Schiffini London Company Profile
Schiffini is an iconic name in Italian kitchen design, having worked for decades with some of the greatest names in industrial design and being a pioneer in modular kitchens.
DesignSpaceLondon introduced Schiffini to the UK in December 2005, first through a studio on London’s Wigmore Street, then a year later opening an additional 5,500 sq ft showroom in Battersea that displays Schiffini’s most influential kitchen collections in a semi-industrial setting.
Schiffini has been at the forefront of contemporary design since the 1950s. A family company to this day, the company was founded in 1925, manufacturing luxury yacht furnishings. When it turned its production over to modular kitchens in the 1950s, the concept was utterly revolutionary. The company has pioneered the development of kitchens through its collaborations with architects and designers who have constantly rethought the concept; coming up with new materials, engineering solutions and functional advances.
Over the decades, Schiffini has worked with some of the greatest names in industrial design: Tito Agnoli, Ugo Nespolo, Toshiyuki Kita, Giuliano Giaroli, Vico Magistretti and Roberto and Ludovica Palomba.
DesignSpaceLondon’s two sites display classic designs alongside new concepts from the company’s roster of leading designers. Full colour catalogues are available to download from the Schiffini London website that show all 10 kitchen collections and detail some of the design history.
Each collection has its unique characteristics but shares Schiffini’s emphasis on design values and build quality.
The kitchen collections featured at DesignSpaceLondon are:
Mesa
This is Schiffini’s newest kitchen collection and won the Elle Deco International Design Award. Alfredo Häberli designed each zone in dedicated materials, chosen both for looks and performance. The focus is on a kitchen island for preparing food and for dining. DesignSpaceLondon shows the workbench in a natural copper finish with an original 3D pattern that gives a sculptural feel.
G. One
Another recent design, this time by Giuliano Giaroli, G.One pays homage to the simple linear designs and hardwearing practical materials of the 1950s, but transforms these ideas into a contemporary kitchen. Based on a modular system of doors, drawers and multi-functional tops, G.One can create a limitless range of solutions for large or small spaces. Doors and drawers are handle-less, being opened by the rounded corners that soften the aesthetic.
Cinqueterre
Vico Magistretti’s 1999 classic; the first all-aluminium kitchen and extremely durable. Cinqueterre has a hallmark ridged door profile. It has freestanding, fitted and peninsula elements, allowing total design freedom. DesignSpaceLondon shows Cinqueterre in both anodised black and natural aluminium.
One
Schiffini’s most elemental design, One can be used to create everything from kitchens to multi-purpose living spaces and comes in a limitless combination of colours and finishes, from timbers and laminates to lacquers.
Soviore
Soviore is a masterpiece of industrial design by Vico Magistretti which combines glass, stainless steel, aluminium and timber. The simple linear aesthetic is embellished with graphic elements.
Spezie
By Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, Spezie is available in a wide range of finishes. The collection is characterised by a feat of engineering which allows the doors to be integrated into or under the worktops. The handles are also built in, giving linear simplicity.
Cina
Another Vico Magistretti design classic, Cina was launched 25 years ago but still looks as fresh and as relevant today. Decorative detailing is pared to a minimum, so the furniture’s ‘architecture’ takes centre stage. The strong emphasis on the rectilinear is emphasised by Cina’s generous proportions.
Schiffini kitchens can be customised by specifying different systems:
- ALSystems is Schiffini's premium construction in which the modular furniture carcasses are built entirely from anodised aluminium, giving great stability and water resistance.
- BoxOneSystem is a versatile system of storage drawers made from anodised aluminium with tempered glass bottoms. Specialist inserts can be tailored to customer's requirements.
- SpaceSystem replaces base cupboards with extractable deep drawers that can have customised inserts.
- WallSystem is aluminium cladding used to support wall-hung shelves and accessories, so that worktops are kept clear.
Schiffini London believes that kitchens should be a space to be lived in and enjoyed. To find out more about how it achieves this, visit the website or contact the company by using the buttons above.