designerati May 2024

KITCHENS BATHROOMS INTERIORS

MILAN 2024

K&B highlights from Europe’s greatest design showcase

STARCK

30

years

of bathroom imagination

DESIGN MAESTRO

Re ections on the life of creative visionary Paolo Pininfarina

Welcome...

One of the real privileges of this job is having the opportunity to meet some of the design world’s most fascinating and inspiring people, and they don’t come more engaging than the inimitable Philippe Starck.

We were recently invited to join a select group of Europe’s leading design publications in Paris for a celebration of Starck’s 30-year collaboration with bathroom brand AXOR, and our audience with the great man himself raised many of the enlightening talking points that you might expect from one of the most distinctive and in uential designers of our time.

From the French capital, we head to the Italian capital of design with a selection of choice cuts from magni cent Milan. Salone always dazzles, inspires, bewilders – and reveals so many more mustsee products and ideas than we can ever hope to t into a single magazine! So be sure to keep a close eye on the next few issues – and of course regularly check our website at designerati.co.uk – for loads more from EuroCucina and right across this year’s Milan fair.

Closer to home, this month we’ll be doing the rounds at the evergrowing Clerkenwell Design Week which takes place 21-23 May. See our preview on page 36 and I very much hope to see some of you there. In the meantime, enjoy the issue!

Martin Allen-Smith Editor, designerati

Meet the designerati team

EDITORIAL

Martin Allen-Smith, Editorial Director martin@designerati.co.uk

ADVERTISING

Chantell Tandy, Sales Executive chantell@digitalsavvymedia.co.uk

MARKETING

Abby Sale, Marketing Apprentice abby@digitalsavvymedia.co.uk

FOR PRINT AND ONLINE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT: Clara Perry, Managing Director clara@digitalsavvymedia.co.uk 01206 696492

ART DIRECTION AND PRINT DESIGN Je Cooper je @wemakemedia.co.uk

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“SALONE ALWAYS DAZZLES AND INSPIRES WITH MORE MUST-SEE PRODUCTS AND IDEAS THAN WE CAN FIT INTO A SINGLE MAGAZINE”

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Photo: Stephane Feugere

Contents

May 2024 - Issue 278

6 SOURCE

Our round-up of the people, products, and places that ma er from across K&B design, including surface innovation from Cosentino, a stylish collaboration from Drummonds, and slimline showering from Kudos

12 SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE

Revisiting one of last year’s designerati awards nalists, we take a closer look at a large penthouse kitchen from Ledbury Studio which blended a range of materials to create a rich, multilayered scheme

16 STARCK VISION

We caught some words of wisdom from design titan Philippe Starck at a special event in Paris to celebrate his 30-year collaboration with bathroom brand AXOR

22 MILAN 2024

Our pick of K&B highlights from this year’s Salone

24 HIDDEN ATTRACTION

Creating a kitchen capable of being both the star of the show and a subtle backdrop for home life is the aim for SieMatic with its new S2 range

26 RAISING THE PROFILE

Appliance brand Smeg has unveiled its new Isola range of induction hobs and hoods designed to stand out rather than hide away

28 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE

Dornbracht has brought its very own halo e ect to the shower space with a bold new design

30 SHINING LIGHT ON A CLASSIC

German kitchen brand Poggenpohl revealed some new visions for its +MODO kitchen range, including a striking internal lighting innovation

32 PAOLO PININFARINA

A look back at the career of the designer, engineer, and Chairman of Italian design powerhouse Pininfarina Group

36 EXPANDING HORIZONS

Clerkenwell Design Week makes its return this month (21-23 May), marking its 15th year of showcasing creativity in London’s principal design district

38 EXIT

Stepping in to Gaggenau’s Elevation of Gravity exhibition in Milan

NIKOLATESLA UNPLUGGED NEVER SO EASY.

Control your cooking with the simplest gesture with the new NikolaTesla Unplugged extractor hob. Thanks to its beautifully weighted knobs, you can set the most suitable cooking mode and power with a single “click” to make even the most complex preparations simple. An incredible technological solution, with the unmistakable Elica design. Register your product on our website to include a 5 years warranty that lets you relax and enjoy a unique cooking experience.

Discover the full range at elica.co.uk

people , places , and ideas

As if by magic

Bath and kitchen brand GRAFF has expanded its Art of Bath portfolio with touch-free sensor mixers which respond to a wave of the hand to control the ow of water.

Designed to meet the highvolume demands of public bathrooms, GRAFF’s sensor taps feature a discreet design and modern form to enhance interior schemes. The touchfree technology prevents wear and tear of handles and xture surfaces, ensuring longevity and easy maintenance.

The sensor taps are available in GRAFF’s full range of nishes, including the Steelnox Satin Nickel nish which is designed to prevent ngerprints and water spots.

