A closer look at AXOR Citterio C basin taps

A slimmer shape with softer edges

Designed by Antonio Citterio, Citterio C combines flat surfaces with a softly shaped body that widens gently towards the top. A narrow chamfer runs around the outlet and lever. The chamfer is a very small, softened edge.

We’d consider this shape for furniture and basins that combine clean lines with rounded corners. The tap can repeat both shapes without looking completely square or fully cylindrical.

The handle changes the character

AXOR offers plain and cubic-cut handles. On single-lever versions, the cubic pattern covers part of the lever; on the two-handle examples it covers the full handle surface. It gives the handle a more tactile appearance, although a photograph can only tell you how the detail looks.

The plain option tends to sit more quietly beside decorative stone or pronounced timber grain. We’d use cubic-cut where the surrounding surfaces are calmer and a little more close-range detail would be welcome.

Three finishes, three different effects

The finish changes how clearly you see the curves, flat faces and narrow bevels.

Chrome catches reflections across the curved and flat surfaces, so the changes in shape are more visible.

Brushed Bronze gives the fitting a warmer appearance. We’d consider it with timber or pale stone where that warmth can be repeated elsewhere. Brushed Bronze is the name of the surface finish, not a claim that the tap is made from solid bronze.

Matt Black draws a clearer outline against a light basin. That can work well when you want the tap’s silhouette to be more obvious.

AXOR says its Chrome finish is electroplated. Metallic FinishPlus surfaces use an additional PVD coating, and brushed metallic versions are textured before coating.

What happens when you turn on the water

AXOR lists the same three functions on the cubic-cut 125 single-lever examples in Chrome, Brushed Bronze and Matt Black. AirPower adds air for what AXOR describes as a softer jet, making the difference relevant during ordinary handwashing.

EcoSmart limits these examples to a maximum of 5 litres per minute at 3 bar. The actual flow still depends on the available water supply.

CoolStart supplies cold water in the default lever position. Move the lever deliberately to the left for hot, so a quick handwash needn’t call for hot water unintentionally. It isn’t thermostatic, and these functions shouldn’t be assumed to apply to the three-hole or wall-mounted versions.

Choosing your version

Basin proportions

The 90, 125 and 250 figures on these exact single-lever examples refer to outlet height, not the tap’s overall height: 90 mm, 125 mm and 250 mm. We’d match the outlet height to the shape and height of the bowl, making sure there is comfortable space for your hands without setting the water unnecessarily high above the basin.

One lever or separate controls

You can choose a single lever on the tap body, separate hot and cold deck-mounted controls, or a wall-mounted arrangement. The three-hole version isn’t labelled CoolStart. On the wall-mounted mixer, whether the lever sits to the left or right is determined by the basic-set installation, so that decision must be made before the wall is finished.

Before ordering, have your fitter confirm the exact waste, any required basic set and the available water supply against the chosen product code.

You can explore the wider collection through AXOR at Bowmans. If you’re planning the complete room, our bathroom design service can bring the basin, furniture and brassware together. We can also prepare a supply-only specification if you’re working with your own fitter. Speak to the team at our Braintree or Leigh-on-Sea showrooms to discuss which version suits the room.