Poggenpohl is a German luxury kitchen furniture manufacturer that has been defining the concept of modern kitchens in Europe for generations. In 2022, Poggenpohl commissioned IFG to create a memorable brand touchpoint in Shanghai – a hybrid space for gathering and enjoyment, a highlight of individual living environments. We designed a center full of redefinitions: Sales play a minor role, while lifestyle and experience along community and communication are focused on. The result is an immersive experience space that expands and redefines what kitchen can be.

As a central place in many people's lives, the kitchen is not just a place to prepare food: it is the space where we celebrate the pleasure of enjoyment as a shared experience. That's why Poggenpohl's Experience Center focuses not only on the functionality of a kitchen, but also on the emotional experiences we have there. The kitchen becomes a feel-good place that can be individually designed according to personal preferences and needs. To explore and rediscover these, customers are immersed in a sensory journey that impressively demonstrates the full potential of a kitchen space. The zoning of the room is supported by the ceiling. While the showroom itself impresses with its openness, the ceiling elements give structure to the route through the exhibition. As the individual areas of the Experience Center are not separated by walls, visitors are constantly presented with new perspectives that merge seamlessly into one another and ensure a visual experience without interruptions. This composition encourages visitors to embark on a journey of discovery in which they get to know their own lifestyle.

At the center of the showroom is a large table that represents the overarching function of the kitchen: The place where communication takes place and community is created. The table is on castors and can easily be moved to create space for events. The central room is also intended as a venue and a stage - whether for products, events or other topics that find the right lifestyle backdrop here. This is where customer loyalty and community are created because people like to come back if they can learn or discover something new. The tour through the showroom ends in a café, which is fully equipped with Poggenpohl kitchen modules – these are equal elements in a lifestyle environment with works of art, accessories, and homely furniture.

In our staging nature and precision go together: floral dry landscapes and rattan meet geometry, order and the super-precise high-tech kitchen, which stands for a German promise of quality. Precision and craftsmanship are also evident in the objects on display, which are carefully placed in the showroom.

Combining two or more functions in one space together, instead of dividing the function and purpose into two spaces, can save cost, material and mostly space. It's a clever way of being especially sustainable and creating more importance to one place.