GRAFF / gra -designs.com

Mighty Minerals

Surface manufacturer Cosentino has introduced its new Silestone XM hybrid mineral surface with a maximum crystalline silica content of 10%.

Manufactured with the rm’s Hybriq+ technology, the sustainable production process uses 100% renewable electrical energy and 99% recycled water and reformulates traditional surface composition by signi cantly reducing the crystalline silica content due to the introduction of new premium minerals and a minimum of 20% recycled raw materials.

Silestone XM will include all of the brand’s new collections that will be launched during 2024 as well as the other colours that

were already manufactured with less than 10% crystalline silica. The company aims to bring the remaining colours in the portfolio under this new brand.

Unveiled for the rst time at KBIS in Las Vegas earlier this year, Silestone XM has also been presented in a new EARTHIC capsule collection, designed in collaboration with Italian design studio FormaFantasma and unveiled at Fuorisalone during last month’s Milan Design Week. Another of the collections under Silestone XM category this year will be Le Chic Bohème, an extension of the Le Chic series introduced in 2023. Cosentino / cosentino.com/ silestone-xm

Slim Solutions

Kudos has launched its Ultimate slimline shower tray collection which stands at 27mm in height and comes in two standard slate e ect nishes, four bespoke-coloured options and 19 standard sizes.

The manufacturer says that the composite material used to produce the new trays is up to 60% lighter than a traditional stone- lled shower tray. The composite construction, which has a CNC machined waterproof core, features a slip-resistant acrylic surface.

Kudos has tested the tray with selected retailers over the past few months to establish the best colour options and features to launch. As a result, it is o ering a standard collection from stock in two colour nishes – white and grey slate e ect – and 19 sizes up to 2000 x 900mm, all with an end-positioned waste.

The trays can also be manufactured to order as a bespoke option which expands the range to six colour choices and four di erent waste positions. These special orders can be made to any size up to 2000 x 1000mm and with the option of a contrasting-coloured edge to the tray. Kudos / kudosshowers.co.uk

PERSPECTIVE

Hailing Home Grown

WHY DOES ‘BRITISH MADE’ MATTER? EMMA COWLEY, MARKETING MANAGER FOR RANGEMASTER, THINKS IT GOES FAR DEEPER THAN SIMPLY BEING LOYAL TO LOCAL…

What do you think British design and manufacturing represents in the minds of customers at home and abroad?

British design and manufacturing evoke a sense of tradition, quality and enduring style, particularly in the kitchen where these values translate into a desire for dependable appliances that are the focal point of the home and family life.

Think of a sturdy range cooker, the kind that has baked birthday cakes and Sunday roasts for generations of the same family. This heritage inspires trust in customers seeking appliances that will stand the test of time and become cherished companions in the kitchen.

The recent resurgence of British manufacturing further strengthens this perception and puts the focus on ‘local’ production, which resonates with those seeking to minimise their environmental impact by supporting products with a lower carbon footprint. However, ‘Britishness’ goes beyond practicality. It’s about creating products that are visually appealing and recognisable. The unique blend of form and function is a major selling point. British

design and manufacturing o er a desirable combination of quality, heritage and trusted design, which has been embodied in Rangemaster’s new Estel Deluxe range cooker family. The quintessential British look is a major selling point for customers worldwide.

How are UK rms innovating to ensure they stand out from the crowd?

The recent multi-million-pound investment in our Leamington Spa factory combines traditional hand-built expertise with precision engineering to enhance product quality and futureproof our factory. The manufacturing upgrades provide customers with an even stronger product o ering, proudly made in Britain to sit at the heart of kitchens across the UK.

As an iconic British brand, we’ve grown and changed with the times – just like generations of our customers – and these exciting developments put customers in the foreground, ensuring there’s a Rangemaster that’s perfect for every home baker, amateur cook or chef.

Rangemaster / rangemaster.co.uk

Rangemaster’s Estel Deluxe range cooker aims to blend retro and traditional elements with clean geometric lines and chamfered edges. Designed and manufactured in Britain, the cooker launches next month in a choice of eight colours including a pale e of six new shades, from pastels such as mint to classic neutral hues, and two trim options of polished brass and chrome.

Embracing architectural form

Drummonds has collaborated with interior designer Steven Gambrel to create the eightpiece Colvin collection of bathroom storage and accessories.

Known for a layered architectural style, which uses opulent materials at an imposing scale, Gambrel’s spaces are tempered by sparse lines and use of natural light. He said: “The materials we celebrate throughout the house – heavy plaster walls, marble mantles, antique brassware – these are the perfect elements to build a bathroom. We’ve moved far beyond the white sanitary box of previous eras.

