Platinum Home Appliances Design · 2026
Element Kitchen Hood
- A' Design Award 2026 Platinum Winner in Home Appliances Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Elica
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 876,849
- Verification code 3DD179F663 · Verify this award
About Element Kitchen Hood
Element is a kitchen hood designed for contemporary kitchens. The body combines glass and black steel with white backlit touch controls. An additional modular shelf can be added, making the hood more versatile and adaptable to different requirements. Lighting is diffused over the hob, and the intensity is adjustable through a dimmer function. The perimeter suction is hidden from view, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity allow operation through an application, voice assistants or manual controls. A quiet motor keeps noise low during use.
Fabrizio Crisa's Element Kitchen Hood emerges from a design tradition that seeks to elevate utilitarian domestic objects into objects of contemplation, merging the functional imperatives of kitchen ventilation with the formal vocabulary of contemporary sculptural installation. The work participates in an ongoing conversation within appliance design that questions the historical relegation of functional equipment to purely utilitarian status, instead proposing that objects serving essential domestic purposes might simultaneously contribute to the aesthetic and spatial experience of interior environments. The hood's pronounced horizontal orientation and suspended mounting suggest affinities with minimalist architectural interventions, where simple geometric forms acquire presence through precise proportion, considered material selection, and thoughtful integration with surrounding space. The perimeter LED illumination represents a particularly accomplished detail, transforming what might conventionally appear as mere task lighting into an atmospheric element that defines the appliance's silhouette while casting gentle luminosity upon the workspace below. Material choices demonstrate sophisticated restraint: the matte black finish absorbs rather than reflects, lending visual weight and gravitas, while the vertical duct in complementary gunmetal establishes continuity without monotony. The composition of the presentation itself merits consideration, positioning the hood within a complete environmental context that demonstrates its capacity to anchor a refined contemporary kitchen space characterized by natural materials, filtered daylight, and organic accents. One might observe how the steam rising from the cooking vessel beneath offers subtle testimony to the appliance's functional purpose while contributing atmospheric softness to the otherwise precisely geometric scene. This work invites contemplation of how designed objects shape our daily domestic rituals and how functional necessity might be reconciled with aspirations toward beauty.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The minimalist design, the combination of glass and black steel, and the backlit touch controls in white make the product design-friendly and in line with today's appliances. The additional shelf makes the cooker hood even more versatile and customisable, adapting to different customer requirements. The lighting is diffused over the hob and is adjustable in intensity thanks to the dimmer function.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 1200 x 487 mm x 694-1289 mm
- Tags
- hood, shelf, dimmer, kitchen hood, Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth, whisper-quiet motor, energy efficiency, modular design, remote control, auto mode, extended filter life, smart appliance
- Production Technology
- The Element hood by Elica is made using precise glass cutting and stainless steel bending. The components are assembled with welding and finishing for an elegant and functional design.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was blending cutting-edge technology with a clean, modular aesthetic. Achieving whisper-quiet operation required redesigning motor components within space constraints. Additionally, integrating Wi-Fi and Bluetooth systems that seamlessly communicate with induction hobs demanded advanced software and hardware coordination, all while ensuring easy maintenance and environmental sustainability.
- Project Duration
- The project started in november 2023 in Fabriano at Elica HQ, and was exhibited in Salone del Mobile in April 2024
- Operation Flow
- Users interact with Element via the Elica app, voice assistants, or manual controls. The hood auto-adjusts extraction power in real time by connecting with induction hobs via Bluetooth. Its whisper-quiet motor ensures minimal noise during use. Modular shelves can be added for customized storage, enhancing kitchen aesthetics and functionality.
- Research
- The research focused on integrating smart connectivity and noise reduction in kitchen hoods. Objectives included enhancing user interaction via apps and voice commands, improving energy efficiency, and prolonging filter lifespan. Methodologies encompassed electronic motor innovation, materials research, and user behavior analysis. Results demonstrated superior performance and user satisfaction, influencing smart appliance trends.
- Inspiration
- The Element hood is a perfect balance between tradition and innovation. Its essential lines recall classic forms, reinterpreted in a modern key. The invisible perimeter suction and integrated Wi-Fi technology highlight the focus on minimalist design, perfectly adapting to contemporary spaces while maintaining a clean and functional aesthetic.
