Simon and I are having a bit of a competition to see who can find the most interesting, out-of-the-box kitchen designs – and, just quietly, I think I’ve won with this one. His N2 Kitchen System was pretty cool but I reckon this vertical “kitchen in a box” might just be better.
Released at this year’s Salone del Mobile by Italian design company Clei, this is the Ecooking vertical kitchen designed by architect Massimo Facchinetti. Clei has made a name for itself as a designer of transformable systems in multifunctional habitats incorporating high-tech products to come up with versatile solutions.
This year the company focused on space and how it can be creatively and innovatively used. Particularly in smaller environments, this idea utilises vertical space as well as compact storage when elements are not in use.
“Ecooking” stands for “ecologically sustainable cooking” and the company prides itself on the sustainable technologies incorporated in this vertical structure. The close proximity and interaction of the appliances used provides the opportunity for internal retrieval of energy through the exchange of heat and moisture.
For example, the electrical elements of the kitchen are powered by energy produced from solar panels and one side of the kitchen module features a small vertical garden for the growing of herbs or aromatic plants. Water from the sink is filtered and re-used by the dishwasher then is filtered a second time to water the plans in the vertical garden.
While I’m not sure how many compact situations in which a kitchen such as this could be applied I absolutely applaud the inventiveness and creative application of the architect. It’s designs such as this that really make you think and challenge the view of a traditional kitchen layout and design.
What do you think? Does this make you go “wow” or “ho hum”?
