ISSUE 6/MaY 2013 CUSTOMER MAGAZINE INMOTION Ars vivendi. State of the Art. STRONG PROFILE. Vionaro conquers the exclusive kitchen universe With reduction and clarity, Vionaro stands A brilliant uninterrupted surface is the hallmark of of Dada. Pages II/III in the best tradition. Page V the aluminium drawer side. Pages VI/ VII

Movements The new drawer system cannot fail to impress with its minimalist elegance. Vionaro – the slender

Vibrant living is (not) an art – Spaces for living, working, eating and cooking are melding classic into one.

Why should jazz CDs be stowed away any less stylishly than Japanese kitch- of tomorrow. en knifves? There certainly won’t be any reason with the freedom for creative design provided by Vionaro. An absolute all-rounder has to prove A movement system of superlatives is making its itself everywhere. Whether in the entrance on the kitchen and lifestyle stage: Vionaro. kitchen or in the living room – we The drawer system is based on the concealed slide attach importance to functions that make life easier in any room at any Dynapro, itself proven millions of times over in practical time and that are attractively attired use. With its ultra-slender drawer side in aluminium or into the bargain. With the Vionaro steel, Vionaro ensures in storage . system, the classic Dynapro slide has successfully been trans- formed into a one4all sensation. Thanks to Vionaro, the synchronised concealed system with 3D adjust- ability becomes a full-blooded draw- er system which revitalises storage spaces.

Versatile in application – that’s just one of Vionaro’s key features.

Particularly in times when single apartments dominate in cities and living space is used economically, designer solutions like Vionaro rise to top form. Its clever use of stor- age space makes Vionaro the ideal long-term choice for all applications in kitchen, bathroom, living room, office and bedroom areas which are showing a growing tendency to merge. The boundaries within our liv-ing spaces have become fluid. That makes it all the more important that modern movement systems can be harmoniously integrated into dif- ferent areas. VIONARO FACTS N orbert Jehle, product manager for concealed slide systems on the designer system Vionaro. Drawer side heights 63 mm, 89 mm, 185 mm Minimalism in its purest form. Nominal lengths 250 - 650 mm Vionaro – The new cubist ever synchronised movement, GRASS terials, slender and straight lines. Instead ornamentation or inconvenient grooves. Drawer side width drawer system has everything succeeded in completely revolutionis- of filling living spaces with opulent furnish- “The drawer side is cut from a single 13 mm that Dynapro has because it ing concealed drawer slides. ”But the ings, consumers prefer uncomplicated ob- anodised extrusion,” explains Norbert combines a slide system al- best thing about it is the . jects that are transparent, light and aes- Jehle. The modern, linear form also ap- Materials ready proven millions of times Anything is possible with Dynapro,” says thetically sophisticated. The requirements peals to the avowed minimalist: “An ab- Torsion-free drawer sides in over with perfect design in an Jehle. So it was simply a logical conse- which the furniture industry wanted Vion- solutely smooth surface.” aluminium and steel extremely slender form. quence that furniture manufacturers aro to meet reflected this trend: “simply and cabinetmakers wanted plenty of a slide that doesn’t take up space and is The positive uniform connection to Front connection Paternal pride shows in his eyes. Norbert choice when it came to variety in design: not visible,” as Andreas Bielefeld, product back panels in wood and steel is equally High stability thanks to Jehle, GRASS specialist for concealed surfaces, fronts and materials such as manager of the Germany company Nobilia smooth. And that’s the three sides of Vi- integrated front stabiliser slide systems for the past five years, wood, aluminium, steel, glass, natural Werke GmbH, puts it in a nutshell. onaro complete. If only it was so simple: has accompanied Vionaro from the ini- stone or concrete. The furniture indus- “We did a lot of fine-tuning on the tech- 3D adjustment tial idea and, in his capacity as product try has recognised the creative potential “Less is beautiful” also nology because we wanted an optimal so- Integrated into drawer side manager, played a part in bringing this that lies in Dynapro. With this movement applies to gaps and reveals. lution for manufacturers,” says Norbert newcomer to the world. system, the drawer side can be com- Jehle and this is where his background in Handling pletely reconceptualised. More storage Simply putting a functional masterpiece joinery comes into play. He knows what No machining of drawer bottom Vionaro has the best space, less slide and an aesthetic that out of sight is no easy task. Doesn’t that he’s talking about when he expresses his required of Dynapro inside. is entirely in line with the latest design pain a product manager’s heart? For Nor- excitement about the clean back panel trends for living spaces. bert Jehle, that’s not an issue because connection and the integrated front sta- It all began two and a half years ago, just “we sense what the market wants”. At biliser. This increases the stability of the as Dynapro was beginning to take off in But what exactly is this trend? “Everything the very top of his design specifications front connector, particularly in the case the market. The concealed slide system which is not absolutely necessary is dis- he noted the material of choice: alumin- of high drawer sides. But that’s not all. which was awarded the red dot award in pensable in design,” says Cologne-based ium. “We wanted a premium aesthetic Minimalism also applies here as the new 2010 immediately became best in class Stefan Ambrozus, who was involved with appearance,” and aluminium fits the front connector provides the opportunity for its excellent running characteristics the development of Vionaro as product bill perfectly. The light metal offers pre- to dispense with the odd groove. Who al- and its particular stability. Thanks to Dy- designer. What he has in mind here are cisely the scope for creative design that ways says that cool design and top func- Proven millions of times over in practical napro’s outstanding load capacity of up pieces of furniture, home furnishings and the product experts from GRASS wanted tionality don’t go together? “No idea”, use, the Dynapro concealed slide system to 60 kg, the unique three-dimensional functional objects which elegantly blend for Vionaro: an ultra-slender drawer side grins Norbert Jehle, “certainly nobody at holds the award for top design quality. adjustment facility and above all the first in with the background. Transparent ma- of just 13 mm which comes without any GRASS.”

