demode is a forward thinking Italian designer of kitchens. This year in Milan, they launched Meccanica, a system that, aside from being very good-looking, is also eco-conscious thanks to its "dematerialization" (a concept of design that reduces the amount of material used).
Totally modular, it is made from iron tubes that can be assembled and reassembled by the consumer - in fact, to encourage the DIY process, two prices points are set, one including assembly, one without. No glues are used and side panels are not necessary to support the structure, reducing both the amount of materials used and the complexity of construction. It consists mainly of the metal skeleton, strong but thin glass shelves and big drawers or doors for sections requiring hidden storage. The key visual elements of the very elegant, minimal design is lightness, slimness and an embrace of open space.
Optional doors are available in metal, several finishes of Pine, and, most interestingly, a high tech elastic fabric that is removable, washable and stain resistant (thus making it well suited to kitchens). The compatible countertop is made from recycled used paper and a natural resin that is the byproduct of sugar cane production.
The system, designed by Gabriele Centazzo and engineered by Valcucine, is flexible over time, too. The concept is that the consumer can adjust it as needs change by resassembling in a different configuration or by adding new pieces to create more (hidden or not) storage as needed. It is absolutely created to be reused (and we can definitely see this system being used in many non-kitchen spaces as well), but if for some reason one is seeking recycling, demode guarantees that they will take it back, thus closing the loop.
More Info: demode
(Images: demode)
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Very pretty. But so much CLEANING.
Yep...I tried open shelves for a few years and found that I couldn't keep up with the dust and cooking grease. But I could see this system working as a studio or workshop. The stretchy fabric panels sound interesting.
No, count me as one who likes the cabinets w/doors. A few open shelfs would be okay..but not like this.
...cleaning this-- the horror!
God this looks horrible and SO impractical! I would need to quit my job to clean and organize this kitchen full time.
The stylist for this shoot has filled those shelves with clean, shiny dishes and pans, with not a scrap of actual food in sight (is there a separate pantry, making this huge kitchen even huger?). And the images are reduced to black and white with discreet hints of color. But stock these units with a clashing bunch of cans and bottles of tuna and soup and oil and molasses and the other uncoordinatable detritus of actual living, and suddenly you're facing a never-ending circus of visual cacophony. I can see the resident in the supermarket: "The Progresso soup tastes better, but I could really use an anchoring color theme, and the Campbell's red-and-white will give me at least a tiny oasis of visual order..."
@Bee For Brian Love those comments!
Hi,
this is just one version of a Meccanica kitchen system.
The idea is: the less you design, the less you impact/pollute and, certainly, the less you pay.
Usually, kitchens without doors do not seem complete.
Meccanica system is designed to be good-looking even without doors.
Of course if you have dust, untidiness problems or storage needs you can project a kitchen with doors and columns as available.
Here some more example (but possibilities are endless)
http://www.demode.it/images/products/Meccanica/05-Ridurre/04.jpg
http://www.demode.it/images/products/Meccanica/03-Ristrutturare/04.jpg
you can design with the same system, as you said, even your supermarket or garage :-)
http://www.demode.it/images/guidelines/08-Ridistribuire/01.jpg
http://www.demode.it/images/guidelines/03-Ristrutturare/01.jpg
thanks
daniele
just a clarification: Meccanica is a product branded by demode (engineered by Valcucine), an alternative brand of Valcucine