- Patents
- P08042/EM
Colors of Element Kitchen Hood
Grand Interview about Element Kitchen Hood
The design of the Element hood represented a stimulating challenge, born from the ambition to create a product capable of combining maximum compositional freedom, high performance and a strong aesthetic identity. From the early stages of the project, the goal was to develop a versatile and customizable solution, capable of adapting naturally to different living contexts and styles. From this vision comes a product available in two distinctive finishes, stainless steel and black, enriched by the possibility of integrating or not the decorative shelf, of the same finish as the hood body, an element that amplifies its architectural value and the ability to dialogue with the surrounding space. A design flexibility that allows Element to interpret different needs and tastes, always maintaining an elegant and consistent presence. Behind this formal essentiality lies important technological research work. Each aesthetic choice was developed without ever compromising on the performance front, making functionality one of the key principles of the project. The perimeter suction and silent motor are in fact the technical foundations of the product, ensuring efficiency, acoustic comfort and superior user experience. Element thus interprets a new hood idea: no longer a simple appliance, but a design element capable of harmoniously integrating into the kitchen architecture, combining customization, innovation and performance quality in a single solution with a contemporary and sophisticated character.
The conception of the Element hood was not driven solely by aesthetic research, but by a broader design vision, in which design and functionality evolve together to offer a superior user experience. Each choice was born from the desire to simplify the relationship between person and technology, making the product increasingly intuitive, efficient and integrated into everyday life. The integration of Bluetooth technology is one of the most innovative aspects of the project. The hood can communicate directly with the hob, automatically adjusting the suction level according to real cooking needs. An intelligent system that optimizes performance and frees the user from manual adjustments, ensuring a more comfortable environment and natural management of kitchen tasks. This ability to anticipate the user's needs reflects a contemporary conception of design, in which innovation is not limited to the introduction of new technologies, but is measured in their ability to simplify the daily experience. Reducing the time spent on operations, minimizing complexity, and making every interaction more immediate means creating products that concretely improve the quality of life. Element perfectly interprets this philosophy: an object with an essential and refined design that integrates advanced technological solutions in a discreet and intelligent way, transforming functionality into a fluid, natural and elegant experience.
Sustainability and respect for the environment are fundamental principles that guide every stage of our design process. For us, designing means not only creating products that stand out for their aesthetics and performance, but also taking responsibility for making informed, future-oriented choices. During the engineering phase, great attention was paid to finding a balance between aesthetic identity, build quality, and sustainability. The goal was to develop a product fully consistent with our design language, without sacrificing materials and solutions capable of reducing its environmental impact throughout its life cycle. This vision led to the choice to favor recyclable and durable materials such as glass and stainless steel, elements that, in addition to ensuring high technical performance and superior perceived quality, contribute to more responsible and circular design. Sustainability thus becomes an integral part of the project, not a simple requirement to be met. An approach that interprets contemporary design as a synthesis of beauty, innovation, and responsibility, giving rise to products designed to last overtime and meet the needs of increasingly conscious living.
The design process for the Element hood was both complex and challenging, characterized by the desire to find a perfect balance between formal essentiality, technological innovation, and the quality of the user experience. From the very beginning, the challenge was to overcome the traditional concept of the hood, transforming it into an element capable of dialoguing with the architecture of the kitchen through a distinctive and contemporary aesthetic language. In this vision, the integrable shelf takes on a central role. It is not a simple accessory, but a design element that gives the product personality, visual lightness and a new functional dimension. Thanks to this detail, Element manages to express a minimal and refined design, capable of characterizing the space without imposing itself on it. At the same time, every aesthetic choice was developed without ever compromising technological performance. Efficiency, comfort and innovation indeed remain essential elements of the project, harmoniously integrated within a clean and elegant form. This approach reflects the philosophy that guides our every design journey: creating products that can satisfy both those who seek technological excellence and those who consider design a fundamental element of their living experience. The result is an object that combines emotion and functionality, where technology and design coexist in an authentic and uncompromising balance.
Aesthetics and performance have always been the founding principles of our design approach and have also been the guiding elements in the development of the Element hood. Our vision of design is based on the belief that the beauty of a product cannot be separated from its ability to deliver excellent performance and flawless user experience. The challenge was to create a product capable of standing out for its formal elegance and, at the same time, expressing all its functional qualities through technology. Element was born precisely from this balance: a refined and contemporary presence that does not limit itself to enhancing the kitchen space, but which concretely improves its livability thanks to high performance and advanced technical solutions. Each design choice was oriented towards achieving this synthesis. The study of proportions, depths and volumes allowed us to integrate a highly performing suction system within a visually lightweight and balanced structure. The goal was not simply to contain the technology, but to make it an integral part of the project, without compromising its aesthetic purity. Element thus interprets a philosophy in which form and function evolve together. A product capable of combining elegance, efficiency and innovation, demonstrating how true design does not consist in choosing between beauty and performance, but in managing to make them coexist in a single harmonious and distinctive experience.