Italian design meets high quality made in Austria. During the international furniture trade fair iSalone 2013, Dada presented the new Armani kitchen at its showroom in the centre of Milan. Harald Klüh Ingenious functionality clothed in sleek elegance. With Vionaro, the outer styling is continued inside the cabinet, uniting the interior and exterior to form a perfect whole. GRASS brand manager

“At Dada, Vionaro shows its exclusive side in finely grooved aluminium anodised in black.” inmotion. The CUSTOMER MAGAZINE. Page II/ III

Minimalism in its purest form.

Andrea Molteni, head of design and development at Dada “Design and functionality are the perfect ingredients for true pleasure in the kitchen.“

Dada and GRASS: Two brands – a collaboration between perfect form and function. Kindred spirits in art and expertise.

Who doesn’t get excited when interpretation: “It’s this symbiosis that Vionaro – Beauty of sides were finely grooved and anodised the subject is Italian design? sets Italian design apart,” says an in- movement with Italian spirit. in black especially for Dada: a casual spired Harald Klüh. chic look for the kitchen design belong- Whether it’s furniture, clothing or The company belonging to the Molteni ing to the latest Armani/Dada line. cars – Italy’s style reveals itself in all On his very first visit to the company Group was looking for a kindred spirit areas of life. Extravagance and clas- premises in Mesero near Milan, the when it came to the concealed slides for A shared passion for sicism harmonise next to each other global brand manager from GRASS its latest kitchen creation – and found craftsmanship. like a Ferrari alongside a Fiat 500. Ital- was able to get an idea of the Italian it in GRASS and their system solution ian design is nonetheless unthinkable combination of art and expertise. He Vionaro. “The aesthetics and functional At Dada they dare to try new things and without traditional craftspeople. For describes the working atmosphere at precision of the designer drawer sides look for solutions that are 150% perfect. generations, family businesses have Dada: “It’s like being in a creative agen- skilfully reflect the spirit of the Dada The collaboration between GRASS and been producing design icons for fash- cy. So many materials, colour samples philosophy,” explains Andrea Molteni. Dada opens up exciting long-range pos- ion, interiors and industry. Names such and .” No wonder that For the head of design and development sibilities for both sides. “We are explor- as Molteni, Prada or Tod’s now rank as renowned such as Norman at Dada, it’s above all the small details ing the idea of conducting joint research global brands. These are living values Foster or Giorgio Armani like delivering that play a major role in defining product into design and functionality,” empha- that are combined with a bold artistic for Dada. quality. The slender aluminium drawer sises Harald Klüh. “Don’t be trapped by dogma. Follow your heart and your intuition. They somehow already know what

you truly want to become.“ S teve Jobs, founder of Apple

The most revolutionary movement in living space design: Making the maximum out of the minimum. Here too, the Vionaro drawer system sets new standards. The magic of simplicity.

