It began with a spark
Our story springs to life on the edge of the Black Forest. This was an area of poor farmers barely scratching out a living, generation after generation. To tackle this, the aristocratic ruler of the region, Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden, diversified. He established a smelting plant in Rotenfels and a hammer mill and nail forge in Gaggenau in 1683.
Inspiration and commitment
Gaggenau metalworks had, by this point, progressed to make farm machinery. Decades passed and the place and its people began to make a name for themselves. Its ironworks grew in number and scale. The days of making nails were over. New products for a new industrial class were being mass-produced and the foundation of the German Engineering legend was being laid.
The cornerstone of our experience
As a specialist in enamel, Gaggenau produced hardwearing advertising signs for brands such as Odol, Maggi and Stollwerck. This informed the recipe for the company's robust oven enamel, which in turn formed the basis for the success of its coal and gas-fired stoves. That same lineage of enamel can be seen today in the form of our iconic blue oven interiors.
Moving with the times
The product range adapted into the new century. Gaggenau assumed a pioneering role with a range of innovative products, including coal and gas-fired stoves, as well as bicycles. By 1908, Gaggenau had sold a total of 250,000 "Badenia" bicycles. This success taught the collective of workers and managers the importance of ergonomics, build quality and distinctive design.
Dawn of the labour-saving kitchen
When Dr. Otto von Blanquet took over, the company shifted its focus solely towards to coal and gas-fired stoves. In the late 1940’s Gaggenau began to produce innovative, economical gas and coal ovens. Electric ovens were also manufactured for the first time, with 180 employees eventually involved in producing the famous "Favorit" and "Futura" models.
The advent of built-in appliances
When Georg von Blanquet followed in his father’s footsteps, he paved the way for the fitted kitchen revolution. In 1956 the first built-in, eye-level oven, separate cooktop and ventilation appliances were all brought to market, by us.
His appetite for change was matched only by his demand for quality. New functions had to prove useful to chefs, be sturdy enough for the working kitchen and look beautiful.
The Bauhaus influence
The Gaggenau logo that still lives on today was developed at the end of the 60s. As with our appliances, it is influenced by the style of the Bauhaus art school, a centre of classical modernism. The simple and pure objectivity of Bauhaus were considered a design revolution and ‘Form follows function’ remains a core Gaggenau belief.
The forerunner of the Vario
Gaggenau presented the first 28 cm wide Vario cooktops with top-mounted control knobs - a forerunner of the now classic advanced Vario cooktops series. This series provides a wide variety of specialised appliances that combine to provide a bespoke cooking experience.
The 90 cm handcrafted icon is born
The first 90 cm wide oven to reach the European market was inevitably going to impress, with a generous net volume of 87 litres and space for up to four roasts at a time. The EB 300 soon achieved cult status.
Inspiration from America
Inspired by generously-dimensioned freestanding American fridge-freezer combinations, the side-by-side IK 300 launched featuring separate access to fridge and freezer compartments. In addition to five climate zones and manual humidity control, the appliance boasted a clear ice dispenser.
Bringing steam into the home
Gaggenau - Pioneer of healthy eating: The ED 220 steam oven was the first of its kind to be commercially produced for the private home. Since then steam ovens have become the standard for the private chef who demands the best.
Launch of the Gaggenau magazine
Our award-winning magazine highlights intriguing artisans and cultures from around the globe. Designed to interest, inspire and enlighten, it has recently been revamped. See the latest copy here.
A celebration of wine culture
The Gaggenau Sommelier Awards are held every two years and preceded by regional heats. Uncovering the rising stars in the industry, the finals have grown into a grand affair that have so far been held in Alsace and Vienna.
Introducing steam clean
Gaggenau introduced the latest innovation: an automatic cleaning system for the combi-steam oven that can be easily operated at the push of a button.
An icon reborn
An aspiration of the private chef, and the professional chef at home, the EB 300 has been a Gaggenau icon for over 30 years. This oven is a 90 cm testament to the Gaggenau difference, its heritage and traditional avant-garde. Wildly individual, distinctive and iconic, it is the heart of the kitchen. This is a predominantly hand built oven, in a world of the machine-made appliances.
A moment in N.Y.
We reimagined gastronomic luxury with a unique epicurean sensorial event in New York that evoked our Black Forest beginnings. Over four nights a select few were treated to an inspiring and inventive culinary moment.
Our restaurant 1683 and bistro 1683 will continue to appear and evolve over time.
Fast forward
No one knows what the next 20, 50 or 335 years will bring. What will cuisine look like? What will luxury look like?
Perhaps ownership of beautiful pieces, though pleasing, will be less precious than sharing a mindset – the Gaggenau mindset: if the kitchen is the heart of the home, Gaggenau is its soul.
