SKS, the brand formerly known as Signature Kitchen Suite, opened a new showroom in Chicago’s The Mart. The industrial shell is given a tech-forward, immersive makeover by Lissoni & Partners. Led by Piero Lissoni, the design applies a theatrical touch to the showroom—in layout as well as aesthetics.
The 8,672-square-foot floor relies on a neutral backdrop, setting the stage for SKS’s kitchens. White oak lines the floor while walls and columns are finished in earthy plaster. Pre-existing pipes run down the ceiling, left exposed to reveal the building’s character.
The unassuming materiality serves to uplift the five kitchens that organize the showroom, in addition to the demonstration kitchen, laundry vignette, and a prep kitchen for events. The neutralness also ensures they pair alongside SKS’s revolving products on display.
“For me, the spaces where design pieces are presented are like theaters where the product takes the leading role, an actor moving through the set,” said Lissoni. “The beauty of this project lies in the fact that every SKS product can take centerstage, and each space is a story that can be illuminated.”
Illumination is certainly key. In contrast to the base’s minimalism, grand gestures bring the showroom to life. In front of the entry, an oversized, custom chandelier of fluted glass pieces hangs down over a marble table. It’s just one of the many illuminating elements of the design. At the center of the space, a 20-foot-long dining table is flanked by large LED screens. Here SKS’s focus on innovation is felt, not just told.
“We tell the story of the extremely sophisticated, wide-ranging and distinct collection of an international brand leader,” continued Lissoni. The luminesce features allude to SKS’s tech-forward implementations, conveying the sense of a contemporary brand without saying so.