In the renovation project, by Illichmann architecture studio, the main feature is a large Ego island kitchen, topped by a hood also made to measure by Abimis.
Haus M-M is the name of this detached house in Kirchdorf an der Krems, in northern Austria, renovated and extended by Illichmann architecture. The three-storey house was built in the late 1800s but bears the signs of a recent intervention, mainly aimed at reorganising the layout, and adding the attic floor, as well as new balconies and a large wooden barn.
Almost every part of the shell has been renovated with a clearly contemporary layout, but historical remnants make their mark on the interior design, telling the story of the house. Some parts of the original wood and ceramic floor, the many antiques and modern items, and the renovated wooden frames interact in an authentic narrative with the new neutral-toned architecture.
The kitchen, the heart of the design, draws all the attention
The kitchen is no exception, being placed exactly where there was a non-load-bearing wall, which was knocked down to create the large airy space. Traces of the change are preserved on the floor, half in parquet and half in original ceramic. The large kitchen with a central island, made of stainless steel, creates a sharp contrast of material and attracts the observer’s attention, taking over the space. It is the Ego line by Abimis, made entirely to measure with the quality standards of professional catering.
An Ego island by Abimis made of stainless steel
The island, made of orbitally polished steel, is a pure and uniform volume, with no visible joins. It has rounded handles, also made of steel, typical of the Ego collection. The kitchen structure complements the top by generating a compact, uninterrupted line that follows a monolithic block in size and finish. The cooking area is located here, topped by a large extractor hood also made by Abimis and accessorised with thin linear LED strips. The sides are punctuated by drawers and rounded corners, with their characteristic 50s-inspired aesthetics, while the retracted skirting board further softens the design.
However, white lacquered wooden bases and columns have been placed on the wall, integrated into the architecture and almost disappearing from sight to leave the role of protagonist to the Ego central island.
All the surfaces are slightly reflective and interact with the lighting. In addition to the LED tracks, the two windows and the large mirrored back wall contribute to flooding the room with light, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
Haus M-M is a cultured design where past and present live happily side by side. For this reason it has been awarded the BIG See Interior Design Award 2024, selected from various residential designs in Austria.
Interior’s project: illichmann-architecture
Photography: Kurt Kuball
