AXOR Product Catalogue
DESIGN DICTIONARY
representatives of the Bauhaus school sought to tear down the barrier between architecture and interior design. Today, their vision of architecture, interior design, art and product design as one integral task has become very popular once again. LIFESTYLE The term lifestyle means individual way of life. In common speech, lifestyle means the cultural form of life of a group of people. Cultural identities that do not refer to an individual are derived from this term and used in common language. In this context, it is common to speak of an American, a Western, or Eastern lifestyle. It not only represents certain values, but also conveys preferences in fashion, music and other areas. Attitudes towards health, professions, free-time, family and the nature of social relationships are also a part of a lifestyle. Lifestyle orientation includes the conscious presentation of one’s personality (through cultural and fashion elements) and one’s preferred style of accommodation. The ideal of any lifestyle, no matter what its specific orientation, is the creation and communication of individuality. The challenge, it seems, is to find a convincing (authentic) balance between individuality and the prevailing “Zeitgeist” ⁄ convention.
MINIMALISM ⁄ MINIMALIST Strictly speaking, minimalism isn’t a style, but a principle in design which can be used in many different styles. The aesthetic aim in minimalism is a functional and visual result characterized by elegance and a concentrated, controlled use of materials. This is achieved by using only as much material as necessary and by focusing on the core of a project. The motto “less is more” is based on an aesthetic rule used in some Asian cultures, where a strong impression is created through the minimal use of objects, ensuring that superfluous elements do not distract from the central idea. The adjective minimalist is often used as a synonym for clear, simple and reduced. A typical feature of minimalism in architecture and design is the avoidance of using too many features. Minimalist designs typically feature primitive colors (e.g. red, yellow, green, blue) or geometrically primitive forms (e.g. circle, square, triangle). Small dimensions appear in the context of large surfaces and smooth surfaces are often dominant. In most cases, this arrangement is connected with a cool, rational design and a highly functional character. In design, the term minimalism is associated with a fundamental, purist trend that consciously broke away from Studio Alchimia and Memphis in the 1980s. The ideal of minimalism is simplicity. Simplicity means that only a few factors contribute to the creation of a form and that relatively few influences are visible. The most exacting requirements in minimalist design are generated when there is a need to integrate complex components into a simple form in a harmonious, virtually invisible way. Minimalist product design therefore often encloses a complex interior or a complex processing of materials. The aim is to transform complexity (with regard to technical equipment or difficult structures) into a highly sophisticated and organizational form. Japanese designer Shiro Kuramata and French architect and designer Philippe Starck are among the most popular representatives of minimalism (compare: AXOR Starck).
LUXURY ⁄ LUXURIOUS Luxury (from Latin “luxus” = richness, excess,
opulence) means expenditures and activities which exceed the bounds of what is considered standard or essential in a society. In its positive meaning, luxury is regarded as a desirable situation, in which life is more comfortable for individuals and free from worry. Also, “en vogue” in our society is a luxury which is limited in time and which marks special occasions in life. A clearly negative meaning of luxury, however, is a lifestyle that is superfluous, irresponsible and wasteful. Yet luxury and norms are not to be understood separately from each other. Luxury can be defined as a deviation from a state culturally defined as normal. Against a background of relative wealth on one side and a decrease in quality of life on the other, luxury is less defined by material wealth and instead by immaterial values: personal time, health care, outdoor experiences, family life, space, self-determination, etc. In current discourse, products and services are considered as luxurious when they show unique selling points, are limited (e.g. Haute Couture), or if they enjoy a collector’s item status (such as rare wines).
MODERN ⁄ MODERNITY In common usage, the term modern means contemporary, up to date, progressive or in
accordance with the latest fashion. However, using the term modern as a synonym for fashionable is reductive. Modern refers to the latest developments in society, science and technology. In design, modern is mostly used in a contemporary context. It is less common to use the term with reference to Classical Modernity (early 20th century).
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