Shanghai is a city of confrontation. No matter where you are, you'll meet your counterpart; you're on the move, surrounded by the never-ending soundtrack of the mega-city, bathed in its sea of lights. Everything pulsates and changes. What could be more precious in such a hectic setting than a space of contemplation, expanse and calm? Just such a place opened its doors to the public at the end of February in Shanghai: China's first ever bulthaup showroom.
Entering the showroom gives you the feeling that you're entering an oasis. You leave the mêlée behind you and let your eyes roam. A warm light reflects the shimmering surfaces of the kitchens. In the background, the city's skyline fulgurates through the windows. Apart from the expansive 800 square meters of space, the tremendously sensory nature of the fine materials and the harmony of the room setting are the main agents of inspiration. Guests wander through the room along a 35-meter-long walkway illuminated by strip lights, taking time to allow the sculptural beauty of the kitchens to work its magic. The lightness and floating design of the kitchens is enhanced even further by the perfect lighting.
Each kitchen is presented in its own individual experience world, and yet always remains part of an overall composition. This paradox effect is achieved through the consistently clear design of the room. Along the central pathway, underlaid with granite, nothing distracts the viewer's panoramic gaze. Details can be perceived independently and with ease. The gentle bubbling of a stone waterfall also creates an element of Zen in the showroom.
In the world's largest bulthaup showroom, a lifestyle perfectly blending generosity with stylish reserve is epitomized. This is a style that is exceptionally popular in China. People long to distinguish themselves from the masses; they are looking for something special with a timeless quality to counter their fast-paced, day-to-day lives. And where else than in man's central living space, the kitchen, would there be space for this longing to become reality?
