Poggenpohl Reimagines the Kitchen as a Sculptural Artwork

Poggenpohl’s Milan Design Week exhibition, Gravity of Light, reframed the kitchen as more than a functional space.

Staged within the storied walls of Palazzo Landriani, the display explored how light and gravity can shape—and seemingly unshackle—the modern kitchen, positioning it as an independent sculptural object.

GALLERY  

Using innovative surface lighting technology developed exclusively for the show, worktops made from natural stone with dark veining glowed from within, their light intensity and colour adaptable to the user’s preference.

The dramatic visual effect was paired with a refined materiality, with expansive countertops resting delicately atop a skeletal metal frame. The result was an illusion of weightlessness, where light appeared to counterbalance mass.

The layout was equally minimalist, with a single central cabinet and a handful of pull-out trays creating an uncluttered silhouette. The design philosophy—“showing more than hiding”—allowed the craftsmanship to take centre stage, transforming kitchen components into objects of curiosity and beauty. As Pensi noted, it’s a design that “radiates lightness and freshness,” hiding the technology while letting the materials and form shine.

A secondary installation in the Palazzo’s reading room took the concept further. Collaborating with Bernd Kußmaul GmbH, a German manufacturer known for technical customisations in luxury automotive and aviation, Poggenpohl presented a reinterpretation of +MODO. Here, a polished aluminium worktop was paired with blue flock-lined trays and integrated spotlights, blending industrial precision with tactile luxury.

With Gravity of Light, Poggenpohl once again demonstrated its mastery in fusing architecture, innovation and sensory design—redefining the kitchen not just as a living space, but as a sculptural experience.

Images courtesy of Poggenpohl via designboom

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