Designing the Kitchen as the Centre of Life

From the very beginning when Friedemir Poggenpohl founded the family business in 1892, the aim was to "make the kitchen better". Over the course of almost 130 years, the former carpentry business has become the leading brand for luxurious kitchen architecture made in Germany. As the inventor of the modern kitchen, Poggenpohl combines architectural concepts and practices with trendsetting design, outstanding craftsmanship and technical precision. 

Since then, Poggenpohl has always been a pioneer. For over 125 years, their team has been developing, designing, and producing luxury kitchens in their factory in Herford. Social transformation, foresight into emerging trends and the needs of people are Poggenpohl’s core values, bringing their exceptionally high standard to customers all over the world. 

Weather a workshop or workplace, adventure area or recipe haven, separate or at the heart of the home, a solo encounter or with family and friends – The kitchen means something different to each individual. Sometimes it should be dominant and noble, and at other times it retreats and integrates quietly into the existing living space. Poggenpohl’s aim is to create options for every lifestyle and independent person, utilising their years of experience to ensure the highest level of quality. 

With 400 studios worldwide, Poggenpohl is able to offer first-class advice and design capability, aiming to deliver the customer’s idea of their “perfect” kitchen. To achieve this idea Poggenpohl relies on four pillars: Precision Craftmanship, Claim to Innovation, Ahead of the Time, and Unique Pieces in Space.

Precision Craftmanship 

With Poggenpohl, quality has a name that is rooted in the carpenter's craft. What makes the difference is the combination of practical experience with new methods. An example of this is the special sanding-varnish technique, a processing method which made extraordinary, varnished surfaces possible and became world-famous as early as the 1930s. Today, skilled carpentry merges with the most modern production technology. Manufacturing performed exclusively in Germany ensures the quality and distinctiveness of the kitchens. 

Claim to Innovation 

Innovation is a tradition at Poggenpohl. With unexpected ideas, the company continually masters challenges with creativity. The experiment 70 Study, for example, represented a giant leap into the future. In 1970, designer Luigi Colani sketched a visionary concept for the year 2000 with his spherical blue kitchen. The study is a powerful symbol of the inventiveness that is always focused on people in Poggenpohl's thoughts and actions. 

Ahead of the Time 

At Poggenpohl, a clear sense of change leads the way. The Reform Kitchen presented in 1928 is considered the foundation of the modern kitchen. The idea of connected cabinets and functional interiors defined the forerunner of later fitted kitchens. By identifying societal developments at an early stage and integrating them in new, technically more sophisticated products, the company continually achieves further milestones in international kitchen history. 

Unique Pieces in Space 

Walter Ludewig's Form 1000 Kitchen System developed in 1950 exemplifies Poggenpohl's architectural approach. His idea of flexibly using wall-mounted upper and lower cabinets to make better use of the available space has shaped kitchen design to the present day. People remain the focal point of planning when Poggenpohl designers develop tailor-made solutions for customers' individual ideas and transform what was once a kitchen workspace into the living heart of the home.  

True innovation in kitchen design must take its cues from how people live, as well as current architectural and socio-cultural trends. For the German manufacturer the kitchen model +VENOVO, has done exactly that. As a testament to the innovation, the design has recently garnered two prestigious awards: the German Design Award 2019 and the ‘Best of Best’ ICONIC AWARD: Innovative Interior 2019.  

With more people living in cities than ever before and flexibility characterising urban life, our dwellings are required to be fluid – almost the exact opposite of our past counterparts. In our careers, we frequently take on new challenges that involve relocation and lifestyle changes, so our homes need to empower this. And as a society, we love to continually reinterpret the spaces we live in, which should always be encouraged. 

https://www.poggenpohl.com