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

EDITOR MARTIN ALLEN-SMITH martin@designerati.co.uk

EDITOR MARTIN ALLEN-SMITH martin@designerati.co.uk

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT GEORGE DEAN george@designerati.co.uk

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT GEORGE DEAN george@designerati.co.uk

BRAND AMBASSADOR MELISSA PORTER

BRAND AMBASSADOR MELISSA PORTER

PUBLISHING

PUBLISHING

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR CLARA PERRY clara@thedsgroup.co.uk

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR CLARA PERRY clara@thedsgroup.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR ALLISTAIR HUNTER OPERATIONS DIRECTOR TRACY MEAD

MANAGING DIRECTOR ALLISTAIR HUNTER

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR TRACY MEAD

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING

SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE

SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE CHANTELL KESTON chantell@designerati.co.uk

“I’ve always loved hardware – doorknobs, hinges, brackets – anything really. I o en use it as a grounding element across a series of rooms. I see it like jewellery. And if I’m matching hardware to high walls and large heavy doors, I need it to look strong and architectural. I wanted to continue that into the bathroom as well.”

CHANTELL KESTON chantell@designerati.co.uk

MARKETING

MARKETING

CREATIVE MARKETING MANAGER DOM LITTLER dom@thedsgroup.co.uk

CREATIVE MARKETING MANAGER DOM LITTLER dom@thedsgroup.co.uk

SENIOR MARKETING EXECUTIVE TYLER CHASE tyler@thedsgroup.co.uk

SENIOR MARKETING EXECUTIVE TYLER CHASE tyler@thedsgroup.co.uk

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION

ART DIRECTOR LEE THOMAS

ART DIRECTOR LEE THOMAS

GRAPHIC DESIGNER BEN EMMERSON

GRAPHIC DESIGNER BEN EMMERSON

Comprising of a mirror, storage shelf, towel bar, bath rack, single robe hook, double robe hook, loo roll holder and waste bin, the collection is handcra ed at the Drummonds foundry using multiple brassware techniques, including wax casting to precision CNC lathe and milling. Each piece is available in all nine of Drummonds’ house brassware nishes to coordinate with other ings such as vanity basins, taps, showers, and lighting.

ACCOUNTS

ACCOUNTS

FINANCE DIRECTOR CHRIS CORKE accounts@thedsgroup.co.uk

FINANCE DIRECTOR CHRIS CORKE accounts@thedsgroup.co.uk

SUBSCRIPTIONS

SUBSCRIPTIONS

SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER DONNA FENNELL

SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER DONNA FENNELL

To subscribe email subscriptions@thedsgroup.co.uk or phone 020 3538 0268. Only those who meet the terms of our controlled circulation are eligible to receive a free copy of Designer Magazine. If you do not reach the criteria, subscription rates are UK £35, Europe £70, Worldwide £115

The Colvin collection will be available from Drummonds’ New York and London showrooms from this month. Drummonds / drummonds-uk.com

To subscribe email subscriptions@thedsgroup.co.uk or phone 020 3538 0268. Only those who meet the terms of our controlled circulation are eligible to receive a free copy of Designer Magazine. If you do not reach the criteria, subscription rates are UK £35, Europe £70, Worldwide £115

MARTIN ALLEN-SMITH

CLARA PERRY MELISSA PORTER

BiggerPicture Seeing the

REVISITING ONE OF LAST YEAR’S DESIGNERATI AWARDS FINALISTS, WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT A LARGE PENTHOUSE KITCHEN FROM LEDBURY STUDIO WHICH BLENDED A RANGE OF MATERIALS TO CREATE A RICH, MULTI-LAYERED SCHEME

Creating a kitchen and bar area that would perfectly complement this luxurious penthouse in Malta was no s all nderta ing b t arlie Smallbone of Ledbury Studio rose to the challenge with a highly detailed scheme that draws on years of experience of working with different materials.

The kitchen comprises a generous island that serves as the centrepiece, backed by a single row of cupboards t at rovide s ace or storage appliances and a breakfast cupboard. The main challenge was that the kitchen is located in the middle of the space without any walls to work with, which meant that all components had to be freestanding and are visible from every angle, including from above when walking up the stairs.

Smallbone said: “To address t is e clad t e bac s in a mixture of beautiful materials that look good wherever you

stand in t e s ace n t e bac of the breakfast cupboard is polished fluted stainless steel. Meanwhile, the microwave section of the tall cupboard features a screen made from wooden slats with backlit opaque glass slivers, and the ridge ree er is bac ed in polished mica panels.”

The island dominates the main kitchen space and measures almost 5m by 1.5m. In any other space, this could almost be too big, but Smallbone explained: “When you’re designing for a space of such huge proportions – with 10m-high ceilings – an averagesized island would look wrong. You have to work with the scale of the building to ensure the island is proportional. We then added to the drama with a waterfall worktop of Mont Blanc quartzite, which ‘flows’ over t e end n t e ront e added olis ed ica anels and a liquid metal kicker.”

