Minimalist switches and sockets rond – almost invisible, yet enchanting

In art, architecture, and design, sometimes what captures our attention is something that actually does not attract it at all. Or at least it does not consciously try to do so. And this is precisely the case with the almost invisible rond switches and sockets in interiors, which seem to want to perfectly merge with their underlying material and seemingly not be visible. However, it is this detail, this difference compared to classic switches that, on the contrary, compete in the ingenuity of frames and materials, that ultimately draws your eyes. The rond switches, power and data sockets are so discreet, and their integration into the interior so visually clean and artisanally perfect, that they rightfully received the Red Dot Design Award 2023.

rond 1.0 – a revolution in the world of switches and sockets

The story of the rond brand began in Belgium in 2017 when Bart De Backer decided to bring his dream to life and forever change the world of sockets and switches for the better. It was then that the rond 1.0 concept saw the light of day and brought a breakthrough to the world of switches and sockets by declaring the frame unnecessary. The design and functionality of the switch were minimized down to the core, leaving only a recessed, perfectly aligned button with the underlying material, maximally with a discreet strip around it – and even that is not necessary. The patented construction of the rond 1.0 installation box for recessed mounting ensures up to three times faster installation into the wall. The result is a uniform line throughout the interior without any disruptive influences.

A strong alliance – rond and prado

For its further development, the rond brand team looked for an experienced partner who would take the technological solution of recessed electrical installation elements to an even higher level. And it found an excellent ally in prado, a company with extensive experience and know-how in this area – prado has been supplying clean solutions for embedding home technologies into ceiling constructions for years, while rond is effectively doing the same with walls. "For most people, lighting is the only thing they want visibly hanging from the ceiling – not ventilation, cameras, or motion detectors," summarizes the mission of the prado brand Thibault Renson, the company's CEO. Unique solutions also exist that combine, for example, light with a motion detector or light with a fan into one mounting unit. In practice, this means that architects and interior designers can display only what they want to showcase while cleverly hiding what they need to conceal within the ceiling construction. This vision of prado working on simple and clean solutions to make our home interiors more automated and aesthetic perfectly complements the philosophy of the rond brand. And since the prado and rond brands are now personally connected, they also share a common view on design, have the same materials and finishes in their portfolio, and their overall combination in the interior works excellently together.

rond 2.0 – identical design, new possibilities

The impulse for further improvement of how rond switches and sockets work and expanding their utilization options came from architects and installation companies. The rond 1.0 switches were designed for recessed mounting in walls – but not for anything else. And exactly at the instigation of architects, a new generation of rond 2.0 devices saw the light of day in less than a year. Under the motto “identical design, new possibilities,” the rond brand launched a removable all-in-one module – a universal platform for a collection of sockets, data ports, and buttons that can be installed anywhere. Architects and interior designers no longer have to limit themselves to walls, and rond 2.0 devices can be confidently designed for installation in natural stone kitchen countertops, solid or veneered wooden furniture, or walls with decorative plaster. The goal always remains the striving for minimalism and greater visual calm in the interior.

Retrofit – installation video

"I personally like solutions designed for embedding in furniture the most," explains Katrin Grund, founder and owner of the design shop MONOBRAND, who discovered the rond brand for the Czech market and also sells it on her e-shop dumvypinacu.cz. "The visible external diameter of the socket measures just slightly over 5 cm, which makes it, at least in my eyes, the most elegant socket in the world. Precisely for this reason, rond switches and sockets find application primarily in more luxurious residential and hotel projects," concludes Katrin Grund enthusiastically.

www.monobrand.cz
www.dumvypinacu.cz