Burkinabè architect Diébédo Francis Kéré has created a circular pavilion made from spruce logs for German kitchen brand Next125, which is being exhibited at Superstudio for Milan design week.
Named The Fireplace, the pavilion aims to explore the concept of a kitchen as a place for communal gathering and sharing through its rounded structure and centralised kitchen unit.
Next125 has collaborated with Francis Kéré to design an installation at Milan design week
"Circularity is always about how you ? in a democratic way ? gather alongside around the fire, like our ancestor has done always around the fireplace," Kéré told Dezeen in Milan.
"The fireplace is then the idea where we really will come together and gather around the fire," he continued. "But what is modern fire" It is a kitchen." Openings in the roof draw light into the pavilion's interior
Aiming to contrast a "modern sophisticated kitchen" with the "archaic" wooden shelter, the pavilion is centred by a sleek kitchen island from Next 125's collection that features mirrored units topped with a marbled surface.
Behind it, a matching fridge unit is integrated into the wooden structure serving as a backdrop to the island. A circular table adjoined to the island is held up by two metal legs and creates an additional shared surface.
A kitchen island from Next 125's collection centres the space
Two arched openings appear as if carved into the structure and enable...