The design by Charlie Smallbone of Ledbury Studio was a nalist in the Super Luxe Kitchen Design of the Year at the 2023 designerati awards

“You have to work with the scale of the building to ensure the island is proportional”

He adds that the island’s size also made it possible to accommodate many of the working elements of the kitchen within it, as well as generous bar seating. It features a hob with integrated extraction, sink with Quooker boilingwater tap, plus a 900cm-wide built-under oven, a dishwasher and plenty of storage to keep the kitchen clutter-free. The tall c board incl des a large cabinet with pocket doors, ic cleverly ide re s ace storage and additional sink all in one area, so any cooking detritus can be concealed as needed.

There is further storage above and below the microwave oven and a fridge-freezer to the left. Smallbone grounded this

large piece of furniture in the roo it blac al veneer or the fronts, with a stained oak frame that is the same shade as the oak ceiling.

Around the corner from the main kitchen is a welcoming bar area, distinct but also managing to feel connected. “To tie the bar’s design to that of the kitchen, we once again used blac al or t e base cabinets and the same bronze handles,” said Smallbone. “We then harnessed our signature use of metal to create hammered pewter fronts for the wine cabinets. To add a dash of theatre to the space, we chose crystal quartzite for the worktop and framing, both of which are lit from underneath.”

Designing everything from toothbrushes to luxury yachts, hotels and restaurants, there is little to which Philippe Starck has not turned his uniquely creative eye. We caught some words of wisdom from the iconic designer at a special event in Paris to celebrate his 30-year collaboration with bathroom brand AXOR...

“I have zero intelligence. If someone wants to set me an IQ test, I would probably compare to some kind of animal. I cannot do addition, multiplication, or division for example. I don’t think about things, instead, I find and see en yo are thinking intelligently, you do so in a linear way, from A to B to C. When I think, it is more diagonally – it means I arrive at a point from nowhere... very often I arrive nowhere also.

“But there is no regular way for me to work on a project and force ideas. If I try to do so sat at my desk, I would fall asleep, so instead I might take a very hot shower and then right at the end, switch the water to very cold, and in that moment can o ten find t e sol tion in my mind.

“By obligation, people like me dedicate their life to creativity. I live like a monk. I go to bed at 9.30pm, wake up at 6 or 7am, and go to do my work in a cave, working non-stop for the whole day. Typically, I never speak or meet people – that’s why when I have a chance to meet people I often speak too much.”

Starck

on... A MISSION TO SERVE

“To me, working on anything – whether it is a toothbrush or the International Space Station [Starck worked with Axiom to develop the crew quarters of an habitation module for the ISS project] – is exactly the same thing. It is the same energy, the same honesty, the same work.

“I have a theory that when you are born, you are obligated to sign a moral contract with your community – with animals, civilisation, country, family and friends. For me, the contract was to serve. I know nothing other than making small sketches. That’s why I try to do it in the best possible way that I can because I don’t have the ability to do a very important job – such as to save lives for example – but as a creator, I have a small chance to help people to have a better life. If we are able to do this, it can help to elevate people’s way of thinking, increase their intelligence, and play a part in evolution.

“So, whenever I start any project, I focus on how I can help and serve. I don’t always succeed but I try.”

Axor was created in 1993 as a design brand within the Hansgrohe Group and Starck was involved from the beginning.

“To have a good product, you have to have good relationships with everyone involved with the product. If you want the product to be elegant then you need elegance in the relationship with all the people who play a part in the process. I had it from the beginning with Hansgrohe’s Klaus Grohe [third son of company founder Hans Grohe], then with AXOR’s former Head of Brand Philippe Grohe, and today with the AXOR’s Business Unit Leader Olivier Sogno –we don’t ‘work’, we have family discussions.

“At the heart of it all – and the thing we really have in common – is an absolute love for water. For me, I have an atomic relationship with water. We were born in water, we have come from water, we are made from water, we need water.

“I was always a little sad how this beautiful treasure that is water could often be very badly treated – using just a pipe made from lead to create an ugly type of access to this vital substance. The water was beautiful but everything around it was ugly. That was the thinking behind some of these projects which strive to do justice to beautiful water; we are obliged to make good this process.”

Starck on... THE STARCK V TAP

Starck on... HUMAN EVOLUTION

“An iconic product is something that you really need and which helps the quality of the line of evolution. That’s very important because what we have right now doesn’t exist. In one second’s time, we are all slightly different.

“When you take a step back, the line of our evolution is incredible. We are geniuses. The most important measurement of evolution is child mortality and thankfully it is going down. Starting from a stupid bacteria t at ill finis on t is art in aro nd 1 billion years, but we have a fantastic movie and book of this evolution.

