Nestled in the hills of Turin, a short distance from the Basilica of Superga, a 1960s villa has been reborn and extended to welcome a new generation of the same family. From the house, the view embraces the city of Turin stretched out at the foot of the hill, with the Alps forming a theatrical, snow-capped backdrop on clear days.
The owner is a chef who manages two prominent restaurants in the city. Upon inheriting his parents’ home, he chose to transform it into the operational – and emotional – heart of a large family: his wife and three children, two of whom already work in the kitchen of his second restaurant in the province. This is a family of chefs, accustomed to thinking in terms of culinary brigades, timings, and organisation.
The renovation project began with one fixed point: the kitchen. It had to be large, well-equipped, and strictly made of stainless steel – the ultimate, high-performance and hygienic material – without slipping into a cold or excessively technical aesthetic.
It was not to be a simple domestic kitchen, but rather a laboratory for experimenting with new recipes, testing ingredients, and perfecting dishes destined for restaurant menus.
Generous spaces were required for sets of cookware, utensils, small appliances, dry goods and raw ingredients. A large central island in stainless steel serves as the operational heart of the room, dedicated to cooking and day-to-day tasks, topped by a professional hood capable of ensuring impeccable performance without leaving a trace of aromas in the home.
Lastly, washing and storage areas were to remain separate, following the logic of flow and function typical of professional kitchens.
Already familiar with the reliability of Prisma – the Veneto-based company specialising in bespoke kitchens for the catering industry, present with two kitchens and bar counters in both of their restaurants – the choice was natural: to rely on Abimis, the brand that draws on Prisma’s professional experience but which is dedicated specifically to the domestic environment.
Having gathered the family’s requirements, the architects made a radical choice: before even designing the kitchen, they created the perfect space to house it.
The original floor plan did not offer sufficient volume. Thus, a new Northern wing was born, featuring ceilings nearly four metres high and ample, diffused indirect natural light. A large glazed veranda opens onto the garden, transforming the kitchen into an autonomous environment, separate from the rest of the house.
Here, the family chefs can work with total freedom, without interfering with the daily life of the other rooms. It is a genuine domestic laboratory.
The choice fell on the Atelier kitchen by Abimis, the model that most embodies the essence of a professional-grade kitchen: a stainless steel structure, continuous surfaces, and invisible welds, designed to stand the test of time and resist intensive use.
To make the setting more welcoming and in harmony with the family dimension, the doors were lacquered in a light sage green with a matt finish. This sophisticated shade liaises with the satin-finish stainless steel and introduces a warm, almost textured note.
The large central kitchen island houses the cooking area and offers an expansive worktop, designed for kneading, cutting, and plating. The washing station is located in an L-shaped block against a solid wall, while the other two walls host an impressive larder with stainless steel tall units, lacquered in the same pale green shade, and a professional double tall refrigerator unit in satin-finish stainless steel.
Two wide openings connect the kitchen to the glazed veranda, which has been transformed into a tasting area. An antique wooden table and painted iron outdoor chairs create a secluded corner, suspended between the interior and exterior.
It is here that dishes are tasted, evaluated, and discussed, with the necessary calm, away from the pressure of service, yet with the same obsessive attention to detail.
In this home in the Turin hills, the kitchen is not merely a functional space: it is the place where family tradition is renewed every day, amidst stainless steel, light and the scent of experimentation.