Modern lifestyle and contemporary mood merge with a traditional setting: this is the hallmark of the residence located in the historic city of Kurashiki, in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. A city that preserves the authentic charm of Japanese culture, offering the perfect backdrop for a home that expresses a fully contemporary architectural language.
Music, art, and design are the passions that guided the family in choosing their kitchen, conceived not only as a functional space but as a setting capable of conveying creativity and style through a unique artistic language.
The island as the heart of the project
The centerpiece of the composition is the Artematica island, both a functional and social hub, customized through Vitrum Arte, an exclusive technique developed by Valcucine that, after years of research, allows hand-applied designs to be reproduced on glass with refined inlay work.
For this project, “Stilema tre” by Alessandro Mendini was chosen. Mendini, one of the most influential figures in Italian design, is renowned for his bold use of color and playful graphics. The design immediately captured the clients' interest, transforming the kitchen into a unique artwork capable of establishing an ongoing dialogue between functionality and aesthetic expression.
Regarding this work, Mendini wrote:
“Placing a graphic on a surface is an act similar to writing. It means bringing that surface into a story. The graphics created for Valcucine are geometric signs that do not attempt to simulate letters of the alphabet. Yet they make certain parts of the kitchen narrative, establishing an intense and engaged relationship between the person and the kitchen itself.”
Materials and details
The hand-decorated Vitrum Arte doors turn the kitchen into an inlaid volume that, like a painting, furnishes the space and perfectly suits an open-plan layout where kitchen and living area coexist. The neutral palette, ranging from gray to black, creates a sober, contemporary backdrop ready to highlight Mendini's graphic motif.
The matte Cloud White Glass top brightens the space while offering durability and practicality for everyday life. Completing the composition, the Walnut Breakfast Bar adds a warm, tactile accent, creating a versatile area for breakfast, meal preparation, and social gatherings.
A project with a contemporary character
The kitchen becomes the starting point for experiencing the entire home. Around this space unfolds a fully contemporary residence, where every room is designed with the same attention to elegance and functionality. The home also includes a training room, conceived as a space for socializing and wellness to share with friends, confirming the residence's vocation to combine everyday comfort with high-quality living spaces.
This Valcucine project is featured in “REAL KITCHEN & INTERIOR,” which was selected for “MAGAZINES FROM THE WORLD” by Salone del Mobile Milano. The magazine introduces luxury kitchens and interiors from around the world with beautiful photographs and text, based on the concept of “considering kitchens from an interior perspective.”
Editorial director / Miki Homma (Journalist)
Kitchen project: Valcucine Tokyo | Clean up
Ph credits: Yukinori Okamura