“When you look closer, this evolutionary line is made up of lots of small moments of ups and downs, light and darkness, intelligence and stupidity. But any laziness on our part in this evolutionary process creates a dissolution or even a revolution.

“So this is why I ask myself this question for every single job – is this helping the line of evolution?” There is not an object that we have created that is without reason. What is interesting is that we do not remark about good design anymore because that is a duty. We only really talk about bad design.”

“Klaus Grohe one day said to me ‘It is such a shame that as beautiful as our products are, we never see the water until it emerges from the spout. I’d like people to see how the water moves and plays within the tap.’ I agreed. He gave me an old CD of German scientists who had been studying ways of establishing stones in the riverbed to create the most effective flow of water. It was very interesting and led me to work on ideas for creating a vortex that could be visible within the tap.

“The vortex is very important because in it you can see the magic of water and it also reminds you where in the world you are because of course the vortex turns in a different way depending on whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere. But more than that, every morning when you brush your teeth, it is wonderful to see something that captures and demonstrates the magic, elegance and poetry of water. It sets the tone of your day.”

“It took six or seven years to create t e ta veryt ing abo t it as di fic lt e internal section which ‘organises’ the vortex, then the external glass section – it was all a painful process, but worth it.”

AXOR Starck V

Starck on... THE ORGANIC TAP

Launched in 2012, the idea for the Organic tap was how to reduce as much as possible the amount of water we use in our daily lives. “We started to think about the problem of water saving about 20 or 25 years ago. We’ve known for some time that it is an rgent atter t as very di fic lt and we looked at many different solutions.

“We created this ‘click’ mechanism to give a more measured level of control, and we also worked on how the water looked. The very wise Japanese say that when you eat, you eat two times: once with your eyes and once with your mouth. Together with the fantastic engineers we worked on how to give the water flow the volume to make the flow look right without it having to involve lots of water.”

“Working with water in an ecological way is not a choice, it is an obligation. Activism in this area is not new – it has been going on for many decades – but for a long time achieving anything was punishment and compromise. To me, the only real way of success is not to present it in this way but instead as some form of upgrade.”

“My idea was to express this ecology through the language of the natural form of what we see in the forest and the vitality in these natural habitats including the vitality of young vegetation. ”

Starck on...

THE CHALLENGE FACING YOUNG

DESIGNERS

“I am very anxious for them. The business model of ‘Uber’ touches everything and there is an ‘Ubernisation’ of all the professions. There is a proliferation of designers and interior designers – many more than there were years ago – and t at a es it very di fic lt or individ als to find s ccess

“Added to that is the disaster of AI. That enables someone to make something in

a second, which means that in t e t re t ere co ld be five billion ‘designers’ who just have to input ‘make me a chair like Starck’ and the 3D printer will do it.

“This is why I say to young people wanting to be designers, think twice. The key to success is to stand alone, to stand out. That is not easy with so many people using the same tools and computer programmes.”

AXOR Starck Organic

Starck on... THE FUTILITY OF TRENDS

ne o t e reasons t at t e first collection designed it t e lassic ta as been so s ccess l and contin es to be is t at it is not trendy it is not trendy t en it cannot be o t o trend t as been ared bac and si lified to ens re t e ini se aration bet een t e ser and t e ater t s ea s o t e roots bet een ans and ater yo are not rigoro s eno g to avoid alling into t e tra o trends yo ris a ing t e rod ct obsolete a rod ct is on trend t en it cannot also be ti eless

MEETING OF MINDS

Oliver Sogno, Business Unit Leader for AXOR and Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Hansgrohe, explains the brand’s enduring partnership with Philippe Starck…

“There has always been a great t between AXOR and Philippe. We stand for forward thinking, distinctiveness and excellence – that last point has a lot to do with cra smanship and engineering, and the time that you need to invest to get the best out of an idea.

“When you work with Starck, you never know what will come from the rst discussions, but you know it will be something surprising, something no-one will have seen before or that he has done before. This is what makes it extremely rewarding and is why, a er 30 years of collaboration, we have done ve collections together, as well as other products such as showers. All of them, in their time, have been groundbreaking.”

“Among the real innovations that Starck has brought is to think not just about objects and products but about rooms. Because of this, today we don’t think about objects in isolation but more in terms of them playing a role in the room.”

“The results of working with Starck over 30 years has been new interactions between the product and user, new ways of thinking about the room such as ceiling-integrated showers, oor-standing bath taps which did not exist before, and being innovative in terms of sustainability. His ideas have enabled us to unlock so much manufacturing potential.”

“It’s not only the form and the aesthetic that Philippe brings; he has the technology and material knowledge – as well as an innate understanding of the user experience –that makes working with him so fantastic.”

