In earlier times a fan was an icon of luxury and comfort. Even in ancient egypt the pharaohs were fanned with a palm leaf. In the 19th century the swinging fan, manufactured from fabrics, became popular in India. It was mounted to the ceiling and set to swing with a rope by a servant, the so called "punkah-wallah". The cheaper rotating fan finally substituted the mechanically more complicated swinging "punkah" fan in the early 20th century.
Germany based designer Oliver Kessler is successfully interpreting the traditional swinging punkah fan in a modern way with his "The Solitaire Punkah" product line. His fans can today be found in top hotels, eco lodges or exclusive restaurants and most recently even in the rooms of a member of the royal family in the Emirates.
Founder and designer Oliver Kessler explains the reasons for the success of The Solitaire Punkah: "A lot of people dislike rotating fans. The permanent draft is rather leading to increasing discomfort than to a chilling effect. The slow natural pendulum of our silently operating swinging fan has a relaxing effect on all senses."
After many years of development and a range of prototypes the designer found a competent partner in 2006. Rohde&Schwarz in Teisnach/Germany holds responsibility for the uncompromising quality of The Solitaire Punkah since then. In 2012 the latest version, the Mk3, is released, again proudly wearing a "Made in Germany" badge.
"We are the only company in the world to offer such a product at this quality level", claims Oliver Kessler. "From the beginning on we did not compromise on cost, but we wanted to achieve the highest precision and incorporate only the best components." It was this philosophy that led to a driver case being CNC milled from a solid block of aluminum or getting all aluminum parts not only anodized but also additionally powder-coated.
Particularly for the demanding clientele in the gulf region Oliver Kessler designed two fan blades made from feathers: One with 24 large South African ostrich feathers and Swarovski crystals, the other one with more than 240 peacock feathers and a maximum wingspan of over 2 meters. "Even with those huge fan blades our system requires not more than 20W power consumption", explains Tobias Vogler, responsible for the electronical development of The Solitaire Punkah at Rohde&Schwarz Teisnach. "we can therefore run the fan on the power output of a solar cell."
Another unique feature of The Solitaire Punkah is the possibility to synchronize an unlimited number of The Solitaire Punkah fans wirelessly. This not being a necessity for rotating fans, it does become an interesting option for swinging fans, which allows to move all fan blades simultaneously or in waving patterns.
This year's Hotel Show in Dubai, which became the main yearly venue of Oliver Kessler Design, the alumn of the reknown ArtCenter (Europe) will premier a version crusted with more than 21.000 Swarovski crystals called 'The Ostrich Arabian Crystal'. An even more exclusive unique model for the luxury affine clients at the Arabian gulf.
And there is also a more affordable version in the pipeline: "We are currently working on a little brother of The Solitaire Punkah as a second model line, which will be significantly more affordable", Oliver Kessler smiles, "so no-one has to sit in the draft of a rotating fan evermore."
Germany based designer Oliver Kessler is successfully interpreting the traditional swinging punkah fan in a modern way with his "The Solitaire Punkah" product line. His fans can today be found in top hotels, eco lodges or exclusive restaurants and most recently even in the rooms of a member of the royal family in the Emirates.
Founder and designer Oliver Kessler explains the reasons for the success of The Solitaire Punkah: "A lot of people dislike rotating fans. The permanent draft is rather leading to increasing discomfort than to a chilling effect. The slow natural pendulum of our silently operating swinging fan has a relaxing effect on all senses."
After many years of development and a range of prototypes the designer found a competent partner in 2006. Rohde&Schwarz in Teisnach/Germany holds responsibility for the uncompromising quality of The Solitaire Punkah since then. In 2012 the latest version, the Mk3, is released, again proudly wearing a "Made in Germany" badge.
"We are the only company in the world to offer such a product at this quality level", claims Oliver Kessler. "From the beginning on we did not compromise on cost, but we wanted to achieve the highest precision and incorporate only the best components." It was this philosophy that led to a driver case being CNC milled from a solid block of aluminum or getting all aluminum parts not only anodized but also additionally powder-coated.
Particularly for the demanding clientele in the gulf region Oliver Kessler designed two fan blades made from feathers: One with 24 large South African ostrich feathers and Swarovski crystals, the other one with more than 240 peacock feathers and a maximum wingspan of over 2 meters. "Even with those huge fan blades our system requires not more than 20W power consumption", explains Tobias Vogler, responsible for the electronical development of The Solitaire Punkah at Rohde&Schwarz Teisnach. "we can therefore run the fan on the power output of a solar cell."
Another unique feature of The Solitaire Punkah is the possibility to synchronize an unlimited number of The Solitaire Punkah fans wirelessly. This not being a necessity for rotating fans, it does become an interesting option for swinging fans, which allows to move all fan blades simultaneously or in waving patterns.
This year's Hotel Show in Dubai, which became the main yearly venue of Oliver Kessler Design, the alumn of the reknown ArtCenter (Europe) will premier a version crusted with more than 21.000 Swarovski crystals called 'The Ostrich Arabian Crystal'. An even more exclusive unique model for the luxury affine clients at the Arabian gulf.
And there is also a more affordable version in the pipeline: "We are currently working on a little brother of The Solitaire Punkah as a second model line, which will be significantly more affordable", Oliver Kessler smiles, "so no-one has to sit in the draft of a rotating fan evermore."
