Behind the creperies and tourist shops along the bay of St. Tropez in southern France are tiny cobblestone walkways lined with nautical boutiques and seafood restaurants that cater to the sailing community, and those who appreciate it. It is truly a culture unto itself - with few others like it in the world - and during Le Voiles de St. Tropez in early October, the masterful sport of sailing and the understated beauty of the open sea fills the air.

To ALNO - the number one German manufacturer of kitchen cabinetry - maritime life has been a focal point in developing their latest concept: a kitchen unit called Marecucina. With its spatially-efficient storage beneath (in what would be the keel),  sleek, modern lines rest above the white cabinets using beautiful wood for the countertops and chrome hardware outfitting.

The research ALNO focused on the practical use of wood, like the deck of a boat, with the compartments below divided into different compartments, making for an easy separation of pots and pans from the dishes and glasses. The goal was to create one unit to store, create, and clean up without requiring a dinghy, or a separate shelving unit, to accompany it.

Since the founding of ALNO in 1927, the team honed their design philosophy with the intent to personalize for the specific client’s absolute satisfaction. After all, the kitchen acts as the the firstmate to the chef - being just as integral to the overall outcome as the recipes and cooking techniques. The reason ALNO has remained on the cutting edge also has a lot to do with their commitment to research and a consistent integration of the hottest trends in kitchen design into their minimalistic approach. In the case of the Marecucina, the lights on the rig of the vessel overhead were strategically placed to illuminate the sinks below.

An ALNO kitchen can bring the dreams of a classic or modern chef to life - but the Marecucina unit completes the fantasy by allowing your culinary explorations to set sail on a journey all your own.