Home | Introduction | Biography | Background & Realizations | Talent is a heritage | The Most Iconic Projects | Partnerships | Top Projects Gallery
What synonyms do you associate with Germany? Probably, beer, cars… What about design? These days design is everywhere in our life. Germany is also not an exception. The famous interior designers approach their work with a rigorous and refined approach to quality. One of the best examples is STUDIO AISSLINGER.
Born in 1964, Werner Aisslinger lives and works in Berlin. The main office of the studio is also situated in the capital of Germany. He studied design at the Berlin University of the Arts. While studying there, he worked for Ron Arad and Jasper Morrison in London and Michele de Lucchi in Milan. In 1993 he opened “Studio Aisslinger” in Berlin which had a focus on product design, concept design and brand architecture. Werner Aisslinger was a guest lecturer at the Berlin University of the Arts in 1994 and at the Lathi Design Institute in Finland in 1997. From 1998 to 2005 he was Professor of Product Design at the Karlsruhe College of Arts and Design. Since 2006 he has been a permanent member of the committee of the Raymond Loewy Foundation and the jury for the Lucky Strike Design Awards.
See also – BEST INTERIOR DESIGNERS | JACQUES GRANGE
Background & Realizations
As a designer, Werner Aisslinger is particularly interested in the use of the latest technologies and unusual materials which he uses in his product designs. His gel furniture range was the first of its kind. Aisslinger’s “Juli chair”, the first ever piece of furniture to be made of polyurethane integral foam, was the first German chair to be selected for the permanent collection at the MoMA in New York since 1964. He has received many design prizes for his developments, including the Compasso d’Oro and the Red Dot Award, the German Design Award and the FX Award in Great Britain.
His furniture is on show in many museums including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Fonds national d’art contemporain in Paris, die Neue Sammlung in Munich and the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany. Werner Aisslinger has been developing furniture with world-known Italian brands, including Cappellini, Zanotta, Magis and Porro or office furniture with Vitra in Switzerland. At the same time the designer works on product designs and architectural projects with brands like Interlübke, Mercedes-Benz, adidas, IC-Berlin, Marc´o Polo, Bombay Saphire, FSB, Thonet, Flötotto, Berker, Hugo Boss, Younicos i.e.
The works of the designer Werner Aisslinger cover the spectrum of experimental, artistic approaches, including industrial design and architecture. He is fond of making use of the latest technologies. Besides, is work is exhibited in the permanent collections of international museums such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the French Fonds National d´Art Contemporain in Paris, the Museum Neue Sammlung in Munich, and the Vitra Design Museum in Weil, Germany.
What is more, there are some interesting facts about the principle designer himself. Werner Aisslinger has received various awards, including: Design Plus Award, Germany Compasso d’Oro Selection, Italy Bundespreis Produktdesign, Germany Blueprint 100% Design Award, London Red Dot Award, Germany Selection Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris during his career.
Talking about partnerships with the other well-known brands, it is crucial to remember our readers about with BASF acrodur on the production of the hemp chair – the first monochair. This type of chair was designed with a new technology in which natural fibers like hemp that are moulded under heat with a special ecological glue resulting in a sustainable composite material. Aisslinger’s design which features soft curves, along with a horizontal and vertical ring structure, is a new approach to this complex seating typology.
The Most Iconic Projects
One of his best creations are LoftCube, Bikini island in Milan. Imagine the endless possibilities of thrilling spaces and exceptional panoramas and a treasure of unique moments. Do you think you may find such an extraordinary living space on the Earth? Welcome to LoftCube! This is an ideal place where your spirit can fly and you can work, relax and share life with your friends. One of the benefits of LoftCube is the fact that it is attractive and convenient for temporary or everyday lifestyle, including futuristic architecture, space enough for air and light, individual design options, high-quality materials, lightweight and easy to install. The LoftCube combines spectacular views, light-flooded spaces, cosy warmth and innovative technology. A wide range of innovative ideas have gone into the development of the LoftCube. The result is a set-up time of only three days including the interior. There is no doubt that the inviting new living space can be used for working, living, and relaxing. This project combines both comfort and is still close to nature.
See also – BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER | KELLY WEARSTLER
The other project of Werner Aisslinger is called Bikini Island for Moroso which is meant to be a modular island sofa concept. This is a monodirection-sofas orientated to the common tv screen is fading out as a traditional typology. The easy to arrange bikini-sofa landscape invites to find ones own composition due to space and activities.
The project offers various soft volumes with three different heights; from a low daybed to circular elements or freestanding units. In other words, Bikini is a landscape which is a child of its times and the society it represents. Whether used in waiting areas or homes, the seating system is absolutely flexible because there is no need for the layout of the space and the arrangement of the seating components to correspond. The components include stools, tables, coat racks, containers, shelves, screens, work surfaces, seats. Every element is made with the aim to create interaction and communication. Additionally small storage items, coffee tables to be integrated and metal tube frames with flower-potholders, small bookshelving units or curtains give various options to arrange special areas and zones around the sofa island. A mix of functions and meanings means that the idea of sofa as the piece of furniture used to watch TV or as simple resting place is revolutionized, turning it into it the very (open) heart of interaction.
Top iconic project of STUDIO AISSLINGER may be considered to be 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin. Built in the 1950s by the architects Paul Schwebes and Hans Schoszberger, the so-called Bikini House was the architectural expression of a new attitude to life hallmarked by dynamism, freedom, optimism and consumerism. Werner Aisslinger and the 25hours team have developed a multifaceted design concept with the working title “Urban Jungle” for the group’s first hotel in Berlin.
Werner Aisslinger’s team for the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin project is made up of architect Janis Nachtigall, product designer Tina Bunyaprasit and interior designer Dirk Borchering. These three creative minds are developing spaces and products with character and an identity. They are highly motivated and familiar with every last detail of the hotel project. Janis Nachtigall is responsible for supervising the construction work during the implementation phase and joined Aisslinger’s team eighteen months ago.
The team headed up by designer Werner Aisslinger has developed a holistic design concept straddling nature and culture with the working title “Urban Jungle”. Half of the 149 rooms look out over Berlin Zoo’s ape house and elephant enclosure.
They have a warmer design scheme featuring natural materials and colours. The other half have a stunning view of West Berlin’s landmarks. These rooms have a somewhat rougher, more urban feel inspired by Berlin’s edgier, creative side. Guests staying in Jungle and Urban L rooms have personal use of a Schindelhauer bike to explore the city at their leisure – a real highlight. Rooms in all six categories boast the standard 25hours features customers love: ultra comfortable beds, air-conditioning, a TV, a minibar, sustainable toiletries and free Wi-Fi.
Partnerships
What is more, there was also a collaboration between B.lux and Werner Aisslinger, where a new collection of decorative lamps was designed. Aspen, owes its name to the Colorado (USA) ski resort, which enjoyed its heyday in that decade.
One of the most often-used quotations by Werner Aisslinger is “Feel at home – even when you are a long way from home” where the designer states that home spirit and atmosphere should always be with you, no matter where you travel.
