In the historic centre of Caserta, among the narrow alleys and the elegant architecture of its avenues, stands a residence with a romantic name: Maison des Agrumes. Dating back to the nineteenth century, then remodelled in the early twentieth century, the villa has recently been renovated by the architectural firm AU40 and transformed into a haven of tranquillity and beauty for a couple of entrepreneurs from Campania.
The design comprised the total rearrangement of the three floors, as well as the construction of a new building, making the villa into an “L” shape, perfectly combining the indoor and outdoor spaces.
The interior design
The interior design of the Maison des Agrumes is distinguished by its neutral, soft and bright colours, chosen by the designers to coordinate with the original floor in untreated Rapolano travertine, a warm honey coloured stone. The sand-coloured walls are the backdrop to the furnishings and accessories made of natural materials (mainly wood, iron and leather) with textural finishes.
A beautiful cross ceiling, a legacy of 19th-century architecture, frames the living area with an open kitchen. Then wide rounded openings communicate with the arches of the outdoor porch, which filters the view towards the peaceful internal courtyard with the pool in the middle.
The symmetry of the Ego kitchen
It is precisely in this harmonious setting that the Abimis Ego kitchen is installed, made of hand-orbitally polished steel with glossy handles, which stands out as a strong contrast of modernity in this rather classic environment.
The kitchen follows a kind of rigid symmetry, perhaps a tribute to the stylistic features of metaphysical art, so clear in the steadiness of the twentieth-century arches of the façade. It is a perfectly balanced composition, which fits faultlessly into the open-plan living area on the ground floor.
Giovanni Maria Santonicola, one of the founders of the firm AU40, comments on the choice of kitchen: “In this timeless setting, the steel kitchen provides a marked contrast, almost like a spaceship. And, among other things, it reflects the lights and shadows generated by the arches during the day”.
The sculptural lines of the Ego kitchen by Abimis thus become, in Santonicola’s design, a privileged visual reference point within the room. On the opposite wall, as a contrast, a large masonry fireplace in the middle of the wall seems to testify to the handover between the old and the new domestic hearth.
The symmetry of the Ego kitchen plays on two elements. In the centre of the room stands an island with a double sink and a generous snack bar; a multifunctional block, designed for preparing and plating food, but also ideal for quick breakfasts.
On the back wall, however, a fixed element seems to frame the sculptural shape of the island.
Here, the top houses a single sink and double built-in hob, topped by a fume hood (also made of orbitally polished steel). At the two ends, a double mirrored cabinet contains the refrigeration area and the pantry.
A personalised sculpture kitchen
Thanks to its ability to customise every kitchen, down to the smallest detail, from shapes to sizes, from equipment to finishes, Abimis has created this solution to respond to the designer’s intuition. The architect Santonicola had asked Abimis not only for a perfectly functional and very high performance professional derived kitchen, but also and above all for a kitchen that seems to have always been an integral part of the house. Therefore, it is not only a kitchen, but a designer feature focusing the attention of the whole living room, communicating with the fireplace and with the cross vaults of the lounge.
The characteristics of the Ego kitchen by Abimis
The Ego kitchen stands out due to its clean and elegant design, which fits perfectly into both contemporary and more traditional environments. Designed by the architect Alberto Torsello, the Ego range of kitchens by Abimis combines a strong professional vocation with a delicate line inspired by the 1960s. Details such as joint-free worktops for easy cleaning, raised, spill-proof edges, flush, round-shaped doors without visible hinges (Abimis patent), make Ego an excellent choice for those who want a high-performance, designer kitchen in their home.
Furthermore, every kitchen in the Ego range, like all Abimis kitchens, is exclusively made to measure and is entirely composed of AISI 304 steel, an alloy known for its durability, hygiene, resistance and suitability for food contact.
