Gaggenau has launched its Vario cooling Expressive series in Canada, showcasing the brand’s latest cooling appliances. The event took place at Montreal’s Biodome, a natural science museum known for its precise temperature and humidity control. This year marks Montreal’s 20th anniversary as a UNESCO City of Design, a title well-earned by its rich architectural heritage. From Moshe Safdie’s iconic Habitat 67 to the majestic Saint Joseph’s Oratory, the city boasts a myriad of design marvels. Chief among these is the Biodome itself, originally Roger Tallibert’s 1976 Olympic Velodrome, renowned for its sweeping concrete curves. Transformed into a natural science museum, it was most recently reimagined by local firm KANVA in 2021, blending history with innovation.
A Fitting Venue for a Temperature-Focused Launch
The Biodome, a UNESCO City of Design landmark, provided an ideal setting for the launch. Its five natural habitats, spanning from the Antarctic Islands to the Tropical Rainforests, require precise temperature and humidity levels, mirroring the capabilities of Gaggenau’s new cooling technology. This highly controlled environment ensures each habitat maintains conditions akin to its native region, making it a perfect backdrop for demonstrating the power of temperature control.
The event, a collaboration with Menu Extra, brought together architects, designers, and culinary experts to experience the new appliances. Menu Extra, known for its elaborate dinner series that activates iconic design destinations across Montreal and beyond, curated an evening that highlighted both design and functionality. The Vario cooling Expressive series offers flexible refrigeration solutions, designed to integrate seamlessly into modern homes, whether installed individually or side by side.
Design Meets Functionality
The series features handleless doors and flush surfaces, with a focus on user experience. Adriane Wassmandorf Mattos, user experience designer, emphasized the goal of creating an “immediate and unobtrusive” experience. The appliances are designed to feel more like fine furniture than traditional appliances, with refined details that blend effortlessly into thoughtfully designed homes. The intuitive interfaces and responsive lighting further enhance the user experience, ensuring the appliances support daily use without drawing unnecessary attention.
The appliances’ interior design includes a dark brushed stainless steel and anthracite aluminum palette, complemented by warm white LED lighting. This combination not only provides a modern aesthetic but also ensures clear visibility and a glare-free environment. The use of glass and metal materials adds to the sleek, contemporary appeal, while the integration of Gaggenau Home Connect technology allows for remote access, blending cutting-edge functionality with elegant design.
Transforming Wine Storage and Serving
The highlight of the launch was Gaggenau’s wine climate cabinet with automatic tempering, a first-of-its-kind innovation that promises to transform wine storage and serving in residential settings. Available in 18” and 24” versions, the cabinet regulates temperature, humidity, light, and storage conditions with precision. It uses infrared sensors to bring each bottle to its ideal serving temperature, notifying users via the Gaggenau Home Connect app and subtle lighting cues. This system draws on Gaggenau’s expertise in professional kitchens, making professional-grade wine storage accessible at home.
Sven Baacke, Head of Design at Gaggenau, noted, “We developed a system that honours the ritual of wine — from storage to serving — with the same care as a winemaker would.” This attention to detail was evident throughout the event, where the wine pairings showcased the cabinet’s capabilities.
As the evening progressed, the wine pairings, curated by sommelier Alexandre Perron and Menu Extra co-founder Alexis Demers, demonstrated the impact of temperature on aroma, texture, and perception. The service of wine became an integral part of the evening’s choreography, blending hospitality with spectacle and showing Gaggenau’s commitment to the art of temperature in both culinary and design contexts.