PHOTO: STEPHANE FEUGERE

Philippe Starck with AXOR’s Olivier Sogno

Suite bathtub by Starck

Milan 2024

Salone – and the multitude of satellite events and showrooms that accompany it during Milan Design Week – was its usual overwhelmingly immense spectacle again this year. Kicking off our wider print and online coverage of the show, we pick out a few kitchen and bathroom highlights over the following pages…

Creative with Clay

The long-standing collaboration between bathroom brand Agape and designer Patricia Urquiola continues with an expansion of the materially-focused Cenote range

The new Cenote bathtubs designed by Patricia Urquiola, made from clay, and Cenote Lava cra ed in lava stone, extend the collection of washbasins designed by the Spanish designer. These distinctive pieces unveil new textural inspirations where the human element plays a pivotal role, re ecting the vision shared by Agape and Urquiola throughout what is now a 20-year collaboration.

The Cenote tub features a pure, rounded rectangular geometry with a thicker rim than the base, which the designer says captures the deep and ancestral charm of Spanish black clay. The exterior surface is naturally irregular and hand-moulded with broken rice grains to highlight the material, while the interior is smooth and polished.

The Cenote Lava version is the result of a design and manufacturing challenge, cra ed from volcanic rock. Made

with intricate workmanship, it features a rectangular form with smoothly rounded ends and a thick rim. The surface is polished to an eggshell texture and treated with a water-and-oilrepellent solution.

“THE ADDITIONS TO THE CENOTE RANGE BRINGS NEW MATERIALS AND FORMATS TO THE COLLECTION”

The additions to the Cenote range brings new materials and formats to the collection, which includes a series of sinks cra ed from clay and volcanic stone in both countertop and freestanding con gurations. Agape / agapedesign.it

Patricia Urquiola / partriciaurquiola.com

Photos: Salone del Mobile

Hidden A raction

Creating a kitchen capable of being both the star of the show and a subtle backdrop for home life is the aim for SieMatic with its new S2 range

The agship Milan showroom for German kitchen manufacturer SieMatic in Monte Santo has plenty of stories to tell about the brand’s varied portfolio, but its latest focus is the new handleless SieMatic S2 generation.

The range aims to deliver both the visible and invisible through a ention to detail on both the interior and exterior elements. With simple movements, closed pieces of furniture are transformed into decorative shelves, hobs are hidden below sliding countertops, appliances are stashed within cabinets, or entire kitchen segments are concealed behind sliding folding doors.

Rotating cabinet elements and at drawers within S2 recess channels can be integrated invisibly, while the combination of ma aluminium titanium, oak hazel brown, ceramic storm gris, shbone veneer and contrasting velvet ma black for the recess channels, cabinets and plinths provides the visual spark though materials and colours.

The kitchen features the new SecretService, a drawer with a push-to-open mechanism concealed within the 3.5cm at recess channel of the SieMatic S2, providing extra storage and quick access to at objects such as a set of knives or smartphones and tablets. Equipped with magnetic knife holders, or with dividers in smoked chestnut and light oak to match the interiors, they can be individually con gured and also magnetically hold kitchen knives in place.

“THE RANGE AIMS TO DELIVER BOTH THE VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE THROUGH ATTENTION TO DETAIL ON BOTH THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR ELEMENTS”

Raising the Pro le

Appliance brand Smeg has unveiled its new Isola range of induction hobs and hoods designed to stand out rather than hide away

Smeg collaborated with design studio Stefano Boeri Interiors to create the new appliance collection which includes induction hobs with and without an integrated hood, and a suspended hood system.

The studio said it was inspired by Smeg classics to create so and unique lines, giving shape to a product with a recognisable character and which suits a wide variety of styles and environments.

The perimeter of the hob includes a lighting element that de nes the shape of the glass surface, raising its pro le literally and guratively. The LED light insert can remain switched on when the hob is not in use, with an adjustable light se ing

enabling it to be used as an independent light if required. The hob frame and integrated hood grille can also be customised in black, taupe or satin stainless steel.

Stefano Boeri, Founder of Stefano Boeri Interiors, said: “Like the family, the kitchen is a world of variable geometry, which therefore requires variable design sensitivity, like the one we adopted in designing Isola. A er Smeg’s collaborations with Guido Canali, Mario Bellini, Renzo Piano and Marc Newson, we are proud to bring our ideas and designs to a company that has made and continues to write the history of Made in Italy.”

Giorgio Donà, Partner and Director of Stefano Boeri Interiors,

added: “In designing Isola, we wanted to move against the tide, imagining products such as hoods and hobs not only as tools and advanced technologies at the service of function, but true components capable of furnishing our spaces with the right combination of colours, shapes and light.”

Smeg / smeg.com

Stefano Boeri Interiors / stefanoboerinteriors.com

NATURE’S CANVAS INSPIRED BY

Capture the beauty of land and sea with Corian® Solid Surface Stonecrest Smoke.

