You may hear of various names and even phrases used in your interaction with Boulevard Decor™.  One such name is the brand GAGGENAU.

 

So, why may we refer to the brand as a grand architectural statement?

Gaggenau is a manufacturer of high-quality home appliances and acknowledged as an innovation leader in design and technology “Made in Germany”. The company, with a history dating back to 1683, has revolutionised the domestic kitchen with its internationally acclaimed products. Gaggenau’s success is founded on technological innovation and a clear design language combined with high functionality.

Just as the brand has done for many years, in 2018 in Milan and Munich, April 2018, this luxury brand of professional grade home appliances unveiled the award winning 400 series Vario cooling range.  The Gaggenau Vario cooling 400 series, iF 2018 product design award in Gold. For 65 years, the iF design award has been recognised as an arbiter of quality for exceptional design. The iF label is renowned worldwide for outstanding design services, and the iF design award is one of the most important design prizes in the world.

Gaggenau and einszu33 have built their successful partnership for more than 10 years with a close cooperation for the design of global showrooms, trade fair exhibitions and exclusive events. einszu33 creates unique spatial experiences that connect people with international brands. Under the leadership of Hendrik Müller and Georg Thiersch, the Munich-based studio is ranked in the top 50 of the most considered agencies of the German creative industry.

Inspired by the distinct, imposing design of these appliances, Gaggenau opens the door to its very own architectural statement: the ‘Gaggenau Home’. (read more further in this article)

 

 

The new, Vario cooling 400 series, inspired by grand architectural statements, has been designed for those who appreciate the aesthetically advanced; setting a precedence for a booth concept synonymous with these design principles. The new range comprises of a portfolio of refrigerator, freezers, fridge-freezers and wine climate cabinets. Combining modularity with the smooth lines of seamless integration, these sculpted appliances redefine the landscape of the modern kitchen.

The brief was to create a design concept that would place a spotlight on the new cooling range. Therefore, long-standing partners, architectural firm einszu33 led by Hendrik Müller and Georg Thiersch, deconstructed elements of grand architectural statements. The result of this process is the ‘Gaggenau Home’: a sequence of architectural gestures that correspond with the rituals of domestic culture.

 

 

Taking inspiration from the oak barrels used to age wine, the Vario wine climate cabinets 400 series features telescopic rails which allow oak and dark anthracite aluminium bottle trays to fully extend for gentle handling. Further safeguards are provided by the cabinet’s low vibration, humidity regulation; and the activated charcoal air filter which protects the wine from odour contamination.

Up to three independently controlled climate zones can also be adjusted via the newly installed intuitive TFT display, so that part of your wine collection can be stored in cellar-like conditions while bottles that should be enjoyed now, can be served on demand. Additionally, Gaggenau has further enhanced the Vario wine climate cabinets 400 series to include five preset lighting scenarios, perfect for showcasing prized collections that deserve to be admired.

Gaggenau believes that the kitchen is the heart and soul of the home and the products that you choose perform perfectly, and integrate seamlessly. The new Vario cooling 400 series are kitchen appliances pioneering the way for functional art that fits into the lifestyle of the discerning and cultured individual.

Sven Baacke, Head of Design, Global Brand Gaggenau, comments: “This new range for Gaggenau is the very essence of refinement in the luxury kitchen appliance market. We see extraordinary interior aesthetics as something that should be seen in all spheres of life, including the kitchen. With the new range, every wish for an extraordinary interior space can be fulfilled. Staged beautifully and with perfect illumination, you are no longer simply storing wine or refrigerating, you are making a statement.”

 

 

Also unveiled was the reimagined full surface induction cooktop – “where endless imagination, meets limitless inspiration”.

Beautifully crafted and professionally capable, Gaggenau presents the next generation of its original award winning full surface induction cooktop. More than just a luxury kitchen appliance, this is a product that expresses no boundaries in the pursuit of culinary imagination.

Sven Baacke, comments: “We believe that limitless functionality complemented by pure aesthetics, are essential to inspiring and creating an unsurpassable culinary experience. To achieve this experience through our appliances, Gaggenau draws on its affinity for design with a view to meeting our consumers’ expectation of perfection. We have simply enhanced the timeless and refined design of the full surface induction cooktop predecessor, as we feel incremental advance is key to our continued position as a leading luxury brand in kitchen appliances.”

