In the modern luxury home, the kitchen has become the ultimate power play.
More than a utilitarian space for meal preparation, the kitchen is a status symbol, a gallery of high-performance engineering that mirrors the supercars parked in the driveway below. For the developers and designers shaping the world’s most exclusive residences, the selection of appliances plays a critical role in shaping the narrative of the home.
To understand the future of this space, we sat down with Sven Baacke, Head of Design at Gaggenau. Baacke, a 20-year veteran of the legendary German manufacturer, shared the decade-long journey behind the launch of the new Expressive series. The Bauhaus-inspired line is challenging the industry’s obsession with flat touchscreens and returning a sense of soul and tactile experiences to the heart of the home.
The soul of the machine
Gaggenau has unveiled their new collection of built-in appliances with the release of the Expressive series. The collection hides technical elements typically visible, creating a refined, seamless appearance across a collection of ovens, a fully-automatic coffee machine, a vacuuming drawer and a culinary warming drawer.
The centerpiece of the Expressive series, and its defining feature, is a single floating stainless steel ring, functioning as the control knob.
“It’s like a steering wheel,” says Baacke. “You’re always in control. It’s very digital behind the scenes, but you have this tactile, sensory experience. You can feel the click, the precision. It’s not just functional, but beautiful.”
This return to haptics is a conscious rebellion against the ubiquity of flat glass, buttons and touchscreens. For the developers shaping today’s luxury residences, this distinction is vital. In a space where every material is curated, an appliance that offers a sensory response becomes an anchor of authenticity.
Engineering the invisible
To achieve the “Expressive” look, Gaggenau’s engineering team had to perform what Baacke describes as “dancing in chains.” The limitations of a kitchen environment are brutal: extreme heat, aggressive steam, and the uncompromising safety requirements of modern appliances.
One of the most significant breakthroughs in the series was the relocation of the heating elements in the ovens. Historically, heating components were visible within the oven cavity, creating a cluttered, industrial look that was difficult to clean.
“We asked our engineers: ‘Why can’t we put all the technology behind the enamel surface?'” Baacke says. “It was a hell of a lot of work to find a solution for the same heat distribution from a hidden element. It’s a small thing you might not recognize at first glance, but it’s a story of a thousand little improvements that create the final soul of the product.”
The result is a minimalist inner frame design with hand-finished, brushed stainless steel, punctuated only by the floating control knob. The passe-partout presentation has been compared to a gallery frame, displaying culinary creations like artwork.
Appealing to the culinary obsessives
Gaggenau understands that their customer isn’t looking to put aesthetics before performance; they want both. Baacke notes that, while the technology is approachable, it respects the craft of cooking.
“During a panel we hosted with Michelin-star chefs they agreed: this isn’t a device you put food into and have a perfect meal materialize,” Baacke says. “You need to know how to handle it. Much like a supercar, it’s not always easy to drive, but for those who know, the experience is incomparable.”
For the developer aiming to define the absolute ceiling of the luxury market, the inclusion of Gaggenau is a powerful signal of uncompromising excellence.
“Our appliances serve as the architectural signature that validates a property’s pedigree,” says Baacke.
In the context of a high-end penthouse, where every square foot is optimized for prestige, the Expressive series serves as the ultimate design anchor, providing a tangible sense of quality that sophisticated buyers can feel the moment they enter the room.
Backcasting to the future
For a brand founded in 1683, Gaggenau has a knack for remaining relevant. Utilizing a method known as backcasting, Baacke’s team looks forward two decades to imagine how society, healthy living and mega-cities will evolve, then “jumps back” to the present to ensure their designs won’t become outdated.
“In a world where everything gets dematerialized and all tech looks the same, the real luxury is materiality and tangibility,” Baacke says. “We’re creating products to survive generations. We’ve seen our ovens from the 80’s on auction sites because they still work and look beautiful. We want the Expressive series to carry that same legacy thirty years from now.”
Designed to be timeless, the Expressive series represents a synthesis of contradictions: it is highly complex yet looks effortless; it is deeply rooted in tradition but utilizes cutting-edge sensors that recognize a user’s approach.
“Absolute beauty and absolute function usually work against each other,” says Baacke. “Gaggenau is about the symbiosis of the two.”
To learn more about Gaggenau’s Expressive series, visit their website.