At the beginning of humanity was the flame. The ability to capture its elementary power led to an unparalleled succession of innovations, from the preparation of food, via ceramics and metallurgy, to the emerging technologies of today. And yet, regardless of the extent to which fire is removed from our day-to-day lives and replaced by modern household appliances, it remains as fundamental to our way of life as ever.

Such thoughts formed the basis of the dialog between the German designer Johanna Seelemann and the Vienna inventor and oven builder Andrei Florin Varga that was initiated by the VIENNA DESIGN WEEK. Their joint project A+++ refers to the highest level on the EU’s scale of energy efficiency for household appliances. It questions our contemporary view of fire as inefficient and destructive. Seelemann and Varga counter this by rediscovering a versatile domestic technology. Their work translates essential yet often lost knowledge about dealing with fire into today’s context – and in doing so they feed a flame that promises much for the future.

With the kind support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Vienna.