100 Years in the making of Kitchens
Francesca Molteni for M Magazine, April 2026
WHAT DO A PENTHOUSE ON LEONARD STREET IN MANHATTAN, A NEIGHBOURHOOD OF 56 VILLAS IN THE ANCIENT CITY OF SUZHOU IN CHINA, A VICTORIAN MANSION IN LONDON, A 150M TOWER IN THE HEART OF SHANGHAI, AND 375 NEW RESIDENCES AT NEW YORK’S WALDORF ASTORIA HAVE IN COMMON?
They are all exclusive spaces designed for extraordinary living, crafted with artisanal mastery, an obsession for detail, fine materials, and a distinctly Italian blend of creativity and technology – dreams conceived to stand the test of time. In this respect, they are much like the Molteni&C Kitchen collections that furnish them: bespoke, tailor-made solutions shaped by the expertise of Dada Engineered, the company division that stands as a hallmark of innovation in the world of kitchens.
Intersection Kitchen by Vincent Van Duysen
Details showcasing Molteni&C Kitchen’s technical mastery of marble
This is a story that spans a century, beginning in 1926, when Dada was founded as an artisan workshop in Marcallo, near Milan. Every stage of production took place in-house, driven by research, passion and craftsmanship, setting a benchmark in the world of kitchens. In 1979, Dada joined the Molteni&C universe, opening the door to new opportunities: advanced technologies, fresh synergies and visionary designers such as Luca Meda. The result was immediate – Dada established itself as a high-end brand in the kitchen sector.
1981, Coriandolo by Luca Meda
Over time, Dada’s offerings became increasingly flexible, modular, and adaptable. Vela, Nuvola, Banco, Tivalì, Hi-Line, Set, Trim – iconic designs that provided a wide range of choices to suit different tastes, trends and needs. Dada also expanded onto the international stage. Sir Norman Foster selected it for the residences at Albion Wharf in Battersea, for which he designed Place, a kitchen tailored specifically for London living. Giorgio Armani chose Dada for the towers he furnished around the world, leading to the creation of the Armani | Dada brand. Herzog & de Meuron reimagined the Manhattan skyline and commissioned Dada for the 145 kitchens at Leonard Street.
One of the custom-made kitchens at 56 Leonard Street in New York, based on a design by Herzog & de Meuron, featuring black islands with original granite countertops
56 Leonard Street, New York
These are not just kitchens, but integrated systems concealing advanced technologies. The rotating column, developed by R&D, is a pantry with remarkable storage capacity. The kitchen becomes a laboratory for ideas, projects and materials. It begins with good ingredients – the rest is alchemy, experimentation and practice. There is no perfect recipe; everyone brings something of their own. In this sense, the kitchen is much like Italy itself, a country in transformation, yet with a few core principles that lie at its heart – the centrality of family, and the importance of providing a place for sharing.
In the early 1990s, Dada delivered the operational column, featuring the patented Fold&Slide opening system that makes everything accessible. The kitchen evolved into a true workstation. Precision and hyper-specialisation took centre stage, and Dada became Molteni&C Kitchen – the cutting edge of production.
In the early 1990s, Dada delivered the operational column, featuring the patented Fold&Slide opening system that makes everything accessible. The kitchen evolved into a true workstation. Precision and hyper-specialisation took centre stage, and Dada became Molteni&C Kitchen – the cutting edge of production.
A custom Molteni&C Kitchen at Jean Nouvel’s 53 West 53 tower in New York
A custom Molteni&C Kitchen at The West Hollywood EDITION, designed by John Pawson using a sophisticated selection of quality materials and details
Then, in the 2000s, another leap forward: Vincent Van Duysen, creative director of Molteni&C, introduced monolithic volumes, rigorous proportions, and tactile surfaces with VVD and Ratio.
Ratio Kitchen by Vincent Van Duysen
These were fully integrated kitchen systems – an architecture within architecture – balancing form and proportion in innovative ways. Van Duysen is also behind Physis, set to debut this year: a concept where base units, wall units and tall units share a unified construction logic and aesthetic. Soft, rounded lines shape fluid, continuous spaces. It is a vision designed to reach every corner of the world, redefining the codes and language of the kitchen – just as a century of history, and an unwavering commitment to quality, continues to demonstrate.
Physis Kitchen by Vincent Van Duysen
Physis Kitchen by Vincent Van Duysen
Physis Kitchen by Vincent Van Duysen
issue 19
take a look inside
take a look inside
Cultural Collaboration
For UniFor, design has always been about more than just a product: each object the company creates represents a dialogue between the user and maker, and embodies its vision for how a space should make you feel.
Architecture, Jane McRae for M Magazine, 号 18
Spring System
Standing desks have a long and illustrious history, early proponents commissioned high desks directly from carpenters, or used the taller shelves of bookcases, until manually adjustable sit-stand desks were invented. UniFor’s latest workstation, however, the Spring System designed by architect Antonio Citterio, uses springs to counteract the weight of the desk as it rises.
Design, Helen Gonzalez Brown for M Magazine, 号 18
The Monk Chair
When Monk re-enters Molteni&C’s catalogue this year, it will mark 35 years since the chair was last in production. “Designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, ‘Monk’ is simple and solid,” reads the company’s 1990 catalogue.
Design, Oli Stratford for M Magazine, 号 18