Simple Cuisine Gallery, the first kitchen museum and flagship showroom of Veneta Cucine in Anhui, China, was brought to life by renowned architects Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee of HAS Design and Research.
Project Name: Simple Cuisine Gallery
Studio Name: HAS design and research
Location: Hefei, China
Completion year: 2024
Lead architects: Jenchieh Hung, Kulthida Songkittipakdee
Design team: Jenchieh Hung, Kulthida Songkittipakdee, Atithan Pongpitak
Lighting consultant: Jenna Tsailin Liu
Lighting technology: Visual Feast (VF)
Kitchen consultant: Weili Yang
Construction consultant: Zaiwei Song
Constructor: Guangdong Xingyi Decoration Group Anhui Co., Ltd
Site area: 420 sq.m.
Gross built area: 420 sq.m.
Photo credit: W Workspace
Founded in 1967 by visionary Italian craftsman Giacomo Archiutti, Veneta Cucine embodies the essence of Italian industrial design, with kitchen furniture that blends meticulous craftsmanship with a deep commitment to sustainability, fostering public awareness of green living.
Amid the backdrop of newly developed urban sprawl—glass office towers, concrete residential blocks, and vibrant commercial spaces—the design initially seemed detached from its surroundings. However, Hung And Songkittipakdee (HAS) discovered a hidden gem on the site’s edge: a small, linear forest. This overlooked green space, with a winding path through spiny trees leading to a secluded waterfall, offers a serene refuge from the city’s chaos. The sound of flowing water and the calming beauty of nature create a tranquil escape from the urban noise, a hidden oasis amid the concrete jungle.
More than a mere display space, the Simple Cuisine Gallery aims to heal and inspire. Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, founders and architects of HAS Design and Research, envisioned a design that reconnects visitors with nature, even in an urban jungle. The building’s facades flow like streams, mimicking waterfalls, breathing life into the architecture. Meticulous attention to detail in the surface width and depth creates a natural vitality, offering visitors a sense of belonging as they enter.
At the entrance, hundreds of facade strips rise like cascading waterfalls, forming a valley-like opening. This undulating surface transitions into a skylit ceiling, where light floods in, evoking a spiritual and ritualistic experience. In the central Light Core, a tranquil inner plaza appears, hidden like a cave behind the waterfall. During special events, it transforms into a versatile space for workshops, culinary classes, art seminars, and exhibitions, redefining the traditional showroom and imbuing it with cultural and artistic significance.
The gallery offers six multifunctional kitchen spaces, each infused with natural elements. Visitors encounter waterfalls, undulating surfaces, and natural light filters, turning each space into a living work of art. The design transcends function, offering a sensory journey of texture, light, sound, and scent, enriching the visitor’s experience with cultural depth and natural beauty.
In the fragmented urban landscape, the Simple Cuisine Gallery stands as a testament to art, sustainability, and the transformative power of architecture to inspire and nurture the human spirit.
