A dream kitchen in a vaulted stable

Millimetre precision is required 

In Uzès in the Gard department of southern France, an architectural gem is concealed behind thick stone walls: despite all the structural challenges, German kitchen manufacturer bulthaup designed and installed an exclusive, 50 m2 kitchen with a BORA cooktop extractor system. 

The main challenge during this project was the historic building structure. After all, the kitchen is located in a former stable that dates back to the 13th century and has an extraordinary, vaulted structure, which the 55-year-old owner was adamant about preserving during the renovation. So how could angular kitchen units be integrated into the curved format of the arched recesses? 

To lose as little space as possible and make the kitchen both functional and aesthetically pleasing, millimetre precision was required. The row of kitchen units with a large sink and the tall unit offering storage space were precisely positioned under the vaulted arches in a unique interplay with the shapes. 

A radiant ambience through optimum lighting 

The architectural sophistication behind this construction project is also evident in the windows: these look out onto the green courtyard and were also precisely incorporated into the arched area beneath the vault. The tall, slender glass opening, which divides the row of units in two and has been designed to imitate a chapel window, is a particular highlight. This even enables you to catch a glimpse of the grazing horses in the paddock behind the house while cooking. 

With regard to artificial light, the lights over the cooking island deserve particular mention. The delicate contours of the pendant fixture are reminiscent of a web that has been neatly spun in the old vault. This therefore integrates into the historic environment while also being an eye-catching, modern feature that optimally stages the prominently positioned cooking island and accentuates the cosy, cocoon-like atmosphere. 

High-quality materials, timeless design 

The room is dominated by the cooking island in the middle. This provides ample worktop space, plenty of seating and enough room for a BORA Professional with an induction cooktop and a Tepan stainless steel grill. The vaulted structure meant that it was impossible to install an extractor hood but it was still essential to ensure that the odour of freshly cooked food did not destroy the time-honoured atmosphere. 

After having the opportunity to test several BORA appliances in one of our showrooms, the clients quickly knew which cooktop extractor system they wanted. They are not only entirely satisfied with it due to the effective vapour extraction, but also because it integrates perfectly into the minimalist kitchen from a visual perspective. 

Like BORA, bulthaup is committed to high-quality materials, aesthetics and ergonomics: the worktop is made from terrazzo and the tall units from solid oak and aluminium, plus the light grey and taupe kitchen fronts go perfectly with the colour of the old masonry. This not only makes the core structure of the former stable a timeless gem, but also the sophisticated kitchen.