Our world is changing. Lightweight con- The developers at GRASS have long struction and sustainability are conquer- rung in the age of transformation for ing every area of our lives down to the movement systems in the furniture in- smallest detail. Reduce and make more dustry. With Vionaro, the cubist draw- efficient are the style specifications of er system, a highly elegant concealed the future. For trendsetters, the soft slide solution is about to make its skills of design, emotion and the art of entrance into the living space of the lifestyle nonetheless take priority – par- 21st century. ticularly within their own four walls. The minimalism of our times says: leave the A milestone in stress outside the door and just go for concealed slide systems. the feel good factor! “Vionaro is the greatest milestone after Nova Pro, Nova Metro and Dynapro,” says someone who should know: Günter Grabher. As chief developer at GRASS, he has been responsible for creating no fewer than four slide systems during his 30-year commitment to movement sys- tems. When it came to the ultra-slender Günter Grabher Chief developer at GRASS Vionaro drawer sides, he was able to fall back on his experience with the develop- ment of Nova Metro. “A major corner- stone in the development of double-wall systems,” recalls the drawer expert. His sketches of a minimalist drawer side which fits onto Dynapro – the world’s first synchronised concealed slide – “The front alignment were made well before the go-ahead makes the overall impression was given for the product development absolutely stunning!” process. Günter Grabher already had the design in his head before the re- quirements were noted down in the GRASS MILESTONES product brief. “A lot of my heart and soul went into Vionaro,” says a proud creator who draws his inspiration from everyday 2003 NOVA PRO things. FIRST DRAWER SYSTEM WITH SYNCHRONISATION With Vionaro we have succeeded in creating 2004 Soft-Close a source of inspiration for FIRST DAMPING SYSTEM living space trends. FOR HINGES Even for the experienced specialist 2009 Tiomos Günter Grabher, developing a no-com- THE NEW VISIONARY GENERATION promise design system was anything of HINGE SYSTEMs WITH INTEGRATED but commonplace: two puristic double- DAMPING wall drawer sides in aluminium or steel, a back, a front and that’s it. A more 2009 DYNAPRO consciously stripped-down approach FIRST SYNCHRONISED hardly seems possible. When opening CONCEALED SLIDE WITH this drawer system, you stand before 3D ADJUSTMENT the vision of a movement system that has become reality. A vision that will 2013 VIONARO inspire furniture design to continually THE NEW cubist DRAWER SYSTEM reinvent itself. inmotion. The CUSTOMER MAGAZINE. Page IV/V

“The senses deform, the mind Vionaro by GRASS is modern . He nonetheless cutting-edge in terms of attached particular importance to the ” Georges Braque forms. design, functionality and comfort offered by his furnishings and to individual creative drive. the traditions and wishes of the owners. Formally, Vionaro stands Aesthetics is also function. He argued in for reduction and clarity, favour of using the most elegant materi- Formal which puts it in the best als to achieve the look and feel of sensu- tradition of 20th-century ality and culture. art movements that aesthetics as the broke with old conventions and paved the way for a fundamentally new view antidote to of reality.

In the early 20th century, Europe’s boredom. avant-garde threw established acade- mic art concepts out of the window. In painting, Cubism broke away from the lifelike representation of reality by de- constructing the classic painting into fragmented spatial planes as well as forms that overlap and penetrate one another, thus reflecting the growing importance of the individual in a crum- bling world.

The straight line and geometric forms became the ideal; the black square by Malevich was revolutionary. For many, Walter Gropius what the Russian constructivists were Bauhaus Dessau, 1925/26 proclaiming was pure provocation: three-dimensional constructions made of industrially produced materials such With Vionaro, GRASS consciously makes as metal and glass were to replace reference to these art movements which conventional pictorial art and create a have historically been instrumental in machine aesthetic in the spirit of the shaping styles. The clean line, the max- industrial age. imum reduction to functional necessity and the use of premium materials en- able wide scope for individual creativity in kitchen design.

Features which have long been established in the field of consumer electronics are set to become the latest trend in the kitchen segment thanks to Vionaro by GRASS.

The material aluminium opens up new dimensions and design opportunities. Its extreme sturdiness, lightness and stability are properties which artists and architects could only dream of at the beginning of the 20th century. These attributes allow a radical reduc- tion in material thickness and conse- Cubism quently open up new scope for unusual France, from 1907 creative ideas. Entirely new high-end kitchen landscapes are conceivable in conjunction with the use of new surface Adopting new paths treatment techniques. In the best tra- means breaking with old dition of the artistic avant-garde of the conventions. twentieth century.

What Walter Gropius set out in the Bau- haus manifesto remains visionary to this day: the unity of crafts, art and tech- nology should transform social reality and shape a new society. “Architects, painters, sculptors must all return to crafts!” For Gropius, the Bauhaus was an intellectual laboratory in which the various art genres were reunified in an entirely different way, and new techno- logies and materials used. Many of the objects of daily use developed in the Bauhaus workshops went on to become classics.

