The elephant in the room—the television. When not in use, an adversary of style. Back in the day, console models attempted to make the TV eye furniture, with a nominal degree of success. But today’s screens are gaping black holes on the walls of otherwise graceful living spaces.
A number of luxury tech brands have been trying to disguise the eyesore while still offering advanced tech features and beautiful display quality. LG’s roll-away screen concept is a nifty solution, for example, secreting away when not in use, and leaving only an unadorned rectangle in its absence.
Bang & Olufsen recently introduced its own take on a discreet TV, though: the BeoVision Harmony. And it’s as inventive and sculptural as any classic B&O design.
Unlike many designs from competitors, B&O’s TV doesn’t completely disappear. Instead, it transforms, as visitors at the recent Milan Design Week discovered. The architectural TV features rotating panel speakers that cover a portion of the flat screen. When in use, the panels rotate below the screen.
However, when disengaged, the panels (also available in gray) transform the TV into a sort of sculptural creation that’s much more pleasing to look at than a 77-inch black square. In effect, B&O’s innovative TV harmonizes, enhancing its surroundings.
Available in October starting at around $20,800, the new BeoVision Harmony features a 77-inch LG C9 OLED screen and a 7.1 surround sound that connects with up to eight Beolab speakers.