This latest full surface induction cooktop showcases Gaggenau’s affection for the ideal of limitless possibilities within the cooking environment. Taking inspiration from the notion of un-inhibited creativity, teamed with the brand’s unrivalled affinity for pure and sophisticated design, the full surface induction cooktop encompasses the very essence of refinement within the kitchen setting.

The cooktop is available in two widths: the CX 492 at 90 cm and CX 482 at 80 cm, with two choices of finish – installed flush and frameless for seamless integration within the kitchen countertop. Alternatively, a stainless steel framed cooktop can be selected to complement any of the Vario cooktop 400 series appliances including the gas wok, Teppan Yaki or the electric grill.

Providing a creative space, with few rules and minimal constraints, the full surface induction cooktop provides a boundless expanse of surface, allowing for up to 6 pans to be placed anywhere upon it. Taking lead from the professional kitchen, the addition of the two cooking functions: professional and dynamic, allow for power level changes as and when the pan is moved, facilitating an effortless creative process.

Operated by a TFT touch colour display that intelligently indicates the shape, size and position of the cookware; cooking zones and heat settings are selected at the touch of a fingertip. Furthermore, the private chef has 17 heat levels to choose from including a booster function. With the addition of the cooking sensor, the freedom to be both the attentive host and the culinary master is made possible, as over-boiling is avoided and precise cooking is automatically achieved.

A design icon reimagined: Gaggenau reveals the EB 333 – an evolution of the iconic 90 cm-wide oven.

 

 

The oven EB 333 perfectly embodies Gaggenau’s design philosophy of Traditional Avant-garde where timeless craftsmanship meets innovative design. The most striking new design feature of the 90 cm wide oven is its door: a vast, single piece of 3 mm thick stainless steel, creating a powerfully sleek and sophisticated façade. The door also enlists new technology that provides soft opening and closing to enhance the overall user experience.

Further standout features include a revised cavity design that aligns the EB 333 with the capabilities of the latest Gaggenau ovens 400 and 200 series. The new cavity also houses an updated lighting concept, heightening the aesthetic of the appliance holistically. The oven includes a new control module with a TFT touch display to improve functionality. In addition, exclusively designed black rotary knobs are available to purchase as a special accessory for the EB 333 as an alternative to the stainless steel variant.

Gaggenau, the pioneer of steam cooking technology and healthy food preparation,  also released the new vacuuming drawer 400 series. In combination with the combi-steam ovens 400 series, they create the perfect conditions for gentle sous-vide cooking. Both appliances symbolise Gaggenau’s ongoing commitment to providing professional-grade appliances for the private kitchen that both inspire and enable the ambitious chef to create haute cuisine.

 

 

The new handleless vacuuming drawer 400 series enables food to be quickly and conveniently sealed, ideal for the precise practice of sous-vide cooking. Ingredients are ‘vacuumed’ with no loss of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Cooked at a consistently low temperature of 50 to 95 degrees, the natural flavour of each ingredient is retained and an unrivalled texture is achieved. Vacuum-sealed food also benefits from an extended storage life. Through intuitive touch control technology, the drawer provides three levels of oxygen extraction and heat sealing, so vacuuming bags of varying thickness can be made airtight.

Design-matched to the ovens 400 series, in solid stainless steel-backed glass, the vacuuming drawer can be integrated underneath the Gaggenau combi-steam ovens 400 series. The ovens, capable of steaming, baking, cooking and grilling, are also equipped with a sous-vide cooking function. This allows for accurate temperature regulation in one degree increments through the 50 to 95 degree range. In addition, the combi-steam ovens 400 series, with an integrated water supply, incorporates the world’s first fully automatic cleaning system. By simply inserting the cleaning cartridge into the oven ceiling and pushing a button, the oven is effortlessly cleaned, leaving the interior shining and hygienically clean after every use and within just four hours.

The combi-steam ovens and vacuuming drawer 400 series work seamlessly together to provide authentic, professional kitchen results.

 

 

A full-scale representation of an aspirational domestic space: the ’Gaggenau Home’ is focused around an open-plan kitchen. The home includes an entrance area, garage, living space and garden, all united and interconnected with authentic materials, light and details. Visitors to the booth will experience the true nature of Gaggenau; where appliances, consideration for the culture of living and contemporary architecture coalesce, to create the ultimate architectural statement.