This revolution also took place in ar- chitecture. War was declared on orna- mental kitsch. Clarity and functional honesty were the new guiding principles. With his programmatic writings under the heading of “Ornament and Crime”, Adolf Loos Adolf Loos is seen as a trailblazer of Ornament and Crime, 1910 Product designer Stefan Ambrozus is continually inspired by the perfect high-tech material. An edgy profile thanks to aluminium.

Virtually no other material protection to prevent oxidation, no ad- provides such a self-assured ditional layer is required. “Aluminium response to high technical remains uncontrived and always simply demands like aluminium. says to us ‘I’m aluminium!’” explains Am- brozus. When Stefan Ambrozus talks about the S tefan Ambrozus Product designer metal surface of a design object made Another aspect of aluminium is that it’s a Studio Ambrozus, Cologne of aluminium, the head of the Cologne- true team player. Whether used in com- based Studio Ambrozus cannot hide bination with whitewashed oak, Ameri- his passion for the material. The expe- can walnut or elegant black – alumin- rienced product designer ranks kitchens ium always provides a discreetly refined as one of his specialist areas. Kitchen yet impressive companion thanks to its appliances, luminaires, furniture ele- neutral, silvery surface. For the Vionaro ments – his scope is very broad. Stefan drawer system, that’s a stroke of luck Ambrozus doesn’t see himself as a “styl- because it means there are no limits “We had nothing to add – ing designer” who decorates objects. when it comes to the variety of design except the right angle.” He explains his philosophy: “Design has options in furniture making. to go hand in hand with technology. The team at GRASS have done some excel- Aluminium feels good – lent groundwork. Dynapro is a fantastic and is in demand even in the slide – robust, solid, incredibly dynamic smallest of spaces. and ultramodern. Those are all attrib- utes which had to be perceptible in the Looks alone are not everything. For Ste- design of Vionaro.” fan Ambrozus, the tactile experience also counts with aluminium. The met- Aluminium – While Stefan Ambrozus had already al gives Vionaro an agreeable, warm worked with GRASS on the Tiomos hinge feel. When you run your hand over The strengths of a lightweight. system and the concealed slide system the smooth, uninterrupted surface, you Dynapro, things were very different for understand what the product designer A clear ProfilE him in this case. With Vionaro, he was means by “feels right”. Aluminium knows able to experience a totally new freedom how to conceal the inner workings of in the design. He finds the idea of set- Vionaro beneath its appealing exterior. After oxygen and silicon, aluminium is the scientific symbol ting an ultra-slender drawer side onto Here again, the metal makes the most third most abundant chemical element the full-blooded concealed slide system of its potential. No matter how complex and also the most abundant metal in the Dynapro quite ingenious: “Aluminium is the technological and functional re- Earth’s crust. It is used to build space the perfect material to do just that!” quirements, aluminium always remains shuttles as well as in the production of puristic and straightforward. yogurt pots and drinks cans. U ncontrived, authentic and brilliant. No wonder that the demand for alumin- Aluminium is only found in combined chemical symbol ium design continues to grow among form, for example as aluminosilicate min- Al The anodised surface of the premium furniture makers. Aluminium has dar- erals in clay, gneiss or granite. Mineral metal comes entirely without structure ed to advance from the kitchen into all gemstones such as ruby or sapphire also Atomic number or orientation and provides a constant living areas and is becoming increasingly contain aluminium in oxidised form. The 13 source of inspiration for the product popular with end users in top-of-the- raw material used for the industrial pro- designer. “That play of light on the bril- range bathroom furniture. Wherever there Melting point duction of aluminium is bauxite ore which liant surface – it can’t be achieved with is a need for spatial economy and slender 660.3 °C contains roughly 60% aluminium hydrox- a lacquered finish.” In an age in which forms dominate, more and more alumini- ide. Due to the expense involved in ex- Recycling rate materials often speak to lovers of design um is being used. For Stefan Ambrozus, tracting aluminium, the metal traded for 90% through their colour, aluminium shows an inevitable development: “Aluminium a higher price than gold up until the first itself to be naturally authentic. As the provides optimisation at the highest . half of the 19th century. Today, alumini- mass of the metal does not require anticorrosion You simply don’t want to go without it.” um can be continually recycled without Earth’s crust any loss of quality. 7.57%

Anything but superficial: perfectly anodised drawer sides. Passion for a unique look.

