This arresting piece of art at Gaggenau London showroom was created by Inclume, the team of four, who has put in 400 hours of hard work, making close to 4,500 pieces of distinct paper size forms which have been then put together on 320 strings. The installation represents Gaggenau’s humble origins as a nail forge in the depths of the Black Forest way back in 1683, illustrating how ‘It began with a spark.’

Ian Lambert, the founder of creative architects design studio, Inclume explains: “Black paper shapes signify the brand’s roots at the edge of the Black Forest in Germany, with the orange representing fragments emanating from the forging process. They give the piece tactility and texture, much like the handcrafted nature of working with metal.”

Taking part in the London Festival of Architecture is important to Gaggenau as it reaffirms its strong connection with the architect and design community. Outstanding performance, extraordinary craftsmanship and exceptional design are the qualities that endear architects, designers and their clients to Gaggenau.

What inspires you and where do you find your inspiration?

As with many of our designs, we enjoy finding interesting historic details to build an idea from. Theoretically, this gives foundations to the narrative and provides a set of parameters to work from. Physically, we utilise elements of existing spaces to guide our design intent. We bring inspiration from the worlds of architecture and sculpture and combine these to create a sense of escapism and wonder.

What was the inspiration behind the showroom showcase at Gaggenau London?

‘Fragment’ represents the craftsmanship that Gaggenau have pursued since their founding in 1683. The installation is an abstract interpretation of the story of the brand: ‘It began with a spark’.

Taking advantage of the constraints presented by the medium of paper, the polygon forms can be interpreted as fragments of Gaggenau appliances, emerging at the centre like sparks from a furnace and forming a conceptual representation of an appliance towards the more ordered edges. The paper gives the piece tactility and texture, much like the handcrafted nature of working with metals. The 3D appearance of the installation provides great complexity and intrigue; the grid-like system of hanging elements suspends the paper pyramids to form an ethereal mirage of fragments in space and time.

The colours reflect the history of the Gaggenau brand, with the black signifying the roots of the brand at the edge of the Black Forest in Germany, and the orange representing the roaring fires of the furnaces used to craft the appliances. The nails at the centre of the sculpture remind viewers of the roots of the Gaggenau brand as a hammer mill and nail forge.

“It is an abstract interpretation of the story of the brand: ‘It began with a spark’."

How would you sum up your design style?

We treat each project on its own merits and try not to have a specific style. Key design drivers behind our architectural installations are mostly time, cost and the need to easily transport the piece to site, hence we often use repeating elements and modular construction. We attempt to make the most of the materials we have and use them in interesting ways to form unique sculptures that capture the imagination. We take this approach into our building designs, maximising the spatial experience while focusing on the client’s needs and the existing constraints; this is how we add value to projects. We bring our collective experience, enthusiasm and creativity to each project, regardless of scale or budget.

What has been your favourite project so far?

The Gaggenau window installation, of course - what a pleasure to work with such a highly regarded brand! Time was the biggest constraint here, yet it pushed us to produce a piece that was possible in the two-week window, from design right through to installation.

Could you share some design trends you are currently in favour of?

We are enjoying the trend towards appreciating bespoke, crafted finishes that tell the story behind the creator while forming a beautiful, unique appearance. Lockdown has certainly helped people appreciate the objects around them more, and perhaps place a higher value on individuality and craftsmanship. We are also interested in using natural materials in our work, for sustainability, health and aesthetic reasons.

What do you see for the future of design?

Being adaptable is particularly important in our changeable world. This applies to both designers and to the work they are creating. Trends inevitably repeat over time, so we will likely see elements of previous eras return, however the excitement for us arises when a designer puts their individual experiences and ideas into a piece. Adaptability, individuality and sustainability would be our best predictions.

If you have an unlimited budget, what would you like to create?

The crossover between architecture and artistic installations fascinates us, so we would probably produce a piece at a much larger scale, perhaps in the public realm for maximum enjoyment and interaction.

Creating a spark.

Gaggenau’s timeless, purist aesthetic complements inspired architecture and design, making it the favoured choice for defining high profile, creative projects.