Danish audio company Bang & Olufsen has revealed its latest creation, the Beosound A5, a robust portable speaker designed in partnership with Danish-Italian design studio GamFratesi. Known for their deep connections to the design world, the renowned audio brand invited Stine Gam and Enrico Fratesi, founders of GamFratesi, to collaborate on this special-edition Bluetooth speaker.
Fratesi considers the audio brand as a cornerstone of modern Danish design, praising its innovation, simplicity, and consistently high-quality products. Bang & Olufsen has a history of design collaborations, having worked with Cecilie Manz, Michael Anastassiades, and Layer in the past. Continuing this legacy, GamFratesi’s Beosound A5 offers two distinctive color combinations: Nordic Weave and Dark Oak. The Nordic Weave variant merges aluminum with a woven paper fiber front panel and a light oak handle, whereas the Dark Oak edition incorporates black anthracite aluminum for the top and bottom, along with dark oak for both the speaker cover and handle, while the Dark Oak version features black anthracite aluminum for the top and bottom, and dark oak for the speaker cover and handle. Fratesi explains that they always aim to respect the history and DNA of their collaborators and find ways to modernize a brand with a rich heritage.
Key reference pieces for the Beosound A5 included the 1961 Beolit 607 portable radio, and the late 1960s to early 1970s Beolit 800 and Beolit 1000, designed by Jacob Jensen. The Beosound A5 boasts a sleek, pill-shaped silhouette with a flat silicone top that accommodates a wireless charging pad. Additionally, a gracefully curved wooden handle, crafted using steam-bending techniques, attaches to aluminum hinges on both ends.
The two primary finishes lend the Beosound A5 distinct personalities. The Nordic Weave is described as light, summery, and feminine, while the Dark Oak model uses a 3mm veneer for a solid, wood-like appearance. The designers explored a range of weaving patterns and color palettes in order to attain the perfect balance of aesthetics, durability, and acoustic performance in the final product.
Bang & Olufsen’s dedication to longevity and futureproofing is evident in the Beosound A5. Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, Bang & Olufsen’s Senior Global Product Manager for Classics and Product Circularity, emphasizes the significance of not only quality but also emotional durability in their products. The brand’s Cradle to Cradle initiative ensures a minimum ten-year lifecycle for the Beosound A5, with upgrade options when technology evolves. The accessible rechargeable battery and removable front panels allow for easy repairs, maintenance, and customization with new materials.
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