Axor’s first collaborative project with Barber & Osgerby is driven by the idea of simplicity. Aptly named Axor One, it is an intuitive design that consolidates many individual controls into one simple element.

“We believe that [as designers], we shouldn’t simply be restyling [objects],” says Jay Osgerby, who was in Singapore recently for the launch of Axor One. “The world doesn’t necessarily need another chair or another tap. We believe that an object has to justify its existence, that it has to [offer] something new.”

He continues, “We are always trying to either bring a new archetype to the world or to simplify a way of working. [With Axor One], we started from the point of view of imagining… how it would be if we were starting from scratch.”

From left: Philippe Grohe, Vice President Design Management at Hansgrohe SE, Jay Osgerby and Edward Barber

Sketch of Axor One

Notably, Axor One is operated via a mechanical interface, which, as Philippe Grohe, Vice President Design Management at Hansgrohe SE says, “refines showering into a tactile, precise and responsive practice.”

In detail, Axor One unifies water outlet activation, water volume regulation, and temperature control in one interactive shower control element. Temperature is set by turning the central dial; a small lever directly below regulates water volume, and the Eco Mode reduces water consumption up to 50 per cent. The flow of water is activated and deactivated by tapping the paddles: clear symbols indicate the specific water outlets the user can choose from such as overhead, hand, or side shower.

Axor One features refined proportions, sculpted form and accurate detailing. Its pared back design not only enables it to merge seamlessly into any bathroom environment, but also complement the range of bathroom products in the Axor portfolio.

Hansgrohe
hansgrohe.com.sg