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Virtuous Circle

Dornbracht has brought its very own halo e ect to the shower space with a striking new design…

a central spot for light and water embedded in the ceiling.

“MY INSPIRATION WAS A CHANDELIER … THE GLINT OF THE LEAD CRYSTAL AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT REFLECTED THE LIGHT ALWAYS REMINDED ME OF SPARKLING WATER”

German ings manufacturer

Dornbracht has launched Aquahalo, a ‘sculptural experience’ shower modelled on a classic crystal chandelier. The vision of designer Michael Neumayr, the product features three e ective ow modes, including a spot for light and water integrated into the ceiling, and aims to provide meditative and invigorating shower performance.

Dornbracht describes Aquahalo as a water sculpture and design artwork for the bathroom, with a characterful ring-shaped design with the potential to become the central element in a bathroom. A ached at four points, it circles

Neumayr based his concept on the Gustavian style, a Swedish trend inspired by antiquity and French neoclassicism at the time of King Ludwig XVI. He said: “My original inspiration was a chandelier that hung in my parent’s dining room. The glint of the lead crystal and the way in which it re ected the light always reminded me of sparkling water as a child. In this respect, Aquahalo is a contemporary, minimalist interpretation of a Gustavian candlestick.”

The product Is available In ve nishes – polished and brushed versions of chrome and champagne (in 22kt gold), as well as ma e black. The three di erent ow modes include ‘Aqua Circle Rain’, in which the water falls from the ring like a so cone to create a relaxing and meditative e ect, ‘Tempest Rain’ provides an invigorating shower coming from every direction, while ‘Diamond Rain’ combines water and light into a clear stream that aims to be both comforting and aesthetically pleasing.

Dornbracht / dornbracht.com

Shining Light on a Classic

German kitchen brand Poggenpohl revealed some new visions for its +MODO kitchen range, including a striking internal lighting innovation

Presenting four new ‘studies’ of its +MODO kitchen at Palazzo Landriani in Milan’s Brera design district, Poggenpohl showcased a range of new ideas for the long-standing and successful collection.

As part of the brand’s Gravity of Light exhibition, three of the designs were reimagined by the collection’s original designer, Jorge Pensi, while another was accessorised by Bernd Kussmaul, a design studio known for its expertise in upgrading and accessorising luxury cars.

The show-stopping aspect of the kitchen is lighting that lls the granite

worktop to create a highly a entiongrabbing e ect. The light colour can be changed using a mobile phone app.

The detail on show carried through not only the worktop but in the laser-cut leather inlays in the oak pull trays for storage and display. The drawers feature brass corner staples, while the glass drawers feature two layers of glazing, with the inside textured and the outside layer is smooth to create an unusual e ect under the lighting.

Poggenpohl / poggenpohl.com

“THE

SHOW-STOPPING ASPECT OF KITCHEN IS LIGHTING THAT FILLS THE GRANITE WORKTOP TO CREATE A HIGHLY ATTENTIONGRABBING EFFECT”

Designer, engineer, and Chairman of Italian design powerhouse Pininfarina Group has died after a long illness

With a long and illustrious career in design and engineering spanning across a wide range of sectors from automotive to architecture and product design, Paolo Pininfarina brought a thoroughness to his undoubted creative flair.

From 2008, Pininfarina led the company founded by his grandfather Battista in 1930, initiating a diversification process in the 1980s that led it to become a reference point in design fields beyond its initial automotive specialism.

After graduating in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin, following a series of formative and professional experiences abroad including at Cadillac, Honda, and General Motors, in 1982 he began his professional journey at Pininfarina and, in 1987, assumed the position of President and CEO of Pininfarina Extra, a company within the group specialising in industrial design, furniture, architecture, nautical, and aeronautical design.

Since 1988, he was a member of the board of directors and since 2002, a

member of the management committee of parent company Pininfarina. In 2006, he was appointed Vice President and subsequently in 2008, following the sudden passing of his brother Andrea, he assumed the position of Chairman.

Among the masterpieces personally overseen by him, two were particularly dear to him: the concept car Sergio, a two-seater barchetta based

Ola 25 saw a reinvention of the original Ola kitchen, given a colourful new look and streamline form

Pininfarina’s Aria kitchen (2016) for Snaidero

on Ferrari mechanics, which Paolo decided to create in 2013 in memory of his father, Sergio Pininfarina, and the Automobili Pininfarina Battista, an electric hypercar bearing his grandfather’s name, which he himself unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019.

His creative diversity has been well documented on the pages of this magazine over the past couple of decades, not least through his showstopping work for Italian kitchen brand Snaidero. Highlights included Ola (1990), Acropolis (2005), and Vision (2018).

Pininfarina was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at this magazine’s

and

2007 awards. Martin AllenSmith, Editor of designerati, said: “Paolo Pininfarina had a rare amalgamation of talents, his astute insightfulness as a businessman at least matched by his visionary creative output. It meant that anything new from him and his brand demanded your attention.

