Be Inspired

V-ZUG and The Modern Kitchen That Inspires

The Swiss-made brand V-Zug believes that the modern home kitchen should be an inspiring place for both work and creativity.

In 1926, Austrian architect Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky created the first modern fitted kitchen, the Frankfurt Kitchen for the Ernst May housing project. She envisioned a unified and modular kitchen system that would optimise cooking and domestic chores. This, she believed, would allow women at the time to devote more time and energy to work and other pursuits.

Schütte-Lihotzky approached kitchen design in a scientific and rational manner, measuring the time it took to complete each kitchen process. Using this data, she designed an ergonomic kitchen for the most efficient workflow.

She also connected the kitchen and the living room, but added a sliding door to provide a soft separation between work and living. In a way, the Frankfurt Kitchen mirrored Schütte-Lihotzky’s personal perspective on daily life: “Firstly, [life] is work, and secondly it is relaxing, company, pleasures.”

Although these elements of the home would hardly impress the modern dweller, the Frankfurt Kitchen had set the precedent for the modern fitted kitchen typology.

A few years prior to the emergence of the Frankfurt Kitchen, a humble family-owned manufacturer in the Swiss canton of Zug invented the first hand-operated drum washing machine for Swiss homes. They were Verzinkerei Zug, later known as V-ZUG, a premium Swiss brand that would be well-known for its wide range of high-quality home and kitchen appliances.

Like Schütte-Lihotzky, V-ZUG pioneered inventions that automate household tasks to make daily life easier. Since its first washing machine, V-ZUG has continued to innovate and set new standards in environmentally-conscious washing machines, avant-garde kitchen ranges, and sleek minimalist designs with Swiss-made precision.

Thanks to revolutionary visions like that of V-ZUG and the Frankfurt Kitchen, the home kitchen has evolved from a sooty, poorly ventilated place of monotonous labour to an inspiring place that improves modern life.

V-ZUG’s flagship product, the Combi-Steam oven, was the first combination oven to hit the market in 2001 and introduced home cooks to “new dimensions of roasting and baking”.

INNOVATIONS FOR AN INSPIRING MODERN-DAY KITCHEN

More adventurous epicurean experiences are now available to home cooks thanks to simplified processes. When cooking and tasks are made more efficient, time and energy can be directed toward the more enjoyable and creative aspects of cooking.

Our relationship with food has also changed dramatically over the years as a result. We look at some modern kitchen innovations that reflect those changes.

Appliances that make delicious and nutritious home cooking convenient.
Many home cooks today are seeking something more than 'hand-to-mouth' sustenance and focusing on holistic and nourishing food instead. As modern appliances become more technologically advanced, preparing healthy meals at home using techniques such as steaming and sous-vide cooking also no longer necessitates a complex, multi-equipment kitchen setup.

New kitchen staples that support complex recipes.
As home cooks become more adventurous with their recipes, once-exclusive appliances and fixtures like vacuum drawers, dehydrators and wine chillers are becoming more common in modern home kitchens. Some may even consider such appliances to be modern kitchen necessities today,

Seamless design, integrated features and controls.
Modern kitchens are more integrated and streamlined as a result of technological advances that allow kitchen appliances to blend in seamlessly with interior design. From finger-touch controls and digital displays to flush-fitted knobs and integrated appliance drawers, clunky knobs and handles will soon be a thing of the past.

Pairing kitchen innovations with inspirational recipes.
Home cooks in the 21st century are resourceful and knowledgeable meal planners. They learn to reinvent recipes and master cooking techniques simply by watching other more experienced cooks online. Knowing how much they can learn from the Internet, home cooks today want to know everything they can achieve with their home kitchens.

V-ZUG’s integrated vacuum seal drawers are a vital accompaniment to steam ovens because they make steaming and sous-vide cooking so simple and keep food fresh for longer.

THE ROLE OF THE KITCHEN IN THE MODERN HOME

As our modern world becomes more hectic and we are forced to re-examine our relationships with food, more people are turning to their home kitchens for adventurous culinary pursuits, self-expression, holistic nutrition and wellness, and meaningful connections with others. For some, the kitchen has even taken the place of the living room as the focal point for entertaining and bonding.

As a result, the modern home kitchen is a well-invested and curated space that reflects the user's personality, taste, values, and imagination. It is a site for both labour and recreation, where everyday cooking goes beyond sustenance and maintenance.

V-ZUG understands this critical role that the kitchen plays in our modern homes. Despite the abundance of options on the market, the brand inspires creativity in home cooks by innovating cutting-edge appliances that make the modern home kitchen a truly enabling space.

Meyer Mansion show flat.
The kitchens in Meyer Mansion are equipped with a suite of V-Zug appliances that make everyday cooking effortless. This includes state-of-the-art range hoods, hobs, combination ovens and vacuum seal drawers.