Winners Announced in 2008 $100K Kitchen Design Competition

First place winner Marcello Zuffo received a $50,000 cash prize in addition to a suite of Electrolux ICON appliances valued at $25,000.

Staff -- Interior Design, 12/15/2008

First place winner Marcello Zuffo.

The results are in for the 2008 $100,000 Kitchen Design Competition, sponsored by Electrolux ICON and Interior Design.

In its second year, the competition, challenged members of the architect and design community to present innovative, thoughtful concepts for a kitchen that meets the changing needs of today’s modern family. Entries were judged by a panel of esteemed judges including Cindy Allen, editor-in-chief of Interior Design; Henrik Otto, senior vice president of Global Design at Electrolux; Calvin Tsao, founding partner of Tsao & McKown in New York City; Laura Bohn, founder of Laura Bohn Design Associates in New York City; and Jackie Naylor, founder of Jackie Naylor Interiors in Atlanta.


Second place winner Kim Letven and Nada Bibi of WE design.

“This competition helps advance innovative kitchen design by encouraging designers to reevaluate what truly makes a kitchen functional,” said Otto. “We were impressed by the wide range of designs submitted this year that showcased the multi-faceted needs of today’s modern family.”

Grand prize winner, Marcello Zuffo, a senior designer with Motorola’s Consumer Experience Design Group, designed a futuristic kitchen with movable components that can be reconfigured to adapt to the task at hand and incorporated a contemporary sculptural component to a typically rectangular floor plan. Zuffo placed the Electrolux ICON appliances throughout the kitchen, based on their proportion to cabinetry and human interaction to achieve complete balance throughout the design.


Third place winner Gisue Hairi of Hariri & Hariri Architecture.

“As a city dweller myself, I congratulate Marcello for addressing lack of space with a completely unique concept,” said Allen. “The jury especially loved the ‘knuckle,’ which swivels, and allows the kitchen to serve utilitarian and sculptural purposes simultaneously.” Zuffo received a $50,000 cash prize in addition to a suite of Electrolux ICON appliances valued at $25,000. His winning kitchen design will be featured in the March 2009 issue of Interior Design.

Second place winners Kim Letven and Nada Bibi of WE design in Brooklyn, NY, won a suite of Electrolux ICON appliances valued at $25,000 for their design, which the jury appreciated for its seamless melding of indoor and outdoor space. Hall of Fame honoree Gisue Hariri of Hariri & Hariri Architecture, based in New York City, won third prize for her concept, which stood out for its modern aesthetic and efficient use of space, ideal for the multi-tasking family. Hariri was awarded $10,000 worth of Electrolux ICON appliances for her design.