遠從義大利訪台，差旅多年來已累積二十餘趟的Ivan，他精神奕奕的與我們分享關於Valcucine的一切，像似最稱職的佈道者，肢體表達與詼諧話語之間，盡情展現義大利人對於設計的浪漫情懷。然而Valcucine能獲得高端廚具品牌的盛譽並非偶然，他們將想像化作實務，變成人們能實際觸碰、感受的產品。
Having traveled from Italy to Taiwan more than twenty times over the years, Ivan energetically shared everything about Valcucine with us. With his lively gestures and witty words, he’s like a dedicated evangelist, reflecting the romantic essence Italians often associate with design. Valcucine’s reputation as a high-end kitchen brand isn’t coincidental. They have transformed imagination into practicality, producing tangible products that people can touch and feel.
靈魂人物Gabriele Centazzo
Valcucine成立於1980年，由Gabriele Centazzo創辦，今年已高齡七十三歲仍舊活躍於設計圈，即便是最新發表的LOGICA CELATA系列廚具，也能看到他的手繪作品參與其中。Centazzo不僅是Valcucine的靈魂人物，也是設計圈的精神導師，前瞻的思維與熱愛設計、藝術的靈魂感動許多追隨者。每每參與義大利盛大舉辦的米蘭展，都聚集著想一睹Centazzo風采的人們，望受其言語啟迪，足見他的影響力與不滅的人氣。
Soul of Valcucine: Gabriele Centazzo
Established in 1980 by Gabriele Centazzo, Valcucine witnesses its visionary founder remaining active in the design realm, even at seventy-three. Even in the latest LOGICA CELATA kitchen collection, one can see his hand-drawn designs incorporated. Centazzo is not just the heart and soul of Valcucine, but also a spiritual mentor in the design community. His forward-thinking approach and passionate devotion to design and art have inspired many followers. Every time he participates in the grand Milan exhibition held in Italy, crowds gather, eager to witness Centazzo’s charm and hoping to be enlightened by his words. This speaks volumes about his enduring influence and popularity.
藉由廚具品牌Valcucine闡述Centazzo的思想精髓，並且落實到產品層面，讓人們能真正體驗好設計，感受他如何受到萬物啟發。只要Valcucine的產品受到人們喜愛多一天，Centazzo的熱情便能長存多一天。Ivan娓娓道來這位設計導師的過人之處，眼裡閃爍著景仰，「他不僅是一位設計師，也是偉大的藝術家。」
Through the kitchen brand Valcucine, the essence of Centazzo’s philosophy is articulated and then brought to life at the product level, letting people immerse themselves in exceptional design and sense his inspiration from the world around him. As long as Valcucine’s products are cherished for even one more day, Centazzo’s passion lives on for one more day. Ivan spoke animatedly about the extraordinary qualities of this design mentor, his eyes shining with admiration, ‘He’s not just a designer, he’s a great artist.’
他重要的思想之一為永續發展，此理念淋漓展現於Valcucine的產品中，甚至取得綠建築標章LEED（Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design）認證，從材料、製造，甚至是未來回收都堅守永續原則，而早在四十年前Centazzo便有前瞻的環保意識，影響人們正視環境議題。而永續理念在近年吸引了臺灣綠建築建案陶朱隱園的注意，主動提出合作邀約，其結構理念與Valcucine四十年前打造的工廠有異曲同工之妙，Ivan認為這是一個令人振奮的發現，只要世界越來越了解如何與自然共存，人類文明便能邁向更好的境地。
One of his pivotal philosophies is sustainable development, a principle vividly embodied in Valcucine’s products. They’ve even secured the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, steadfastly adhering to sustainability guidelines from material sourcing to manufacturing, and even future recycling. Remarkably, Centazzo’s environmental foresight dates back to forty years ago, prompting people to confront ecological issues. In recent years, this sustainability ethos caught the attention of Taiwan’s green building project ‘Tao Zhu Yin Yuan,’ which reached out for a collaborative partnership. The structural philosophy of this project parallels the approach Valcucine adopted for their factory four decades ago. To Ivan, this alignment is a thrilling revelation; he believes that as the world gains deeper understanding on harmonizing with nature, our civilization will advance to a brighter horizon.
他重要的思想之一為永續發展，此理念淋漓展現於Valcucine的產品中，甚至取得綠建築標章LEED（Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design）認證，從材料、製造，甚至是未來回收都堅守永續原則，而早在四十年前Centazzo便有前瞻的環保意識，影響人們正視環境議題。而永續理念在近年吸引了臺灣綠建築建案陶朱隱園的注意，主動提出合作邀約，其結構理念與Valcucine四十年前打造的工廠有異曲同工之妙，Ivan認為這是一個令人振奮的發現，只要世界越來越了解如何與自然共存，人類文明便能邁向更好的境地。
One of his pivotal philosophies is sustainable development, a principle vividly embodied in Valcucine’s products. They’ve even secured the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, steadfastly adhering to sustainability guidelines from material sourcing to manufacturing, and even future recycling. Remarkably, Centazzo’s environmental foresight dates back to forty years ago, prompting people to confront ecological issues. In recent years, this sustainability ethos caught the attention of Taiwan’s green building project ‘Tao Zhu Yin Yuan,’ which reached out for a collaborative partnership. The structural philosophy of this project parallels the approach Valcucine adopted for their factory four decades ago. To Ivan, this alignment is a thrilling revelation; he believes that as the world gains deeper understanding on harmonizing with nature, our civilization will advance to a brighter horizon.
