The Tangram project by Garcia Cumini for Cesar exalts the curve and its infinite possible combinations. Inspired by the ancient Chinese game of geometric shapes that can be combined to create endless figures, the Italian brand’s product echoes modular logic while avoiding linearity and introducing a new concept of sinuosity to kitchen design. Adapting to various needs, the furniture designs’ eccentric shapes are not made up of simple semi-circles or portions of circles but rather follow a soft and variable radius. “The Tangram project, designed for Cesar, allowed us to bring a part of our design concept to the world of kitchens as well,” say Vicente Garcia and Cinzia Cumini from the design and creative direction studio based in Italy. “In addition to the multi-functional nature of the projects designed up until now with Tangram, we were also able to introduce a fluidity and dynamism that is certainly rather uncommon in this sector,” they add.

The product design is made up of five curved elements that can be combined with straight elements at will to build kitchen islands with unusual shapes, compositions set against the wall, or even solutions that wrap around corners. To accentuate Tangram’s fluidity, the cabinet door features a special decorative detail upon request: a three-dimensional element called Groove—a sequence of vertical incisions which create an irregular pattern, designed to hide the joint between modules and ensure a unitary perception of the arrangement. The irregular contour, the alternation between full and empty spaces and the play of light and shadows conceal the openings of the doors, thus contributing to the final camouflaged effect.

The same look of continuous sinuosity is created by the Macaron detail present along the edge of the stone worktop, which recalls a traditional drip-saving groove, making the rounded edge (created by hand using ancient techniques) both functional and aesthetically pleasing. “The rounded shapes are based on variable radii to create a sinuous and fluid outline that not only makes the product unique, but also contributes to conceiving these spaces from a different perspective, with a freer design style that liberates itself of the rectangular concept,” the Italian designers explain.

To enhance every detail of the project, the new Oi and Accento handles are available, designed to fit into the three dimensional grooves of the cabinet doors. Furthermore, the Tangram cupboard completes the collection, available as a wall element or in a two-faced version, which can also be used in the living room or dining room, helping to create fluidity and continuity in the transition between these environments. The overall collection adds an original, contemporary and feminine touch to the home.

Cesar Nuance and Groove

The study of diverse textures and colours remains the focal point of Cesar’s collaboration with the Garcia Cumini studio. Their joint project boldly embraces contrasts, combining luminous aesthetics and rich textures and featuring a sophisticated and ever-evolving colour palette that ranges from lighter hues to darker and bolder tones, all applied to increasingly unique and innovative surfaces. This has led to the development of unique finishes, in terms of both material and colour, resulting in a chromatic texture that exalts tactile and visual perceptions.

This design concept continues with Nuance, a study of abstract visual language through which Cesar and the Garcia Cumini studio explore the subtle shades of colour on glass. Drawing inspiration from the sophisticated glasswork of the last century, Nuance features a dynamic use of colour that evokes the fluidity of polished and frosted glass, seamlessly combining substance and translucence for a soft and silky finish. The Groove door, on the other hand, with its irregular pattern of three-dimensional vertical grooves designed specifically to camouflage the joints between modules and give the impression of a single unified surface, is also created in oak.

One of the most interesting applications of the Nuance finish and the oak Groove door can be admired in the new worktops and doors for the Tangram collection. Nuance makes it possible to create elegant visual effects, displaying the sophisticated variations in colour of the Tangram island. Meanwhile, the Groove door, with its interplay of positive and negative space, creates a chiaroscuro effect that helps to camouflage and conceal the openings of the doors.

Complementing the Tangram island is The 50’s double-sided system aiming to meet the growing demand for flexible spaces as a corner solution. Available in both wall-mounted and double-sided versions, this corner structure is perfect for the kitchen, dining room, living room, or any other space that one may wish to segregate with a ‘wall’ through furniture that can easily transform and adapt with time.