Each project is the result of a structured process involving several development phases, from the definition of the initial concept to engineering, prototyping, and final product validation. This is a complex process, characterized by continuous verification and optimization, in which each choice must find the right balance between aesthetic requirements, technical constraints, performance and industrial feasibility. For Element, the goal was clear from the early design stages: to develop a product to be presented at the Salone del Mobile that would best synthesize our vision of contemporary design. The challenge was to translate an essential and minimal aesthetic language into a technically advanced solution, without compromising either the aspiring performance or the integration of functional components. During development, particular attention was paid to optimizing overall dimensions, integrating the engine system, and managing airflow, so that the product maintained balanced proportions and a light visual presence while ensuring high levels of efficiency. At the same time, every detail was designed to ensure perceived quality, ease of use, and formal consistency. The end result is a product that faithfully reflects the original design idea: a hood with a contemporary and rigorous design, capable of integrating advanced technological solutions and high performance within a clean and essential architecture. Seeing Element presented at the Salone del Mobile in its final configuration was confirmation of the value of a design journey in which design, engineering and innovation worked in perfect synergy.
Element represents a key step in Elica's innovation journey, introducing a new interpretation of the hood concept through an evolved balance between design, customization, and technology. Since its conception, the project has been developed with the aim of offering greater compositional freedom, allowing the product to adapt naturally to the different aesthetic and functional needs of the kitchen environment. The ability to choose between different finishes and configure the product with or without a decorative shelf gives Element a particularly versatile design dimension, transforming it from a simple appliance to a true furnishing element. This flexibility integrates seamlessly with advanced technology content, designed to ensure high performance and an intuitive, contemporary user experience. Element success lies precisely in its ability to anticipate new living needs, interpreting the growing demand for increasingly customizable, integrated, and connected products. Thanks to this innovative vision, Element not only represents a successful product, but also establishes itself as a project capable of inspiring future design evolutions, outlining new languages and new ways of relating technology, space, and people.
Element has been designed to offer a comprehensive and highly adaptable user experience, thanks to a series of features designed to precisely respond to different daily needs. Particular attention was paid to the lighting system, designed to ensure maximum flexibility. Thanks to the dimmable technology, the light intensity can be adjusted according to the activity performed: a brighter and more direct light supports the preparation and cooking operations, while a softer brightness helps create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere, transforming the kitchen into a space to be experienced beyond the simple moment of food preparation. On the suction performance front, Element adopts a perimeter suction system designed to optimize the capture of cooking vapors and fumes. This solution allows air to be effectively conveyed along the entire perimeter of the product, ensuring high efficiency regardless of the direction of origin of the fumes. The user experience is further enhanced by a series of intelligent functions dedicated to convenience and maintenance. The Clean Mode function allows you to block product controls, avoiding accidental activation during cleaning operations. Additionally, a filter monitoring system signals when filters are reaching their maximum saturation level, indicating the correct time to proceed with cleaning or replacement and thus ensuring consistent performance over time. By integrating these solutions, Element combines comfort, efficiency and ease of management, offering a product designed to make every interaction more intuitive and functional.
Elica has always interpreted design as the meeting point between aesthetics, innovation, and performance, creating products capable of elevating the cooking experience to the next level. A design vision in which the beauty of shapes and technological excellence coexist in perfect balance, transforming each product into an evolved and engaging user experience. Innovation is the driving force behind this approach: ongoing research aimed at developing technologies capable of enhancing functionality, simplifying interaction with the product, and concretely improving daily life. It is the principle that guides every phase of the creative process and fuels constant experimentation, aimed at anticipating the needs of contemporary living. In this context, Element authentically expresses the values that define Helix's identity. The introduction of solutions dedicated to customization allows us to overcome the traditional concept of household appliances, offering the user greater freedom of configuration and a deeper connection with the product. The ability to adapt its aesthetics and presence in space makes Element a highly contemporary project, capable of combining flexibility, technology and design culture. For these reasons, Element establishes itself as one of the most representative expressions of the Elica philosophy: a product that interprets design not only as form, but as a tool for creating value, emotion, and lasting innovation.
The desire to develop a product with a minimal character, capable of adapting naturally to the most diverse environmental configurations, translates into an essential but highly distinctive design language. The result is an object with an attractive, versatile and modular design, designed to offer a high degree of customization without ever compromising formal coherence and aesthetic balance. The color selection, careful choice of materials and integration of the backlit control panel help define a refined and contemporary visual experience. Each element is designed to dialogue harmoniously with others, giving rise to a product that stands out for its measured yet recognizable stage presence. The result is a solution that combines essentiality and character, capable of offering an engaging user experience consistent with the highest standards of contemporary design, in which functionality, aesthetics and customization coexist in perfect balance.