April 2013 • Observed
Sensual Scrub
By Shannon Sharpe
Philippe Starck takes water very seriously—more specifically, he says, one’s experience with water. The three years he spent designing Hansgrohe’s Axor Starck Organic line is a testament to that dedication. But how much of an experience can a designer really pack into the act of washing one’s hands? Quite a bit, it turns out, beginning with the look and feel of the faucet. Starck’s branch-inspired design has two ergonomic handles—one to control temperature and the other to regulate water flow—that blend into the body of the faucet. With a flow rate of one gallon per minute versus the industry standard of 1.8 gallons per minute, the eco-friendly faucet sprays water out via 90 individual outlets without sacrificing water pressure. Add to that the ability to pre-set the temperature so there is no initial shock from water that’s too hot or too cold, and washing your hands can be unexpectedly enjoyable.
BACK TO TOP