Space is tight. At least in the conurbations around the globe, where housing is scarce and prices per square metre are high. This poses a challenge to furniture manufacturers to extract optimum storage space, order and access in these very spaces. With its „urban smart kitchen“, Kesseböhmer will be demonstrating at Sicam 2019 how a small metropolitan kitchen measuring six square metres can be planned with intelligent fittings solutions in a practical and user-friendly way, how technology can make the best use of storage space on small floor spaces and create a good overview as well as easy access to contents. The supplier is readying all of the relevant fittings for use in the smart home and demonstrating that they are compatible with the various options for voice control.
The visitor to the „urban smart kitchen“ on the Kesseböhmer stand at Sicam will need to take less than three steps to walk through the room. Nevertheless: The small metropolitan kitchen is well-equipped so the clever planning of this six metre square floor plan, which is also equipped with the usual standard refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, rubbish bin and a table, creates a considerable amount of storage space.
Kesseböhmer will be showing the new „TopSwing“, a simple and practical solution, developed with LGA, which above all, is a child-proof product development. The dining table hangs on the wall, saving space, and gently lowers on demand after unlocking with one hand thanks to integrated damping.
Kesseböhmer planned the kitchen itself in an L-shape, starting at the long end with the new „TANDEM diagonal“ larder unit which is bevelled at the front. Narrowing fronts lend themselves architecturally to small kitchens to keep routes clear. The offshoot from the „TANDEM“ scores points like its role model with tried and tested technology including one-handed operation, whereby the trays move gently towards the user when the door is opened and the height adjustability of the trays. The manufacturer is initially supplying „ARENA classic“ trays with the classic round wire railing and the „ARENA style“ trays edged with a narrow metal band in the new basic form. They are height adjustable and accessible from three sides because the door opens wide over the short side. To begin with Kesseböhmer is offering the „TANDEM diagonal“ with a width of 300 mm and in two frame heights for units over 1,200 and over 1,800 mm.
The fitting can easily be fitted to the floor and side in just three steps; no adjustment is necessary. Once installed, „TANDEM diagonal“ easily works on the principle of „fit and forget“ over the entire duration of its use.
Plenty of space in a small room
Together with the „TANDEM diagonal“ and the refrigerator next to it, the „DISPENSA“ larder forms a unit next to the worktop. The 300 mm wide larder pull-out is one of the classics for dry goods storage in the Kesseböhmer portfolio. No wonder: A kitchen cabinet with these fittings uses the storage space perfectly while taking up just a small amount of floor space. Even with a load of up to 100 kilogrammes, it only occupies 0.15m² of floor space. And it offers a clear view of all the storage items from two sides as well as easy access at all times to the food and utensils stored in it. This is because the contents extend fully in front of the front panel when it is opened.
The idea of the larder pull-out is carried on in the base unit by the „Dispensa junior III“. This younger sibling is equipped with almost all of the features of its big brother. Runners with damped automatic closing and smooth running and the flexibility of the trays and „YouboXxes“ ensure it is convenient.
Kesseböhmer is presenting the „DISPENSA“ with an electric opening system. Even heavy contents extend towards the user in response to light pressure on the front panel. The „eTouch“ always makes sense when handle-free front panel design and automatic opening are required. In the „urban smart kitchen“, it can also be found in the „FREEfold“ folding fitting – as an example of the entire „FREElift“ family – in the wall unit above the work surface. The front panel folds up to save space when it is raised – and the cabinet closes again just as easily when the interior button is lightly touched. „FREEfold“ is especially suitable for low ceilings but also for various heights of wall units and large, heavy front panels.
Everything ready to hand
When storage space in the kitchen is a scarce commodity, wall units make ideal use of the spare space above the worktop. To show how the upper shelves can also be within easy reach, Kesseböhmer is fitting out a second wall unit over the corner with „iMove“. The trays extend fully laden right out of the carcase with a smooth, light and flowing movement so that the storage levels come to a stop in front of the unit. The user then has both hands free to take the stored items out or put them in. The „iMove“ can carry a load of up to 8 kg on the moving trays in both available versions.
