Book XXIII
Collection / Literature
Book XXIII consists of a museal collection of Braun devices produced between 1955 and 1995. As with other entries in Rhizomebook, this work is not to be understood merely as an archive of objects, but as an epistemological tool: a constellation of material nodes through which broader questions around design, ideology, aesthetics, and technological culture can be explored.
This collection reflects an era in which modernist ideals — especially the principle that "form follows function" — came to define not only objects, but also ways of thinking and organizing daily life. Through its inclusion in Rhizomebook, the collection becomes part of a larger, rhizomatic network: an evolving system in which each object operates as a site of convergence between material culture, historical context, and discursive potential.
Book XXIII is not static, nor is it nostalgic. It does not treat its content as finished or self-contained. Instead, the collection is activated through recontextualization: as a resource for research, reflection, and critique. Like other books within the system, it has no fixed form or hierarchy. Each material manifestation — whether through exhibition, photography, annotation, or digital interface — offers a different reading of the work.
The collection is not for sale. Select devices may, however, be made available for exhibition or research under specific conditions. This reflects a broader commitment within Rhizomebook to challenge conventional systems of ownership and circulation. The collection is understood not as private property, but as a shared resource — a commons — that can be opened, situated, and reactivated across contexts.
Ultimately, Book XXIII embodies the core logic of the rhizomatic system: fragmentary, non-linear, and generative. It is a material manifestation of thought — and a space where form, history, and use intersect.
no image available
Braun DS 1 (1972)Book XXIII - Braun electric can opener and knife sharpener by Dieter Rams and Jürgen Greubel
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
no image available
Braun PGC 1000 (1978)Book XXIII Collection object
----------
Object: Hairdryer
----------
Manufacturer: Braun Germany (DE)
----------
Model: PGC 1000
----------
Name: Super compact
----------
Colour: White
----------
Production code:…no image available
