It was only going to be a matter of time until The Mogul decided to comment on one of Philippe Starck’s creations for Warendorf. The Mogul’s initial reaction was to dismiss the range as a grotesque celebration of ego, an example of the industry bowing to the power of one individual, and embracing the control of a celebrity designer. And yes, this range is guilty of putting Starck on a pedestal, enabling him to loom over other less celebrated designers who create change and industry drive on a daily basis, and are using more humble budgets to do so.
But you do have to appreciate Starck’s skill as a designer. There is real depth to this design and he is obviously a keen observer of the industry, either that or he is able to take advice well! His range could be described as a selection of “unfitted kitchen pods with a flamboyant sprinkling of eccentric”! Aesthetically there is a drive to be unusual, a blatant effort to be “designer”; and this element of the concept certainly ticks all the right boxes for many.
The exclusive looking trumpet legs work brilliantly adding design flair and hiding the island services in a dignified way. The appliances can be hidden behind doors, aesthetically neutering the functionality of the kitchen and allowing it to become the centre piece of any home. Special motors have even been included that dissipate residual heat from the ovens so that the door can be closed immediately after use.
One thing The Mogul is unsure about though is what happens to the tall “oven modesty” door whilst the ovens are actually being used, does it protrude into the room causing an obstruction or does it neatly slide into a pocket only to be pulled out when cooking is finished? If this design is pocket-less it could easily loss points on the functionality front and the number one rule of kitchen design will have been broken.
Overall though this is a great design and it shows why Starck is still seen to be at the top of the professional design ladder.