You see and feel it. Beneath every detail, the head of purchasing for rance of the aluminium drawer sides is Vionaro’s aluminium surface concealed slide systems throughout Eu- no less sophisticated in terms of the ma- lies a passion for detail. rope has sought out the best partners in nufacturing process. Vionaro’s perfectly aluminium production. No easy task as smooth and even look is accomplished No two silvers are alike. Hard to be- the quality specifications at GRASS are with the anodising process, in which the lieve, but there are minute nuances high and have posed major challenges metal surface is oxidised to enhance its which make a fine difference. In Lothar even for global players in the aluminium resistance. The fascinating thing about Schugmann’s office there are piles of sector. aluminium is that colour and metal mer- aluminium samples for Vionaro in diffe- ge into one during the anodising pro- rent shades of silver. Some have a brown It took a good nine months to achieve cess. The colour does not peel off, does shimmer, others a tinge of yellow. This the ideal section with a reproducible not scratch and has effective protection one looks darker, another appears ligh- roll-formed surface structure. As Lothar against corrosion. Another asset for kit- ter. But the surface specialist at GRASS Schugmann puts it, the extrusions for chen professionals: finger marks don’t doesn’t rest until the ideal shade of sil- Vionaro are really nothing more than stand a chance on this premium-quality ver has been found. With a great feel for “metal-enclosed air”. The outer appea- surface. inmotion. The CUSTOMER MAGAZINE. Page VI/ VII

TrendS IN Aluminium

As creative people the world over are well Apple aware: the enclosure of the latest Mac- MacBook Pro Book generation is made from a single piece of aluminium, which reduces the number of components and increases stability. The “unibody” weighs 2.45 kg and is significantly thinner than its predecessor models bearing the striking Apple logo. “13 millimetres. That’s all it takes for The compact car with cult status was the Audi A2 first vehicle to be built in series with an aluminium integral body and frame, the Audi Space Frame (ASF). On the latest perfect design.“ models, A8, R8 and TT, this lightweight construction made it possible to achieve a 40 per cent saving in body weight over conventional steel versions. Minimal art.

Everything is nothing and yet everything happens at the right time – Vionaro is like the work of an experienced Zen master.

Vionaro’s “minimal style” almost has a touch of the Far East. The ultra-slender Vionaro drawer sides seem to reflect the Artemide striving for “nothing” and yet they are Tolomeo even thinner than a tatami. Even today, the traditional rice straw mats are used to measure surface area. Living space is defined by their size. A standard Japane- se room is the size of six tatami mats, The Tolomeo collection which is roughly 10 square metres. But by Giancarlo Fassina and the tatami’s thickness of around 5.5 cm Michele De Lucchi has makes it four times thicker than a Viona- ranked among the design ro drawer side. highlights in the true sense of the term for over 25 years. Developed for the Italian Entirely in the spirit of the centuries-old lighting manufacturer Artemide, the cha- Zen teachings, the new drawer system racteristic lamp shade mounted on a fle- underlines the aspiration of GRASS to xible aluminium arm, which is in turn fixed create masterfully perfected brand qua- to a polished aluminium base, brings light lity. Crafted in this awareness, Vionaro to all living and working spaces. has what it takes to become a timeless modern classic.

Passion for a unique look. Page VIII inmotion. The CUSTOMER MAGAZINE.

Rolf Mintgen Head of the product division concealed slide systems

“Vionaro satisfies the highest design expectations the moment it opens.”

Function + Perfect form = Vionaro.

Beauty, love of detail, Clear forms, elegant, slender design drawer sides create a stylish wow effect sleeping, bathing and wellness areas. comes a statement. Individual design precision of movement, and premium-quality materials – these that requires no decorative add-ons. Through this fusion of activities which options make that possible. Rolf Min- perfect industrial manu- are the special attributes of modern were previously strictly separated, we tgen characterises the latest develop- facture – virtually no other lifestyle furniture. With Vionaro, these Panta rhei – everything flows... create a pleasant, flowing and har- ments: “This trend is set to continue movement system achieves creative aspirations have been success- monious ambience. – particularly in the private sphere, such a harmonious com- fully transferred from the living room to Global trends show us that our different individuality can be lived out, shielded bination of rational and every area within the living space for living areas are increasingly merging This new ambience also manifests it- from the outside world and individual emotional aspects like the the very first time. The pure elegance into one harmonious whole. Living, self in the choice of premium-quality wellbeing experienced.” He confesses new drawer system from of the Vionaro designer drawer sides working, cooking, eating and relaxing all materials and the love of design. “It’s to feeling most at home in his living- GRASS. With Vionaro, func- gives furniture in kitchen, bathroom, liv- take place within a single central space. me; I can and want to afford it” is the dining-cooking space. “Although the tional technology meets ing room and bedroom the same good Above and beyond this, a second, more motto of the Web 2.0 generation. For most important ideas come to me in my perfect form. looks. The fine aluminium and steel intimate space is created by connecting modern people, the living space be- private wellness area.”

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