Systematic Poetry

Upper Swabia, where artisanal quality and a passion for precision are a long-standing tradition, is also home to furniture makers Kettnaker – and has been since 1870. Wolfgang Kettnaker – the fifth generation of his family to head the Dürmentingen-based company – provides lovers of clear-cut forms with the perfect solution for exquisitely aesthetic and individualisable storage space. The company's portfolio has recently been expanded to include tables and beds, which can be combined with its cabinet and storage systems to create complete interiors with a coordinated, consistent look. The concept behind Kettnaker's modular furniture range is a tradition that dates back to the 1970s, when the company began developing modular systems and offering customers an alternative to compact individual cabinets.

In the meantime, this flexible concept has been honed to perfection. The "ALEA" furniture range, for instance, allows the customer to combine the versatile carcass elements however he likes: they can be stacked on top of one another, strung together, placed in the middle of the room or attached to a wall. "Ultimately, it's the customer's creativity that gives rise to the actual piece of furniture," explains Wolfgang Kettnaker.

The "SOMA" system takes individualisation to extremes: thanks to a wide range of different front, side and top panels to suit any tastes and requirements, the outer shell can be designed totally independently of the functional inner core. The customer can choose from various woods and lacquer colours, back-lacquered glass and anodised aluminium. Because all the panels have the same thickness – a mere six millimetres – the entire surface remains flush no matter what combination of materials is selected.

Best of all, however, is the fact that the creative freedom provided by "SOMA" never ends. Because it uses magnetic contacts instead of screws, the panels can be exchanged at any time. A model in a single shade, for instance, can be transformed into a vividly colourful piece in next to no time. Thanks to this variability, customers are more likely to opt for more adventurous shades or combinations: "Anybody who fancies a neon-coloured sideboard can turn his dream into reality – without having to worry about whether he'll still like the colour a few years down the line," says Wolfgang Kettnaker. "He can change the furniture's appearance whenever he likes." With his innovative concept and distinctive furniture, all of which is made in Dürmentingen, Wolfgang Kettnaker appeals to customers throughout Europe – and even has a growing following in Russia. But experts find Kettnaker equally convincing: the upmarket furniture maker is the proud recipient of various design awards. UN

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Photos: Projekttriangle Design Studio / Tom Ziora, Kettnaker

Kettnaker GmbH & Co. KG
Bussenstr. 30
DE-88525 Dürmentingen
Tel. 0049 (0) 7371 9593 0
Fax 0049 (0) 7371 9593 20
info@kettnaker.com
www.kettnaker.com