Burkinabe-German architect Diébédo Francis Kéré is the new Creative Maker of the premium brand next125. 'For us, Creative Makers are people like Kéré, whose work is closely linked to kitchens, interior design, and architecture, and therefore also to next125,' says Markus Schüller, director of Schüller Möbelwerk KG.
In collaboration with Creative Makers, new themes, inspiring stories, and new perspectives emerge. Thanks to these creative impulses from outside, next125 constantly reinvents itself while remaining true to itself. Therefore, the South German premium brand is also known for its creative campaign motifs. Together with Francis Kéré, not only a new, inspiring motif was created, but also a spectacular installation that can be seen from April 15 to 21, 2024, at the Superstudios during Milan Design Week.
Markus Schüller, CEO of Schüller Möbelwerk KG: 'I grew up with wood, and wood still deeply resonates with me. Francis Kéré has truly created something unique.' Photo: next125.
The Fireplace: a place where people come together
During Markus Schüller and designer Thomas Pfister's visit to Kéré's architectural firm in Berlin, the leitmotif for the project emerged: fire. As a fireplace, an archaic campfire in the open air, or integrated into the modern kitchen as a cooktop, it connects all people in the world. This is the perfect place to cook and eat together with family and friends. People gather here. The fascination for fire, the love for wood, design, and architecture resulted in a fascinating project, and the title of the collaboration was born: The Fireplace.
For next125's campaign kitchen, Kéré designs a Pantheon-like pavilion with a diameter of eight meters and a height of six meters. The material used for this has had the bark removed, but otherwise, it is naturally spruce wood from a Franconian forestry company. With this wood, Kéré forms a round building with two arched openings. On the inside, the actual effect of Kéré's style elements becomes clear: the light shines through the seemingly randomly arranged bundles of wood of the dome, creating a mystical atmosphere in the space. And in the middle, emphasised by targeted beams of light, is the kitchen block with the central cooking area: The Fireplace. Visitors to the installation are also invited to participate in the experience. Therefore, Kéré has placed benches along the inner walls of the pavilion so that people can sit down. In this way, he creates an extraordinary place for a very special kitchen.
"The Fireplace" can be seen from April 15 to 21, 2024, during Milan Design Week in the Daylight Hall of the Superstudios, Via Tortona 27, Milan.
More information:
next125
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