Hansgrohe at 125: Shanghai Innovation Center Gets a Refresh

TL;DR: Hansgrohe just turned 125 years old — and 30 of those years have been in China. To mark both milestones, the German shower and faucet brand just gave its Shanghai Innovation Center a major facelift. New exhibition zones, a deeper commitment to local R&D, and a first look at the AXOR Archivio collection (designed by Barber Osgerby). Here’s what happened, and why it matters for anyone paying attention to where the bathroom industry is headed.

Two Milestones, One Renovation

Hansgrohe was founded in 1901 by Hans Grohe in the Black Forest town of Schiltach. Fast-forward 125 years, and it’s one of the biggest names in kitchen and bath fixtures globally, with China as its second-largest market after Germany.

On June 26, the company reopened its renovated Shanghai Innovation Center — a space that first launched in 2023. The upgrade was timed to celebrate both the 125th anniversary and the 30 years the brand has been operating in China. The theme: “A New Journey of Water.”

Hansgrohe Shanghai Innovation Center – renovated for the brand’s 125th anniversary.

What’s Inside

The renovated center has four themed exhibition zones:

PVD Surface Showcase

A display dedicated to PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) surface finishes. It’s a vacuum-coating process that creates incredibly durable, scratch-resistant finishes that hold up against cleaning agents and even salty sea air. The color comes from an additional metal layer applied in a vacuum chamber. It’s the kind of tech that keeps a brushed gold or matte black faucet actually looking like a brushed gold or matte black faucet.

PVD Surface Finishes – immersive experience zone at the Innovation Center.

Brand History Walk

A timeline wall tracing the company’s evolution from a small metalworking shop in 1901 to a global player. On display: some genuine artifacts, including the world’s first ceramic-handle showerhead (1928) and the first handheld shower with a swiveling head (1974). It’s a reminder that this company has been tinkering with how water hits your body for a very long time.

AXOR Kitchen

Showcasing the AXOR Kitchen lineup, specifically the Crystal Kitchen series. The sinks are made from SilicaDur® — a quartz composite material that’s scratch-resistant, easy to clean, and comes in multiple colors. The sinks are paired with AXOR faucets, creating a coordinated kitchen package.

AXOR Luxury Experience Space

Up on the third floor is the AXOR luxury experience space. The centerpiece is the “Waterway” installation — a collaboration with Chinese designer Zhang Haihua that was first shown at Milan Design Week 2026. It’s designed to evoke the feel of flowing water, with a distinctly Eastern aesthetic.

Also on display: the new AXOR Archivio collection, designed by the London-based studio Barber Osgerby. It blends classical forms with clean, modern lines — think soft curves, refined detailing, and a look that works across basin faucets, shower systems, and bath fixtures. The collection was launched at Salone del Mobile in Milan earlier this year.

AXOR Archivio collection – designed by Barber Osgerby.

Why It Matters

A few things worth paying attention to:

Local R&D is real. The Shanghai Innovation Center isn’t just a showroom — it’s a working R&D hub. The local team collaborates directly with German headquarters to develop products specifically for Chinese consumers. That’s a serious commitment, not just a marketing line.

China is “the second home market.” That’s the company’s own phrasing. Hansgrohe has been here since 1996, and it now has a manufacturing base in Shanghai that’s the group’s largest international subsidiary. The company has also been expanding into smart toilets and other categories through its China Product Center.

Design is the differentiator. AXOR Archivio with Barber Osgerby, the Waterway installation with a Chinese designer, the PVD finishes — Hansgrohe is positioning itself as a design-led brand, not just a plumbing company.