A man’s kitchen

Female fever may be catching, but that doesn’t mean men can’t have some marketing attention too, at least once in a while… ;). Case in point: Poggenpohl’s Porsche Design kitchen. Jointly designed by German furniture company Poggenpohl Möbelwerke and Porsche Design Group, the new kitchen P’7340 features purist styling, innovative materials and a modular design based on lots of aluminium, glass and brushed wood. A special highlight of the kitchen is a handle-free design in which a gentle touch of the finger causes pull-out elements and drawers to open as if by magic; a light push, meanwhile, makes them withdraw and retreat automatically to their original position. Miele & Cie. KG is the exclusive supplier of all appliances, from ovens to steam cookers to dishwashers, with styling to match the rest of the kitchen. Appliance operation is via sensor keys instead of buttons, with user-friendly dialogue displays. Did we mention the high tech audio-video system, without which no male-oriented product would be complete? The one in the Porsche kitchen sports an anodised aluminium frame with ultra-glossy surfaces in back-painted glass. All electronics in the built-in LCD module are installed behind glass for protection, and they require no ventilation system. A diminutive plug-and-play sound system offers both analogue and digital connections. Elmar Duffner, managing director of Poggenpohl, explains: “In recent years, kitchens have turned into event and representation areas frequently equipped with audio systems. Our cooperation with Porsche Design enabled us to design a kitchen whose sleek and functional design language specifically addresses male customers.” The new kitchen will be on display as a show kitchen and sold in Poggenpohl studios around the world as of spring 2008. US availability will begin in the summer. The lesson here? There are few things that can’t be upgraded, segmented or otherwise refined, and kitchens are no exception—if they can reflect a little personal style, all the better. Next, how about some men-only cooking lessons…? Spotted by: Bjarke Svendsen