German shower specialist Hansgrohe recently launched the latest addition to its high-end Axor brand – the Axor Starck Shower Collection, which has been created by French designer Philippe Starck.

The design philosophy of the Axor Starck ShowerCollection, unveiled at the Milan Furniture Exhibition in Italy in April, is based on a comprehensive modular system for a diverse range of elements and a controlled flow of water, which can turn a shower into a private spa within bathrooms in exclusive residential and commercial premises.
“The collection consists of a complete programme, similar to a mosaic or a puzzle made up of a whole lot of small, square-shaped objects that can be combined to form an infinite range of totally flexible design solutions. This is what we call haute couture for the shower,” elaborates Starck while describing the aesthetic appeal of this new collection.
The basic element of the Axor Starck ShowerCollection is a 12 cm by 12 cm square incorporating a variety of functions, such as the shower, thermostat, lighting or speaker modules, shelf units as well as control elements such as faucets and mixers, all of which conform to the same square shape design. Their minimalist clear lines and geometrical precision create an air of tranquility and allows the user to enjoy the water flow as part of the bathing experience.
All these modules can be combined freely in any arrangement, and in any number. Whether used in a freestanding individual solution or as part of a group – in a horizontal or vertical arrangement, centered in space or distributed in an asymmetrical design – this collection helps to create an individualistic ambience in contemporary bathrooms, says a spokesman for Hansgrohe.
The technical refinements in this collection allow greater flexibility to architects and interior designers, as for example, the shower module can not only create the sensation of having a variety of different overhead showers, but also by allowing the jet to be adjusted horizontally or vertically, can function as a variable lateral shower module for the neck and shoulder regions.
“The bathroom is presently undergoing a change, from a purely functional place for ablutions to a wellness space and a fundamental part of individual living. Hence, there is a desire for more diverse yet harmonious space solutions that go beyond the individual product. This does not mean that the product itself is going to be less significant – its functionality, its aesthetics and emotive power will continue to be of importance. However, the individual product will be aesthetically designed with an interior space concept. Having developed new, holistic approaches to interior designing with our Axor Starck, Axor Citterio or Axor Massaud bathroom collections, we are shifting our focus to the shower,” says Philippe Grohe, brand manager of Axor, while explaining the theme behind the new collection.

Shower
The highlight of the collection is the Axor Starck ShowerHeaven, a luxurious overhead shower which includes the nearly 1 sq m version as well as the smaller 720 by 720 cm model. The range offers a unique showering experience, thanks to the shower’s dimension and the quality of the water jets, a result of the innovative technology perfected in the Hansgrohe research laboratory. The customer can choose between a full laminar jet, a soft rain consisting of voluminous water droplets enriched with air, and an extensive whole-body jet where the water rains down softly from more than 500 nozzles. The clean lines, the geometrical shape and the pleasantly understated visual impact of the stainless steel ShowerHeaven give it a discreet appearance, in spite of its large dimensions which blends into the bathroom in a decidedly unobtrusive fashion, he says.

Shower cabin
This is also true of the 140 by 100 cm Axor Starck ShowerCabin, an all-glass shower cabin with a discreet presence that harmoniously blends into the bathroom. Fully pre-assembled and easy to integrate, the ShowerCabin represents the sum of the square modules in the Axor Starck ShowerCollection.
“The cabin delights with its geometrical precision, high-quality materials and technical refinements. The cubist design of the cabin is the logical extension of the design into the third dimension. The softly backlit glass rear walls underscore its lightness, while the extremely austere profiles highlight its elegant shape. A technically-sophisticated unit and a complete, self-contained design piece, the Axor Starck ShowerCabin is almost like a ready-made piece of furniture – ready for quick and easy integration into a space,” the spokesman explains.
“With the Axor Starck ShowerCollection everyone – and especially architects and interior designers – can use their creativity to the full and create highly individual solutions. Ready-made simply becomes tailor-made, as prefabricated modules are combined to form individual custom solutions in the Axor Starck ShowerCollection, to create a sense of aesthetic well-being which is a highly individual concern” concludes Starck.
Hansgrohe is the premium German brand for showers, bathroom and kitchen mixers as well as thermostat and drainage technology.