In 1949, Martin Bulthaup set up a factory in Germany manufacturing kitchen sideboards. Sixty years later, his eponymous brand is a pioneer and leader in the premium kitchen systems market.

bulthaup’s kitchens are characterised by sleek lines and reduced forms, an aesthetic guided by Martin’s son, Gerd Bulthaup, who, in the 70s, influenced the brand with his love of architecture, contemporary design and the Bauhaus approach to design.

But more than appearances, bulthaup’s highly customised kitchens excel in the areas of functionality. It constantly pushes the envelope and incorporates new technology and development in ergonomics. For example, components now ubiquitous in the modern kitchen like the kitchen island unit, wall-hung systems and mobile modular kitchens were first conceived by bulthaup. To say the least, it has defined the way one views and uses the kitchen.

Not one to follow the crowd, bulthaup focuses on improving its classic designs instead of churning out multiple new ranges each year. One such innovation is the new push-to-open doors of the bulthaup b3 pull-out larder units and fridges. The gentlest touch has them noiselessly gliding open, granting the kitchen a more streamlined appearance sans chunky door handles. Not least, one can also easily access items in storage – with the nudge of an elbow, for instance – even when one’s hands are full.

Another innovation introduced this year is the new drawer fitting system. This not only improves upon, but also revolutionises drawer organisation. Typically, cutlery, utensils and other kitchen tools are constrained by boxy, modular trays of set sizes – a rigid, and oftentimes ill-fitting solution. bulthaup’s response is a system based on flexibility and intuition rather than pure function based not so much on trays than a ‘landscape’ of prisms.

Upon this wavy surface, dividers and accessories (kitchen blocks, trays, containers amongst others) serve as organisational tools. What’s more, items can now be grouped according to themes – salad forks next to jars of herbs is one combination – and the accessories, which double up as dividers, can be taken out and placed on the countertop to accompany the food preparation process.

bulthaup’s design-focused approach also means that the prisms create an alternative landscape within drawer interiors. This form-marries-function ethos reflects the brand’s well-rounded approach to innovation, and inarguably opens up possibilities in the kitchen in more ways than one.

bulthaup is carried in Singapore by Madison & Associates (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Madison & Associates (Singapore) Pte Ltd
madison-asia.com/bulthaup