CookingRAK

Large, cohesive worktops with integrated systems – flush-mounted wherever possible – are currently a popular trend in kitchens as they meet today’s aesthetic style and hygiene standards. In their transition from working kitchens to modern kitchen-diners, worktops are also being equipped with ever greater functionality. The innovative CookingRAK hob reflects these developments and takes them one step further, with the integrated induction hob invisibly hidden beneath the countertop. This creates a seamlessly designed, multifunctional kitchen space and a new cooking experience: the surface that was just used for cooking can now be used to dine from or to deposit a glass. CookingRAK here makes innovative use of the potential offered by induction technology: since it uses magnetic fields to heat only the cooking utensils and their contents, but not the countertop itself, it is no longer necessary to have a formally designed hob. Based in the United Arab Emirates, the company RAK Ceramics combines the concealed induction hob with its simple, high-quality porcelain worktops – a concept that is both functionally and visually impressive. As the ideal material for countertops, porcelain offers maximum hardness, which is why the work surfaces are only 6 mm or 14 mm thick despite dimensions of 120 × 280 or 144 × 305 cm. They are also resistant to heat, UV light, moisture, staining and scratching, which makes them particularly durable. Thanks to the versatility of ceramic surfaces, the worktops are highly customisable: CookingRAK is available in a realistic marble and granite look, and it can imitate concrete or the appearance of rusty metal surfaces, or come in a muted solid colour – users can choose from over 50 options. The induction-cooking function is controlled either via a display on the side or with an app. The jury was impressed by this “astonishing” product: “This solution offers an elegant cooking environment with no visible electrical appliances; a generous, versatile platform which is great for communal use with friends and family. The durable porcelain surfaces have a natural and high-quality aesthetic, and bring elegance to the minimalist design concept.”