Young talents
Two in one
Cooking and eating at the same table – how exactly does your diploma project work?
Sam Lombardo: This dining table conceals an induction system that makes it possible to prepare table-top dishes without additional equipment, or to use it as a hob. You can cook while watching your children, work while making coffee or tea, cook a dish surrounded by friends, keep your food warm or even cook your raclette directly on the table.
How can users manage the power supply and activation of the induction system?
Sam Lombardo: On this model, the system can be managed by a remote control integrated into the table's structure. A smartphone application is also available.
Can spare parts be replaced if necessary, for example for repairs?
Sam Lombardo: The induction system can be easily removed from the underside of the hob for repair or replacement.
Similar concepts for fully integrated induction hobs, such as those from Gaggenau or Atoll, are more likely to be designed for a fixed position in the room. Why did you opt for a flexible solution in the form of a lightweight table?
Sam Lombardo: Today's kitchens are usually built as fixed modules with standard dimensions. Through a table, which is a free piece of furniture, I want to question the current archetype of the fixed, condemned kitchen. I see it more as furniture that you can buy and build yourself, at a much more attractive price. I like to think that this table could be the next step after the open kitchen and the kitchen island.
To what extent could your project be produced for the market at this stage?
Sam Lombardo: This single prototype works, but at this stage I'd like to further develop certain aspects of the table and the heating system before the market.
How would you like to continue revolutionizing the kitchen and communal dining in the future?
Sam Lombardo: What interests me is trying to create a kitchen environment where objects complement each other to vary their functions, thus limiting their quantity and saving space. That's what I wanted to do with "The Table of the Future", which integrates both a hob and the many heating elements we have to make different table dishes, such as an electric grill.
I also want to keep conviviality and sharing in mind for my future projects. The table incorporates these values, because I've always loved to see the table as more than just a table. Above all, it's a work surface where you cook, eat and spend time with family and friends. In fact, at the start of the project, I organized a dinner party where the experience was to cook on a dining table and have all the guests participate with me in the preparation of the meal. Over a glass of wine and a chat, we all prepared the meal together. I wasn't alone in the kitchen, and preparing the meal was part of the evening. The kitchen had taken its place in the center of the house, and I had upset the practice of cooking, which usually takes place behind the backs of the guests.
