At the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first, kitchens underwent significant changes with the advent of post-modern design and an increasing focus on wellbeing and quality of life. Modular kitchens became increasingly customisable and companies began to experiment not only with materials, finishes and accessories, but also with the design itself.

Modularity plays a fundamental role in this evolution, as it means the ability to combine individual kitchen components to meet the specific needs of the space. Cesar, an Italian company specialising in this sector, has taken this direction with the Tangram project designed by Garcia Cumini, inspired by the ancient Chinese game based on the idea that a certain number of geometric shapes, when combined in different ways, can create ever new figures.

Composed of five curved elements combined with straight door modules, Tangram allows you to create kitchens with unusual geometries. The different combinations can be used to create both wall compositions or corners, as well as islands that become the focal point of the room. Not only does this allow the kitchen to adapt to its surroundings, but it also offers the possibility of defining the entire layout of the room through the elements themselves.

“The Tangram project designed for Cesar has allowed us to bring part of our design code into the world of kitchens. In addition to the versatility of the objects we have designed so far, with Tangram we have also introduced a fluidity and dynamism that is quite unusual in this sector. The lines have softened thanks to the newly designed modules, a challenging element in an industrial system, but one that Cesar is happy to accept. The roundness dictated by the variable radius creates a sinuosity in the stroke, a fluidity that is not only a product code, but also contributes to thinking about spaces with a different perspective, a freer design that goes beyond the concept of the rectangle!” say Vicente Garcia and Cinzia Cumini.

In line with the company's ideals, and driven by continuous research, the project is enriched by a new finish, Nuance, presented at Milan Design Week 2024, applied to a Tangram island in its satin version. Inspired by the artisanal processing of glass, Nuance aims to recreate an effect reminiscent of the fluidity of glossy or etched glass, using the characteristics of the glass itself to accentuate and enhance the colour shades of the kitchen.

At the customer’s request, it is also possible to install the Groove door, a three-dimensional finish with vertical grooves that cleverly hide the joints between the modules. This creates a seamless visual effect, masking the door openings and contributing to the final mimicry for a uniform and pleasing effect.