An aluminium profile strip creates the basis for unlimited possibilities in recesses. The „LINERO MosaiQ“ modular system comprises versatile racks, hooks and brackets – eleven modules in the basic fittings to be precise – for hanging, clipping, combining and rearranging time and again. Kitchen aids and pots of herbs can find their place here but that is not all: the „eBoxx“ provides additional sockets and a fixed place for tablets and smartphones. Kesseböhmer integrated the latest generation of LED technology into the „LINERO“ profile for Sicam; the light can be dimmed and the colour can be varied.
No dead corners
The „LeMans“ corner unit fitting allows the otherwise „dead“ corner space in the „urban smart kitchen“ to be exploited to its full potential; it offers up to 70 percent more storage space than a cabinet with pull-out shelves next to the „dead“ corner space. Thanks to an elegant and perfectly coordinated movement, the fitting brings the entire contents out of the corner in front of the unit. Each of the shelves can be pulled out individually and fully. The geometry of the trays, which is reminiscent of the French 24-hour race track, matches that of pots and pans which can even extend beyond the railing. The adjustable height options create a place for any high-sided pan and ensure everything is always within easy reach. The high-quality workmanship means even particularly heavy pots and pans can be stored in this space-saving solution, as each shelf can support up to 25 kg with ease.
Storage space above and below the oven
The „urban smart kitchen“ concludes at the short edge in the appliance/storage combination of a 60 cm wide larder unit. „TurnMotion II“ exploits storage space above the oven with separate shelves that rotate 360 degrees, providing a full overview and simple, direct access to everything stored there.
Directly underneath the raised level oven, „TANDEM side“ creates additional and directly accessible storage space in the door. Designed as a modular system, the door shelf can be configured individually: with several levels, various flexibly adjustable trays or the freely positionable „YouboXx“ storage boxes.
Ready for the smart kitchen
Kesseböhmer is giving the „urban smart kitchen“ a smart cover for Sicam 2019, venturing a look forward to next year. Based on a study, the company is demonstrating that all of its „eTouch“ capable fittings are ready for the „smart kitchen “ experience. They can then be used with a voice control option such as Amazon Alexa, Apple home kit, Microsoft Cortana or Google home assist.
Using various kitchen scenarios such as breakfast, the furniture fittings specialist will be demonstrating in Pordenone which possibilities they want to exploit with this technology in the future. So, the „DISPENSA“ larder unit extends fully and the „FREEfold“ panel on the wall unit unfolds in response to voice commands. The refrigerator, dishwasher and rubbish bin open via the new „eTouch+“. The brightness and colour temperature of the light in the recess adapts to the time of day and illuminates the work surface accordingly.
Kesseböhmer is following two trends at the same time with its „urban smart kitchen“. While kitchens are getting smaller and smaller, especially as part of urbanisation, the importance of intelligent fitting solutions that create order and storage space is rising.
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Caption 1: With its "urban smart kitchen", Kesseböhmer will be demonstrating at Sicam how a small metropolitan kitchen measuring six square metres can be planned with intelligent fittings solutions in a practical and user-friendly way, how technology can make the best use of storage space on small floor spaces and create a good overview as well as easy access to contents. Photo: Kesseböhmer
Caption 2: Kesseböhmer planned the "urban smart kitchen" in an L-shape, starting at the long end with the new "TANDEM diagonal" larder unit which is bevelled at the front. Narrowing fronts lend themselves architecturally to small kitchens to keep routes clear. Photo: Kesseböhmer
Caption 3: Kesseböhmer will be showing the new "TopSwing", which above all, is a child-proof product development. The dining table hangs on the wall, saving space, and gently lowers on demand after unlocking with one hand thanks to integrated damping. Photo: Kesseböhmer 
