Any mention of designer Norbert Wangen is sure to be followed by a handy trio of descriptive adjectives, such is his reputation for clean, minimalist, avant-functional designs. The preceding three (or four) descriptors thus fulfill that assertion, yet here’s three more specific modifiers, in case you’ve forgotten he’s the author of both the classic K12 kitchen design as well as the recent B14 Bath System: “monoblock,” “futuristic,” and “bomb-proof.” The first two of these are self-explanatory, while the last intends an elucidation of an aesthetic that not only appears impenetrable to all manner of explosives, but also seems somewhat militaristic. I mean that in the best possible way—as in the kind of super, ultra-slick look and high-tech function that’s once again embodied in Wangen’s latest: the K12 mechanized kitchen system for Boffi.

K12. Designed by Norbert Wangen for Boffi.

A Sleek Monoblock Unit in Stainless or Corian

…Or White Lacquered MDF or sustainably harvested walnut or ebony, for that matter. The expansive variety of finishes reflects an attitude shared by Wangen and Boffi: just because it’s ultra-contemporary doesn’t mean it has to be stainless steel. Of course, if stainless happens to be your cup of tea (and a tasty, chrome gilded cup of tea it is), K12 fits the bill indeed. Wangen’s long, rectangular block might look like a strongbox for state secrets, but in fact houses an entire war room, if the battlefield in question is the empty expanse of the dining room table come dinnertime. K12 keeps it modern and minimalistic while facilitating full-on food prep courtesy of its disappearing, automatic panels that cover both sink and cooktop when neither is in use.

The feature gives K12 its signature aesthetic, while keeping your guests guessing as to the locus of the kitchen. If you choose to depart from the look of stainless, go with the aforementioned Corian or MDF, and choose fronts framed in beveled steel and painted or stained in one of Boffi’s manifold and multifarious colors—any of which will make Wangen’s high-powered and mysteriously secretive K12 a beauty to behold.

Via InteriorDesign.