The new M collection by Modelec

‘See. Touch. Feel…’ While smart houses with touchscreens and fully integrated home management systems are now being rapidly developed, French high-end switch manufacturer, Modelec, is offering another solution for turning the light on and off – one that speaks directly to the senses. In car design, for instance, the sound made by the car door closing is a whole science on its own which indicates just how big a role our senses play in our experience of everyday life.

In a way to describe their approach, Modelec proposes embracing the visual and tactile, and its new collection of switches, called M, fully lives up to this declaration. With a design that is easily recognisable and that references the elegance of the 1960s, M highlights values such as the simple appreciation of a refined and aesthetically pleasing light switch and the practical pleasure of manually switching it on and off.

Modelec is a company that's very much cognisant of its values and how it can practice and sustain them in its daily work. Based near Paris, Modelec has been producing exclusive electrical switches since 1976, and all the expertise and craftsmanship that it has gathered during this time has stayed in the French company. Throughout the years, it has developed specific know-how in working with fine materials, which it visibly celebrates in the new M collection.

Brass, steel and aluminium are not only the base elements in the collection, they also work as the basis of the whole concept around M; everything derives from these three noble materials. The ten different finishes all exude sophistication and demonstrate just how a material can serve as the protagonist of the design. ‘We have collaborated with the Parisian interior architect, Valerie Mazerat, on this collection,’ says Modelec’s Head of Sales, Alaric Miaume, ‘As we wanted to introduce a collection which could be both visually intriguing and technically advantageous for architects and installers, it made sense to develop it with one who knows all the needs and demands from her own practice, having designed and decorated shops, restaurants and luxury residential projects.’

And the advantages are not difficult to detect. With the three materials, ten finishes, various button materials and a whole range of different formats, the M collection provides more than 30,000 combination possibilities. ‘All of our artisanal, made-in-France know-how is processed, realised and assembled in our factory. We offer a large choice of functions, designs and materials, and deliver the product to our clients within two weeks!’ explains Miaume.

On the service side of things, Modelec also provides a very practical aid: namely an online configurator called MyModelec which rapidly provides combination previews and quotes. This digital tool helps Modelec's clients – primarily installers and architects – to create their layouts, generate technical information and download pictures of the selected products. It also enables them to know the total cost right away, before being directed to a premium partner to finalise the order.

With its new M collection then, Modelec is tapping into a contemporary spirit that reflects the current demands of the market – not only visually but technically, too.

© Architonic