100 years of the fitted kitchen: Häcker launches the “Limited Edition 1926”

Rödinghausen. As a tribute to the historic archetype of the modern fitted kitchen, created in 1926, and its inventor, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, Häcker Küchen GmbH & Co. KG is launching an anniversary edition on 1 June: the Limited Edition 1926. It will be available throughout the anniversary year and features historical design elements at no extra cost: a selection of 7 curated NCS colours in a durable lacquer finish, an integrated pull-out table and a built-in folding step.

100 years of fitted kitchens: the Frankfurt Kitchen of 1926
When Ernst May, architect and town planner, brought Austria’s first female architect, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, to Frankfurt in 1925 as part of the ‘New Frankfurt’ housing project, she was tasked with designing suitable fitted kitchens that would, above all, meet the demands of the time: standardisation, faster, more cost-effective production, efficient use of space within a few square metres, as well as ergonomics, hygiene and ease of maintenance. The aim was to coordinate the forms and functions of the kitchen so precisely that daily kitchen tasks could be carried out quickly and easily. What emerged, however, went far beyond these historical circumstances, for Schütte-Lihotzky’s ‘Frankfurt Kitchen’ became the archetype of the modern fitted kitchen as we know it today – and thus a milestone in architectural history.

Frankfurt x Rödinghausen: Quality paired with simplicity
With the Limited Edition 1926, Häcker – a company with a history spanning more than 128 years – positions itself within the legacy of the Frankfurt and draws on two key elements shared with it: quality and simplicity. “Uncompromising quality has always been part of our corporate DNA. Whether in terms of materials, functionality or ergonomics – we share with the Frankfurt kitchen the commitment to creating kitchens for people that prove reliable in everyday life over the long term,” explains Matthias Berens, Managing Director and CSO at Häcker. The simplicity of the Frankfurt kitchen represents a second, important point of convergence with Häcker: “Every detail of the Frankfurt kitchen aims to simplify people’s lives – through short distances, streamlined workflows and well-thought-out planning. This harmony of form and function is a very simple and fundamental principle that is still applied at Häcker Kitchens today. The difference is that each of our kitchens is individually planned to meet the unique needs and preferences of every customer,” adds Matthias Berens.
 

Tradition is inspiration: The Limited Edition 1926
With the Limited Edition 1926, available to order in the year of the 100th anniversary, Häcker draws on distinctive historical features of the Frankfurt kitchen and integrates them into a modern design that can be seen as a tribute to its Frankfurt predecessor. At the heart of the Limited Edition 1926 are three historically inspired features, which are offered at no extra cost in combination with the systemat AV 6000/AV 6000-GL kitchen. 
Original Frankfurt NCS colours & durable matt lacquer | With Forum Yellow, Heidenfeld Grey, Burgfeld Green and three shades of blue (Camillo Blue, Hadrian Blue and Römerstadt Blue), Häcker offers six colours from the NCS spectrum, whose names already refer to the locations of the original kitchens, designed in these colours, on various streets in Frankfurt. With Panorama Blue, the most famous colour of the Frankfurt kitchen, whose name alludes to the company’s headquarters, Häcker offers a seventh NCS shade inspired by the historic blue hue. The Häcker Limited Edition 1926 features water-based matt lacquers that impress with their enduring elegance.
Flexible pull-out table in the tradition of the Frankfurt Kitchen | As a further design element offered at no extra cost, Häcker provides an integrated pull-out- table. Such extendable table elements were fitted in Frankfurt kitchens in large numbers during the 1920s, as they allowed space-saving design to be combined with a high degree of flexibility. 
Built-in folding step “Step-fix” | Another characteristic feature of the Frankfurt kitchen, which is incorporated into the Limited Edition 1926, is the ceiling-height design, which ensures ample storage space even in small kitchens. To ensure the storage capacity of the tall cupboards is used to the full, Häcker offers a built-in folding step (Step-fix) that can be stowed away in the base unit at no extra cost; it can be quickly and easily removed from the cupboard and stowed away again, thus ensuring access to all kitchen supplies and utensils at all times.

Customised planning with historic design options 
From floor-to-ceiling designs and stylish glass wall units to backsplashes: the design elements of the Frankfurt kitchen serve as inspiration for Häcker, finding expression in the Limited Edition 1926. In Häcker’s kitchen studios, customers have the opportunity to have their own bespoke Limited Edition kitchen designed, tailored to their individual wishes, preferences and spatial requirements.

Further information on the topic of 100 years of fitted kitchens and the Häcker Limited Edition 1926 can be found here.

Häcker—The Company
Häcker was founded in 1898 as a cabinetmaker by Hermann Häcker and taken over by his son Friedrich in 1938. In 1965, the foundation for today’s economic success was laid by the latter’s son-in-law Horst Finkemeier and wife Renate through the serial production of kitchen furniture. As an owner-managed family business, Häcker today produces fitted kitchens at five production facilities across two sites in Rödinghausen and Venne. The company offers its retail partners and employees a unique, values-driven corporate culture—reliable, responsible and exemplary. With its product lines concept130 and systemat, as well as the brands BLAUPUNKT and h│tech for built-in kitchen appliances, Häcker offers a comprehensive product portfolio tailored to a wide range of customers and markets—from value-driven to premium.
More information about Häcker can be found on our website at  haecker-kuechen.com/en and on LinkedIn (Häcker Kitchen International).