Sub-Zero and Wolf
G17-20 Lee Garden 3
1 Sunning Road
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2239 5018
This new flagship space in Lee Garden 3 is quite simply like no other on earth. Designed by architect Uli Blum – known for his previous work with such luminaries as Zaha Hadid Architects, Gehry Technologies and OMA Asia – in collaboration with Adam Pajonk, the showroom’s façade seems at once alive and technological, transitioning from stainless steel to glass, with the glass transitioning from icy crystalline forms to undulating tongues of flame.
Not coincidentally, fire, ice and technology also comprise the essence of the American brands showcased behind the façade: Sub-Zero and Wolf. The first is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading specialists in food preservation. Clad in durable professional-grade stainless steel, Sub-Zero’s product range spans refrigerators, freezers and fridge-freezers, all incorporating the latest engineering and technological advances to keep food fresher, longer.
A standout of the current Sub-Zero line is ‘Pro 48’. Available in freestanding and built-in configurations with an optional glass door, its state-of-the-art mechanicals give it power to spare, allowing it to operate quietly without strain even while maintaining three independently set temperature zones.
The ‘fire’ part of the equation is provided by Wolf, a brand that has built a global reputation for ‘precision cooking’. Their product range encompasses not just high tech gas, electric and induction hobs, combination cookers and ovens, but also an innovative line of ‘Specialty Modules’ with various functions that maximise available kitchen space.
As with the façade, the qualities of the products themselves directly shaped the showroom’s 2,000 sq-ft interior. For the designers at Terre Studio Singapore, the intention was to create an environment which not only displayed products, but invited interaction. One eye-catching outcome is a ‘ribbon wall’ which both compels flow and creates intimate semi-enclosed pockets where visitors can engage with the products. Dedicated zones for the two brands are created with contrasting materials – sandblasted wild teak wood panels for Sub-Zero, and polished cherry panels for Wolf – rather than physical divisions.
Meticulously thoughtful, precisely fit for purpose, finely executed – the qualities that make this new showroom such a fascinating place are the same as those that give its products such a powerful appeal.