Putting fusion on the architectural menu
Published
Just as Australian cuisine serves up a rich infusion of global flavours, architectural design for contemporary kitchens can dip into a myriad of aesthetics and influences.
LEICHT’s new 2026 KYOTO collection, for example, merges the sensory beauty of traditional Japanese craft traditions with the streamlined minimalism of Scandinavian interiors.
Known as “Japandi”, this eclectic melding of the far north and the far east responds to the growing appreciation for elegance and streamlined statement pieces within domestic interiors. The clarity and functionality of the structural forms matched with the purity of timber and clean, calm lines of veneer surfaces create a sense of presence.
Light oak or walnut schemes enable KYOTO to complement a wide array of architectural styles, from post-industrial urban cool to warm, textured materialities. The option of bold, playful pops of the iconic Les Couleurs® of Le Corbusier’s colour spectrum enhance the possibilities for unique and creative outcomes. A delicate 3D relief structure creates a sense of presence and definition, without being heavy or overwhelming the tracery of the timber grain in veneers or the refined elegance of the joinery.
Engineered with care and precision in Germany, this collection is situated at the intersection of form and function. The harmonious interplay of surface and substance allows architectural and interior designers to imagine kitchens with fluidity and flexibility.
Selections of wall units, benches, cabinetry and storage can be tailored to the client and their brief, arranged to complement the lifestyle, needs and ambitions of those who will inhabit the kitchen and bring it to life.
The potential is infinite for ensuring space to create, indulge, share and curate. KYOTO ensures the specifications of the kitchen match the mood of the home, whether it is expansive, exuberant and expressive, or subtle and serene.
The detail is exquisite, such as inbuilt knife storage within cutlery drawers that simplifies the experience of food preparation, equipment storage and serving. The seamlessly integrated wooden handles which are a signature of the Japandi style exemplify precision, balance, and innovation, doubling as both functional control and eye-catching sculptural element.
KYOTO has been crafted with meticulous German engineering and to the highest standards of quality and environmental stewardship. LEICHT is proud to use only timbers certified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) an international, non-profit, non-governmental organisation promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. This ensures future generations can continue to embrace the beauty of timber and the warmth and sensory depth it brings to the home.
LEICHT is also a certified carbon neutral manufacturer in accordance with the criteria for the Climate Pact of the Gütegemeinschaft Möbel, ensuring that KYOTO kitchens represent both exemplary taste and style and highly ethical choices.
It is another aspect of the notion of “noble minimalism” that underpins the creative direction of KYOTO. To create furnishings that will endure and summon the senses of delight, appreciation and sensory pleasure that we experience from a sumptuous meal in the same space where the magic of culinary creativity finds its place.
Experience KYOTO at LEICHT’s exclusive Australian showrooms in Waterloo and Willoughby in Sydney.
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