Electrolux knows that the kitchen is The Place To Be when socializing in the home. Today, cooking is a collaborative effort. This means that appliances that provide flexibility in terms of time and space are more important than ever to consumers. This is the thinking behind the two visionary design concepts recently presented by Electrolux Global Design. These seemingly space-age concepts don’t exist as products, but all the technology exists to produce them. They are examples of where today’s lifestyle trends might be taking us in tomorrow’s world. And, in terms of design, they are stunning.
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Volare kitchen
Thinking and Insight: Smaller urban populations, crowded cities and smaller living spaces creates a greater need for cooking and food storage solutions for modern living that are flexible and sleek. Appliances should be convenient, intuitive and not take up more room than they has to.
Concept: Volare is an entire kitchen tucked away in an illuminated piece of art. Volare responds to the touch, and can be unfolded into an induction stove when the consumer wants to cook or an ice dispenser when she wants a cold drink. The modular system allows for customization so the unit to fits your individual needs. The unit is organized from cold appliances to hot and holds everything needed for an aesthetic, modern, and convenient cooking experience.
Benefits of the concept:
– the oven changes color based on temperature to make cooking intuitive
– spot light illuminates the unit making it look like a piece of art when it is not being used
– modular system allows you to build a kitchen that fits your needs
– a range of colors available for complete customization
– organized from cold to hot
– keeps your floor space clear
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Rendez-vous interactive table
Thinking and insight: Many consumers love to cook and entertain but don’t want to toil in the kitchen away from their friends, they want to be part of the party. And although they are not professional chefs, they want to make top-class food with the help of appliances that are intuitive.
Concept: Rendez-vous is the first interactive table that combines the living, eating, and entertaining space. The top of the table is a unique energy shield that brings the appliances to life without having to plug them in. The blender can be placed on the surface to charge or activate. The table top is also an inductive cooking system that uses sensor technology: cooking zones are not dedicated. Instead heat is dispensed wherever the pan is placed. Beneath the table are modular drawers that can hold a stove, refrigerator or almost any kitchen appliance that the consumer needs. Cooking becomes a social activity, but there is no need to be flawless. Programmed in the Rendez-vous is a virtual chef that guides the consumer through the cooking process, making it foolproof. When it is time to eat, the drawers tuck away beneath the table.
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Rendez-vous interactive table
Rendez-vous breaks down barriers in the home, creating the perfect space for gathering, cooking and eating. Benefits of the concept:
– a complete entertaining, cooking, and eating zone
– power mat at the top of the table brings energy to any electrical appliance
– the entire table surface uses sensor technology
– modular system allows you to build the perfect system to fit your needs
– kitchen appliances tuck beneath the table when it is time to eat
– virtual chef guides you through the cooking process
– brings the kitchen to the heart of the home
The Electrolux Global Design Team is an international team with about 150 designers present in all of the Group’s different business sectors. The Design Centre Hub is in Stockholm, Sweden, co-located with other Group functions. Other Industrial Design Centres are in North America, Brazil, Italy, Singapore and Australia.