屬於使用者的生活風格
Valcucine並不自我定義為奢華，更傾向是生活風格的選擇，回歸使用的覺知、人體工學、行雲流水的操作，甚至關注不同國家、地區的需求，從不同的文化層面去理解使用者需求，比如同一系列的產品在不同的空間中可以是極簡、溫馨、清麗、沈穩、時尚等，比起擁有自我強烈的風格，符合不同需求才真正體現品牌價值。
A Lifestyle for the User
Valcucine does not define itself as luxurious, but rather as a lifestyle choice. It emphasizes user awareness, ergonomics, and seamless operations. The brand even considers the unique needs of various countries and regions, understanding user demands from different cultural perspectives. For instance, the same product line can exude minimalism, warmth, elegance, stability, or modernity in different spaces. Instead of imposing a strong distinctive style, meeting diverse needs truly embodies the brand’s value.
Valcucine四十年間的發展也見證了廚具潮流演變，廚房從屋子一個角落的小空間，慢慢成為屋內人們的交流中心，場域也變得敞開，與其他區塊有更強連結。經歷疫情後，人們又發展出新型態的飲食文化，廚房中島不在只是用餐和料理，還能邊享用小點邊工作或是陪伴孩子做功課，增加了此區塊的使用時間。為了符合新型態，中島的高度可降至一般桌面，拉一張椅子便可滿足人們的交流需求。可貴的是，Valcucine在十五年前開發的產品，在現在看來仍具前瞻性與吸引力，比如以一根手指頭的巧勁便能掀開檯面面板，甚至是三百公分寬的吊櫃門板，輕而易舉便能開啟。
Over the course of forty years, Valcucine has witnessed the evolution of kitchen trends. The kitchen, which once occupied a small corner of a house, has gradually become the central hub for communication within the home, adopting a more open layout that’s closely connected to other areas. Following the pandemic, people have developed new dining habits. Kitchen islands are no longer just for dining and cooking; they also serve as spaces to work while enjoying snacks, or to accompany children with their homework, thereby extending the usage time of this area. To adapt to this new mode, the height of the kitchen island can be lowered to that of a regular table, and simply pulling up a chair meets the communicative needs of the users. Impressively, products developed by Valcucine fifteen years ago still appear futuristic and appealing today. For example, one can easily lift a countertop panel with just the dexterity of a fingertip, or effortlessly open a 300 cm wide overhead cabinet door.
LOGICA CELATA系列符合當代開放式的場域需求，完全閉闔如一般的收納櫃，展開門板時讓人驚呼原來內藏一座廚具。對於東方元素感到興趣的Centazzo，也從日本文化中汲取靈感，因此我們能在GENIUS LOCI系列中看到和風木質吧檯與中島的結合，並且創造量體的漂浮感。於大大小小的細節中，不難發現Centazzo設計中充滿童趣的思維，從其設計手稿上的幾何比例、自然動能結構體，讓人產生達文西般的既視感，足見他對於設計廣泛的興趣。
The LOGICA CELATA series caters to the contemporary need for open spaces. When fully closed, it appears as a regular storage cabinet, but when the door panels are opened, it unveils a hidden kitchen, much to one’s astonishment. Centazzo, intrigued by Eastern elements, has also drawn inspiration from Japanese culture. As a result, in the GENIUS LOCI series, we witness a harmonious fusion of a Japanese-style wooden bar counter with a central island, creating an illusion of levitation. Observing the minute details, it’s easy to discern Centazzo’s playful, child-like thought processes in his designs. The geometric proportions and kinetic structures in his sketches evoke a Da Vinci-esque familiarity, testifying to his expansive interests in design.
深入在地文化發掘需求
「我選擇夥伴的原則就是，提供給客人喝的咖啡要好喝」Ivan打趣說道，事實上也反應Valcucine誠摯的待人態度。當進入不同的市場中，首先從文化與習慣深入瞭解，他們十分重視代理商的角色，把各地合作夥伴當作家人般積極做交流。合適的代理商才能真正推動品牌價值，並且皆須經過完整的教育訓練，將客製化的服務做到最好，每一次的規劃都當做自家廚房思考配置，讓操作動線與配置都更順暢更貼近人性。
Delving into Local Cultures to Unearth Needs
“When choosing a partner, my principle is that the coffee they offer to guests should be delicious,” Ivan quipped, which genuinely reflects Valcucine’s sincere approach to relationships. When entering different markets, their initial step is to gain a deep understanding of the local culture and customs. They place immense importance on the role of distributors, actively engaging with partners from different regions as if they were family. Only the right distributors can truly promote the brand’s values. Each of them undergoes comprehensive training to ensure the best customized service. Every design approach is as if they were planning their own kitchen, ensuring smoother, more intuitive workflows and configurations that cater to human needs.
「We have the beautiful connection」如同Valcucine的全球銷售總監Ivan Ceschiutti所說，創造美好的價值來自於人與人、人與環境的連結。在創新與耐用中達到健康、可持續性、永友善環境，並且滿足廚房中的所有需求，即是Valcucine的宗旨。
“We have a beautiful connection,” as Ivan Ceschiutti, the Global Sales Director of Valcucine, put it. The creation of valuable beauty stems from connections between people, and between people and the environment. Balancing innovation and durability to achieve health, sustainability, and a perennially friendly environment, while meeting all the needs of a kitchen, epitomizes the mission of Valcucine.
