpected detail.

Named in honour Gaggenau’s 333 years of history, their newly re-designed EB 333 oven remains a culinary icon. At a generous 90 centimetres, it stays true to the original avant-garde design and is still built almost entirely by hand. The new EB 333 brings the standard and functionality of a modern professional kitchen appliance into the home.

“The attention that we give to the little things, I think, is what makes Gaggenau very effective,” says Denise.

Gaggenau introduced the combi-steam oven into the home 15 years ago. The current 400 series appliance is the perfect example of precision, allowing one-degree temperature controls. When used in combination with the 400 series vacuum drawer, this complete system enables sous-vide cooking in the home, a technique that was difficult to recreate outside of the professional kitchen.

“I have just recently managed to cook an entire three-course meal by sous-vide,” says Denise. “It means you can prepare your weekly meals ahead of time while preserving all of the goodness and nutrients – something that I think will really resonate in the future here.”

Apart from preparing meals for sous-vide, the ability to improve kitchen hygiene and reduce food wastage with the vacuum drawer is another plus, with three levels of oxygen extraction and heat-sealing available. Once sealed, there is minimal risk of bacterial exposure, thus extending the life of fresh produce in storage.

“Each product designed by us is measured to the highest levels of authenticity and quality – we don’t compromise,” says Denise. “We’ve had many successes along the way – but what motivates me is the next 300 years.”

All of us at Indesign Media Asia Pacific wish to thank Gaggenau for joining us in presenting the inaugural Living Space INDE.Award.

Join the team at Gaggenau at the INDE.Awards Gala this June and meet the future of our vibrant industry.