A new panel design for 4-way cassette air conditioners has arrived on the European market under the Hitachi Cooling & Heating brand, designed by Hitachi and manufactured by Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning. "Silent-Iconic" was honored with three major international awards: iF Design Award 2020, Good Design Award 2020, Red Dot: Best of the Best Product Design 2021.
© Hitachi
It took Hitachi designers more than thirteen months to create this product. It was inspired by a survey of architects conducted by Hitachi Ltd. and Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning. It showed that there is a great demand in the market for a cassette air conditioner that features quiet operation and modern design.
Architects prefer air conditioners with ducted vents because they blend in more easily with their surroundings. However, budget constraints also make designers use solutions based on cassette air conditioners, which are less expensive.
"Silent-Iconic" features a design that competes aesthetically with duct air conditioners, combining the economic advantages, ease of installation and efficiency of a cassette air conditioner. The air handlers (which do not blend in with the surroundings) were painted black to minimize their visibility. The central inlet, on the other hand, was shielded with fins to blend in with the surface of the designed ceiling.
© Hitachi
Winner of international awards
TheiF DESIGN AWARD 2020 in the Product category, awarded by the iF International Forum Design GmbH. This is the most recognized design competition held annually since 1953.Winners are awarded in seven categories: Product, Packaging, Communication, Interior Design, Service Design, Professional Concept and Architecture. The jury consists of 78 experts from 20 countries, who, after three intensive days of testing and evaluation, awarded the Hitachi Silent-Iconic iF Design Award 2020.
The2020 Good Design Award, which is the only comprehensive design evaluation and recommendation system in Japan, started in 1957. Projects are awarded with a G. The Good Design Award is a movement to encourage the community to create more innovations. Hitachi Silent-Iconic Good Design Award 2020.
Red Dot: Product Design 2021 Close to 50 jurors from various industries have been evaluating and selecting the best products every year since 1955. They are guided invariably by the motto: "In search of good design and innovation," looking for products that stand out for quality, ergonomics and durability, among other things.
The international jury awarded the Iconic-Silent panel created by Hitachi Cooling & Heating with the Red Dot: Best of the Best award. This is the highest possible award, tantamount to groundbreaking design, given only to exceptional, top products in a given category.
© Hitachi
The Red Dot: Best of the Best awardees have demonstrated exceptional design skills. Their products set trends in design and point the way for future developments. Only a small number of contestants achieve this perfect symbiosis of aesthetics and functionality. This deserves special recognition. I wholeheartedly congratulate all those who have achieved this distinction," said Professor Peter Zec, founder and chairman of Red Dot.
The Red Dot Best of Best award for Hitachi Silent-Iconic will be on display online and in Germany's Red Dot Museum from June 21, 2021, after the award ceremony, until March 2022.
For more information, visit the company's JOHNSON CONTROLS – HITACHI AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY page on the A&B portal.