The distinctly desiged home creates a powerful statement: perfectly mirroring the functional and imposing aesthetics of the new Vario cooling 400 series. Furthermore, the interior pieces and decor have all been carefully selected, to reflect the brand’s association with functionalism, natural materials and intellectual luxury.

EuroCucina 2018 marks the first occasion Gaggenau has created a booth concept of this magnitude. This full-scale architectural statement, inspired by the new range and its award winning progressive design, embodies the brand’s cultural affiliations and presents an immersive stage to showcase the appliances’ ability to go beyond the kitchen.

Hendrik Müller, Founder of einszu33, commented: “The concept puts a spotlight on the role of Gaggenau’s appliances and their significance within domestic culture. Food preparation and the social ritual of sharing a meal have been deeply rooted in our culture for more than 10,000 years and their importance today is higher than ever.”

Sven Schnee, Head of Global Brand Gaggenau, commented: “Our Home concept grew out of a desire to showcase our brand as more than just a kitchen appliance manufacturer. We wanted to create an exhibition space that commemorated Gaggenau’s vision of the culture of living, and celebrated what it is to live in today’s contemporary world.”

“We carefully considered and selected everything, from the soft furnishings and the art hanging on the wall, to the inner and outershell constructs of the building. We have created from the ground up, a true architectural statement that perfectly reflects our appliances’ ability to go far beyond the kitchen; personifying their role in the daily rituals of domestic culture.”

To complement the ‘Gaggenau Home’, Gaggenau collaborated with a series of likeminded, highly respected brands. Curated pieces featured as part of the home include: the Aston Martin DB11; interior wood fittings from Schotten & Hansen; modern furniture from Walter Knoll; lighting installations from Occhio; a bespoke piece of art from Eduard Micus; one decorative shelf from Porro; porecelain sculptures from Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg and a selection of fine wines from Sotheby’s Wine.

 

 

What is, then, in the name of Gaggenau?

Gaggenau is attuned to culinary culture whereby the preparation of superior dishes is consciously celebrated as a pleasure, beginning with the selection of the best ingredients. As a pioneer of exclusive culinary culture and sophisticated lifestyle, Gaggenau maintains a regular exchange with internationally-acclaimed star chefs, sommeliers, interior designers and architects. This know-how is also incorporated into the development of new appliances, which are consistently oriented towards professional kitchen requirements and thus set standards for ambitious private kitchens. The special Gaggenau experience stands for conscious, sensuous appreciation and enjoyment at an exclusive level.

 

Industrial craftsmanship tradition

The company was founded in 1683 by Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden, who established an ironworks in the town of Gaggenau. Over the years, the ‘Eisenwerke Gaggenau A.G.’ expanded into the manufacture of agricultural machinery and consumer durables. By the 19th century, the company was producing bicycles, advertising signs and stoves, and had become an enamelling specialist. The recipe for Gaggenau’s robust oven enamel formed the basis for the success of its coal and gas-fired stoves, which continued to be manufactured until well into the 20th century.

 

Vision of a fitted kitchen

In 1931, ‘Eisenwerke Gaggenau A.G.’ was acquired by Dr. Otto von Blanquet.

1956 saw the dawn of a new era, when the company was taken over by his son Georg. Inspired by a passion for cooking, he realised his vision of a custom-designed fitted kitchen with sophisticated, easy-to-use appliances. It was this vision that helped establish Gaggenau as the world’s first and leading brand for innovative, built in domestic appliances of timeless beauty and functional aestheticism.

 

Professional-grade built-in kitchen appliances

Inspired by the requirements of leading professionals and top chefs, Gaggenau brings professional culinary technology to the domestic kitchen. The current product range includes ovens, combi-steam ovens, vacuuming and warming drawers, microwaves, espresso machines, Vario specialty appliances, glass, ceramic, gas and induction cooktops, ventilation and cooling appliances, wine climate cabinets and dishwashers.

 

Authenticity in form and function

With its aspirations to high standards, the company follows the finest tradition in German design and, in its outstanding functionality, uncompromising quality and formal consistency, more than fulfils present-day requirements. The use of only the highest quality materials and precision craftsmanship are key factors in the durability of Gaggenau appliances.

The way forward for Gaggenau Design is clearly defined: to promote product development by focusing on essentials in every aspect.

 

Pioneering innovations

No other manufacturer has had such a significant influence on the domestic kitchen as Gaggenau. The company was at the forefront of the development of the built-in oven. The brand’s most well-known innovations include the glass ceramic cooktop and the combi-steam oven for the domestic kitchen, which have both made a major impact on the culinary world.