“He was also hugely passionate about his work and generous with his time. His loss will be hugely felt both at the organisation he led and evolved for so many years as well as the wider industrial design world.”

Silvio Angori, Pininfarina CEO, said: “We are all extremely grateful to him for his extraordinary contribution to the company and for always passionately advocating for our history and corporate identity both in terms of style and ethical and behavioural choices.

“Over these years, we have shared many triumphs and challenges, always advising and supporting each other. The best way to honour his memory is to continue, as he would want, to commit ourselves to the future of Pininfarina.”

Paolo Pininfarina died on 9 April in Turin, the Italian city in which he was born 65 years ago. Pininfarina / pininfarina.it

The Vision kitchen for Snaidero was a showstopper at Eurocucina in 2018, featuring a pared-back form

a distinctive, futuristic island con guration

The groundbreaking Acropolis kitchen for Snaidero, a cover star for this magazine in 2005

Poggenpohl has 17 points of sale throughout the UK & Ireland · uk@poggenpohl.com For your nearest Poggenpohl Studio please go to www.poggenpohl.com

CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK MAKES ITS RETURN THIS MONTH (21-23 MAY), MARKING ITS 15TH YEAR OF SHOWCASING CREATIVITY IN LONDON’S PRINCIPAL DESIGN DISTRICT

Expanding

Building upon its 2023 edition which drew over 37,000 visitors, this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week is aiming to make the visitor experience even more inspiring with new venues, expanded exhibition spaces, bold installations, and an extensive line-up of both British and international brands.

There are more than 600 curated events spread throughout the EC1 neighbourhood for the three-day event, complemented by a network of over 160 local design showrooms and 300 exhibitors across 12+ venues.

This year sees three new exhibition venues, including Contract and Work on Clerkenwell

SGreen, a pop-up space at The Goldsmiths’ Centre, both showcasing the latest designs for commercial and workplace interiors, and The Edit in Bourne and Hollingsworth, featuring some of the world’s leading contemporary design brands.

This year also sees British Collection double its size taking over the entire crypt of St James’s Church, including the Tom Dixon-furnished vestry. Other returning venues housing an array of product-focused exhibitions include:

• Design Fields – home to contemporary furniture with an international focus, including over 35

• Italian furniture and decorative brands;

• Light – showcasing global lighting companies and installations;

• Project – home to contract furniture and surface design;

• Elements – detailing architectural hardware and nishes;

• Detail – displaying a wide range of luxury interiors;

• Platform – presenting emerging design talent and brands;

• Ceramics of Italy – featuring Italian ceramic and porcelain tile brands; and

• Old Sessions House – atmospheric home to brand activations and presentations, as well as the festival hub o ering CDW visitors free registration for the event.

Local showrooms will open their doors to host a range of product launches, talks and workshops, including Fritz Hansen, Mater, Modus, Norr11, Flokk, Arper, Allermuir, Lintex, Cosentino, Ideal Standard, VitrA Bathrooms, Modulyss, Camira Fabrics, Tarke , Iris Ceramica, Domus Tiles, Zip Water, and Parkside.

In addition to the exhibitions and showrooms, there will be other destinations for visitors to explore, including Paxton Locher House, Brewhouse Yard, Cowcross Yards, and Marx Memorial Library, each of which will be transformed by a curated selection of international brands and trade institutions.

Meanwhile, hosted in a temporary structure next to Design Fields, Design Meets will feature representatives and speakers from trade bodies and associations, engaging in a series of intimate, industry-led talks.

Clerkenwell Design Week / clerkenwelldesignweek.com

Appliance brand Gaggenau presented an otherworldly installation at Milan’s Fuorisalone last month. The Elevation of Gravity concept, envisaged by creative agency Anomaly Berlin, was hosted at Villa Necchi Campiglio and housed in a pavilion enveloped in a semi-transparent fabric.

The space was divided into two contrasting yet interconnected spaces, intended to represent ‘the equilibrium between what exists and the aspiration for more’. One section featured a communal hub showcasing current appliances, while the other presented the brand’s latest product launches, including The Essential Induction range, as well as the latest cooling and oven o erings.

Gaggenau commissioned composer Dirk Haubrich to create an ambient soundscape for the installation. He was also tasked with creating original music for a contemporary dance performance – titled Gravitas, by choreographer Philippe Kratz – which took place within the installation.

Gaggenau / gaggenau.com

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At SPEKVA we are dedicated to creating kitchen worktops and furniture of the very finest quality from hand-selected wood. The finished product couldn ' t be anymore premium.

We cater for your every wish and have something to offer for every taste and purpose.

Contact Sales Manager Mark Williams on 07894698682 and visit us online.