Busch-art linear®/ALBA

One of the key challenges of design today seems to be to create innovative products that are tailored to the needs and personalities of consumers and are sustainable at the same time. The Busch-art linear/ALBA switch range by Busch-Jaeger and Niessen, market leader in the field of electrical installation technology and building automation, fulfils this brief exceptionally well. A prominent feature of these switches is the position of the inserts, which float above the frame and are not, as usual, enclosed by them. This gives the product range a unique sense of lightness, heightened by the sharp, slim contours that radiate clarity and elegance across a wide selection of materials and models. The breadth of the Busch-art linear/ALBA switch range is hard to beat, in particular with regard to the frames. Whether it is glass, structured glass, wood, aluminium or plastic, with fine surrounds in chrome, gold or rose gold, and glossy, matt or mirrored surfaces, the rich variety on offer will satisfy personal preferences and suit the widest possible range of interiors. The soft feel of the switches also makes for a pleasurable sensory experience. In this way, the Busch-art linear/ALBA range is not only testimony to in-depth deliberations about form, material and colour but also about the environment, responsibility and the future. The collection is made with recycled and recyclable materials and follows a cradle-to-cradle philosophy for the healthy and regenerative productivity of companies. All plastic parts are produced from at least 92 per cent (white plastic) and up to 98 per cent (black plastic) recycled materials. That translates into a total reduction in CO₂ emissions of 82 per cent and requires a considerable amount of development work as it is difficult to produce such perfect, flat surfaces from recyclate. It is clear that sustainability is not a secondary consideration for Busch-Jaeger and Niessen but a value that is at the very heart of its design and product development work. The jury recognised this. “The Busch-art linear/ALBA switch range is both an object lesson in carefully considered design – from the construction through to the execution of details and surfaces, as well as the impressive haptics – and also a benchmark for sustainable design.”