Other Gaggenau innovations include the Vario cooling 400 series, the first modular system of fully integrated refrigeration appliances that can be combined to form a cooling wall, as well as the full-surface induction cooktop CX 480, which converts the entire surface of the appliance into one large cooking area, allowing cookware to be placed anywhere on its surface. In 2015, Gaggenau presented its exclusive world first, a fully automatic cleaning system for all combi-steam ovens in the 400 series with fixed inlet and outlet water connection. This innovation ensures that the oven interior is cleaned with unrivalled hygiene.

 

Exclusive culinary culture and sophisticated lifestyle

Gaggenau is attuned to culinary culture whereby the preparation of superior dishes is consciously celebrated as a pleasure, beginning with the selection of the best ingredients. As a pioneer of exclusive culinary culture and sophisticated lifestyle, Gaggenau maintains a regular exchange with internationally-acclaimed star chefs, sommeliers, interior designers and architects. This know-how is also incorporated into the development of new appliances, which are consistently oriented towards professional kitchen requirements and thus set standards for ambitious private kitchens.

“The special Gaggenau experience stands for conscious, sensuous appreciation and enjoyment at an exclusive level.”

This is elegantly interpreted as part of a sophisticated lifestyle through events, wine tastings and seminars in our flagship showrooms and at unique locations.

 

Sustainability and a sense of responsibility

As a brand of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, Gaggenau is committed to the principle of sustainability and the responsible use of resources. A prime aspect for Gaggenau is the use of high quality materials that also ensure product longevity. Around sixty researchers and engineers work closely with a team of designers in an ongoing development process. New developments always strive to result in energy-efficient products.

 

Timeline – Highlights – Milestones

1683 Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden (1655-1707) founds an ironworks in the town of Gaggenau.

1873 With the advent of industrialisation, ‘Eisenwerke Gaggenau A.G.’ expands into the manufacture of agricultural machinery, tools and consumer durables.

1880 Gaggenau, by now an enamelling specialist, produces advertising signs for brands such as Odol, Maggi and Stollwerck. The recipe for its robust oven enamel forms the basis for the success of its coal and gas-fired stoves, which continue to be manufactured until well into the 20th century.

1908 The company takes on a pioneering role with a range of innovative products, including bicycles, coal and gas-fired stoves. By 1908, Gaggenau has sold a total of 250,000 ‘Badenia’ bicycles.

1931 The ‘Eisenwerke Gaggenau A.G.’ is acquired by Dr. Otto von Blanquet. In the following years, the company shifts its focus to coal and gas-fired stoves and produces its first electric stove, making cooking safer and more convenient.

1956 Georg von Blanquet becomes the driving force behind the company. Inspired by a passion for cooking, he is driven by the revolutionary vision of a custom-designed fitted kitchen with sophisticated, easy-to-use appliances. The same year sees the introduction of the first built-in appliances – the eye-level wall oven, the separate cooktop and the first ventilation appliance.

1972 The first 28 cm-wide Vario cooktops with top-mounted control knobs are introduced. They are the first of the Vario cooktops series of modular, specialist appliances, which have since attained iconic status.

1976 With the downdraft ventilation unit VL 011 Gaggenau introduces a highly efficient ventilation system to the European market. Odours and steam are quietly and efficiently drawn downward and extracted out – the ideal alternative to a conventional ventilation hood.

1986 Gaggenau introduces the first 90 cm-wide oven to the European market. With a generous net volume of 87 litres, it comfortably accommodates up to four roasts at a time. The EB 300 soon achieves cult status.

The Vario cooktops 300 series of 38 cm-wide appliances, with their characteristic front-mounted control knobs brings yet more professional features to the domestic kitchen.

1991 Inspired by the generously-dimensioned freestanding American fridge-freezer combinations, Gaggenau introduces the fully integrated Side-by-Side refrigerator IK 900. It features double-wing doors for easy access to both fridge and freezer compartments, as well as four climate zones, manual humidity controls and a clear ice dispenser.

1999 The combi-steam oven ED 220 for the domestic kitchen, featuring a direct inlet and outlet water connection, delivers a whole new world of unique culinary experiences. Asian cuisine in particular, owes its widespread popularity in the Western world to this method of gentle steam cooking.

