As part of its forward-looking innovation management activities, Hettich is launching “Kitchen Concept 2015” a trends forecast for future kitchen and home environments. “Kitchen Concept 2015” focuses on design, convenience, ergonomics, electrification and multimedia networking.

In terms of design, “Kitchen Concept 2015” interprets the kitchen as the hub of the home. Rather than trying to be the centre of attention, the kitchen of the future will be integrated into the living areas. Essentials such as appliances, sinks and taps, disappear behind fascias when they’re not needed. Hardware that retracts electronically allows flush-fitting fronts and drives new architectural options. An extremely shallow sink discreetly blends into the forward-pointing kitchen landscape and reduces the consumption of water. Retracting faucets underpin the trend of reducing kitchen design to what is needed without compromising on function.

As a focus of home living, “Kitchen Concept 2015” is also synonymous with a positive attitude toward life. This is where convenience plays a central part. Drawers and pot-and-pan drawers that can be opened from both sides provide access to contents from either side of the work center. Electrical appliances are also set to provide greater convenience. Separately controllable drawers in the dishwasher can also be opened from both sides, making cooking with friends even more of a pleasure.

From the aspect of ergonomics, “Kitchen Concept 2015” shows height adjustable wall units. Control panels on the base unit make it possible to raise and lower cabinet elements independently of each other, ergonomically moving cabinet contents to the level that best suits the user. The kitchen is increasingly evolving to fit with those using it. Older people in particular are influencing product design.

In the future, multimedia networking will boost convenience. In the “Kitchen Concept 2015,” different electrical appliances will communicate with each other. The touch screen in the countertop or large screen in the kitchen front can be used to display measurements like oven temperature and remaining cooking time. Internet, television and other building services will be controlled from a central point.

In creating “Kitchen Concept 2015,” Hettich draws on experience with electric kitchen furniture elements and demonstrates possibilities in many application scenarios. Ideas from project studies and cutting-edge technologies are reflected everywhere in the kitchen's design, which also caters to the “iPod generation.” For example, individual zones on the cook top are no longer firmly defined. Instead touch technology can define the size of the heating element to fit the pot or pan being used.

“Kitchen Concept 2015” aims to provide kitchen furniture and whitegoods manufacturers with inspiration for taking the kitchen forward as the hub of the home. Evolving hardware, multimedia networking and materials technology will drive kitchen design to better meet the desires of the kitchen user, ultimately adding practical value to the open home environment of the future.