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The Libera Outdoor Kitchen Is Versatile + Intuitive Design

09.08.21 | By
The Libera Outdoor Kitchen Is Versatile + Intuitive Design

This month, during Milan Design Week, Elmar will reveal the Libera outdoor kitchen at the Milan headquarters of Archiproducts in the Tortona district. Meant for the outdoors, but equally ready to go to work inside, Libera’s design comes from reflecting on contemporary living: versatile and easy to insert into spaces. Designed by architects Marco Merendi and Diego Vencato, it’s compact, elegant and functional. Colored cement allows for an organic feeling that can find itself at home anywhere from a country house to a city loft.

open space kitchen on light background

“When we talked to Elmar about the idea of making an outdoor concrete kitchen, we had the clear objective of creating an object with an independent language, therefore far from those products – already on the market – in which concrete had simply been replaced with other materials,” said Merendi and Vencato of the Italian kitchen and bath company. “We wanted a kitchen that would relate to people as an open architecture, made of transparency and in harmony with the surrounding environment: therefore, it is not a full volume, but a filter that allows light and colors to pass through.”

open space styled kitchen on light background

The open air design of the Libera kitchen found its initial inspiration in the modernist architecture of the mid-twentieth century, it features load-bearing structures in metal and infill in prefabricated concrete. The function of each element is apparent and in harmony with the material used. Following suit, the construction system, transportation and assembly are also simplified.

Environmental sustainability is another important part of this project. The cement used is a new high-performance and completely eco-sustainable material – Ce-mentoskin®. It uses a water-based, emission-free production cycle and has subtle, refined qualities characterized by a surface finish that’s similar to velvet in touch. Choose from anthracite, rust, lichen, ocean and cloud.

overhead shot of open space styled kitchen on concrete floor

overhead shot of open space styled kitchen on concrete floor

detail of open space kitchen drawer and outlet

open space kitchen in situ against light wall

open space kitchen in situ with light on against light wall

earthy colors stacked against one another

open space kitchen outdoors against rocky wall with vegetation

detail of open space kitchen outdoors against rocky wall with vegetation

open space kitchen outdoors against rocky wall with vegetation

detail of open space kitchen outdoors

overhead shot of open space kitchen outdoors with vegetation

To learn more about the Libera kitchen, visit elmarcucine.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.