The exclusive Coanda hood AH 600 (now AW/AI 280) utilises an aerodynamic principle known as the Coanda effect. Its surfaces generate an additional airflow that intercepts steam and conducts it directly into the filter area. This ventilation method is both energy saving and extremely quiet.

2003 The fully integrated wine storage and temperature control cabinet IK 360 with glass doors features three separate, self-contained climate zones. The temperature can be precisely regulated from 4 to 21 degrees.

2007 Gaggenau launches the first of the 200 series of ovens, featuring a sleek front and a distinctive display module. For the first time, models are available in widths of 60 cm or 76 cm.

Gaggenau brings the first modular system of fully integrated appliances, the Vario cooling 400 series, from the USA to Europe. All appliances boast high-quality stainless steel interiors and an A++ energy efficiency rating.

2008 The first gas cooktop with flush design, the 90 cm-wide CG 492, features state-of-the-art gas technology and a power output of up to 18 kW.

2009 The Vario cooling 200 series promotes a totally new usage concept.

The A++ energy-rated appliances are also economical in their use of natural resources.

2010 With the introduction of modular ceiling ventilation system AC 402, Gaggenau offers a flexible solution for efficient ventilation in the home. The extremely quiet appliance can be integrated unobtrusively into the kitchen architecture.

2011 Full-surface induction cooktop CX 480 converts the entire surface of the unit into one large cooking area. The cooktop features an intuitive extra-large TFT colour touch display.

2012 For the first time, as of 2012, the perfected Vario cooktops 400 series permits the flexible combination of cooktops in widths from 38 cm to 90 cm. Thanks to precision crafting of the 3 mm stainless steel, appliances can be flush-mounted or surface-mounted with a visible edge.

Launched in 2012, the recessed table ventilation AL 400 is a perfect solution for cooking islands or large open-plan rooms. It can be combined with all Gaggenau cooking appliances.

2013 For the first time in the company’s history, not one but two new oven series

are launched with different designs: characterised by a sculptural design, the ovens 400 series in solid stainless steel and widths of up to 76 cm are built in with a slight overhang; with a pure design, the ovens 200 series in colours Gaggenau Anthracite, Metallic and Silver are built in flush with their surroundings. Both series feature a control module with a TFT touch display for easy, intuitive operation.

With its lavish LED lighting concept and perfected details, the new Vario cooling 400 series offers all the benefits of modern storage technology. The 14 cooling appliances in the first modular system of fully integrated built-in appliances, introduced in 2007, can be combined in countless ways to create a stylish cooling wall.

2014 Gaggenau establishes the ventilation 400 series, a modular system with classic Gaggenau design, whose ample planning flexibility generates maximum space. The island and wall mounted hood AI/AW 442 is available as of December.

2015 Gaggenau presents its exclusive world first, a fully automatic cleaning system for all combi-steam ovens in the 400 series with fixed inlet and outlet water connection. This innovation ensures that the oven interior is cleaned with unrivalled hygiene.

2016 In the year Gaggenau celebrates its 333rd anniversary, the brand unveils the EB 333: an evolution of its iconic 90 cm oven offering modernised design and functionality whilst staying true to its origins. The most striking new design feature is its door – a vast, single piece of 3 mm-thick stainless steel, creating a powerfully sleek and sophisticated façade.

2017 Gaggenau makes professional, comfortable and very personal coffee culture

possible at home with the launch of the new fully automatic espresso machine – now including fixed inlet and outlet water connection and new technology.

2018 Gaggenau unveils the brand new Vario cooling 400 series: a fully integrated, built-in modular range of refrigerators, freezers, fridge-freezers and wine climate cabinets. The imposing, progressive design of this new range commands visual admiration, whilst maintaining integral professional capabilities. These sculpted appliances redefine the landscape of the functional kitchen.

 

International organisation

Gaggenau has been a subsidiary of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH since 1995. The company’s Brand Management, Brand Design and Marketing, as well as Executive Board Sales in Germany are based at the BSH Group’s Munich headquarters.

The Group has key production facilities in Germany, Lipsheim in Alsace (France), Slovenia, Spain and Turkey. The Gaggenau brand is represented in more than 50 countries worldwide, with 24 flagship showrooms in major cities.

The difference, is Gaggenau.

REFERENCES: Marketing Department Gaggenau Head Office Germany and Elizabete Nelson, Gaggenau South Africa