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Few design pieces hold the same quiet authority as the Braun Wandanlage. A relic of modernist precision, it sits somewhere between brutalism and warm minimalism—cold, calculated, but oddly inviting. If you've watched Severance on Apple TV+, you've likely already seen it. The modular audio system blends seamlessly into the eerie, meticulously curated world of Lumon Industries. And like everything else in that show, its presence is no accident.
The German designer Dieter Rams is the subject of Gary Hustwit’s new documentary. Image via NYT.com
Cinematography and the Power of Design
Beyond its function, the Wandanlage (including the TS 45 radio and amplifier and TG 60 "Tonbandgerät" as well as the L450 speakers and PCS 5 vinyl player) is also a visual masterpiece. Severance director Ben Stiller and cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné make sure it’s framed with the same reverence as the Eames chairs and the stark, labyrinthine hallways. The show’s slow, wide shots turn the Braun Wandanlage into something almost ominous—less of a piece of furniture and more of an artifact.
This isn’t the first time it’s been showcased in an artistic context. It was also part of the “Sound & Vision” exhibition by The Art of Noise, a retrospective on the intersection of sound and design. Seeing it in a gallery space alongside avant-garde audio equipment only further proves its status as an icon.
Great portrait of Dieter Rams at his Vitso desk by the Frankfurt-based photographer Dieter Schwer, 2002
Shot at the Art of Noise exhibition in San Francisco 2024
A Rare Find
Finding an original Braun Wandanlage today isn’t easy. Many have disappeared, and the ones that do surface tend to be in private collections. But if you're looking for one, get in touch via email (see Contact page).
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