MONOCLE

FRAMING CULINARY ELEGANCE

The new generation of cooling is the latest example of Gaggenau’s commitment to avant-garde elegance and cutting-edge performance. The innovative German brand’s design team reveals how this new appliance advances the modern kitchen.

Smart lighting adjusts to the home’s ambience

Sven Baacke: head of design
Mikkel Brandt bugge: industrial designer

What was your initial approach to the design of the new generation of cooling?

Mikkel Brandt Bugge: Being surrounded by beautiful objects gives you a feeling of pride but also calms your mind. We want people to have an emotional response to the design of this new refrigerator when they open it.

How does the new appliance complement a modern kitchen?

Sven Baacke: Nowadays our kitchens – and more broadly our homes – are looking less technical. Things are hidden and have a lot of intelligence inside that you don’t see from the exterior. We wanted to work with this idea of not being obtrusive.

What can people expect from the interior of the new appliance?

MBB: The interior features a framed design language across the shelves, drawers and door trays, where extruded aluminium parts create a framed look. This is part of a design story about elevating the product to a piece of art. And you experience very humane lighting with the same warm tone that is traditionally used in living environments.

How did you combine form and function in this appliance?

MBB: This product features Gaggenau’s best cooling system yet. In terms of performance, it means that food can last up to three times longer, which helps to address the issue of food waste.

SB: It’s a highly engineered, technical product and it is also a beautiful piece of art, due to collaboration between different disciplines. That’s Gaggenau: a combination of the best from both design and engineering in a product that is functional, beautiful and high performance.