In the mid-1980s, when modular kitchens had reached a high level of rational functionality, Ciatti a Tavola (the family company behind
what would become Opinion Ciatti) sensed a deep shift taking place. The traditional kitchen layout, comprising base units, wall cabinets and tall columns, was beginning to show its limits. Social changes, the emergence of new, more open, fluid and hybrid lifestyles, and a growing interest in professional-style cooking revealed the need for new structural solutions. The classic kitchen structure could no longer adapt to different spaces: from offices to studio apartments, restaurants to lofts.
After centuries of being a service space, often tucked away from the rest of the home, the kitchen began to evolve. It was no longer just functional, but a place to live in a space for gathering, for sharing moments, both intimate and social, private and public. This shift called for greater exibility and freedom, with design solutions able to meet diverse needs without being limited by rigid compositions.
From this context emerged Axis, a visionary project developed in collaboration with designers Bruno Pozzi and Marco Duina. Breaking away from the idea of a closed, rigid system, Axis opened up a whole new dimension: a light, modular structure composed of voids, where each element could be dismantled, rearranged, and reinterpreted. It brought an industrial approach into an environment that was once mainly domestic, adapting to spaces in a fluid way and without stylistic impositions.
The vision behind Axis was so ahead of its time that it was recognised with an Honourable Mention at the Compasso d’Oro in 1987.
“Axis offers countless possibilities, whether it’s for someone who already owns a traditional kitchen and wants to enrich it with a distinctive element, or for spaces, both small and large, where a simple work surface needs to meet all the demands of cooking,” says Lapo Ciatti,CEO and Art Director. “The concept revolves around an essential stainless-steel tubular frame, topped with a multifunctional surface designed to integrate the benefits of modular kitchens without necessarily replacing them. Its aesthetic draws inspiration from professional kitchen equipment, ideal for expressing the object’s specific function and for offering a solution that is original, independent of trends, and capable of remaining relevant as styles evolve.”
Today, forty years later, Axis makes its return. But this is not a simple reissue: the project has been updated, enhanced, and made even more functional, contemporary, and sustainable. Lapo Ciatti has preserved the original design philosophy while introducing improvements in ergonomics, exibility, and potential applications.
At the core of the project remains the bridge-style structure, now reimagined to offer greater versatility. Available in three lengths (74, 135 and 196 cm), it allows for custom configurations by simply placing the modules side by side. The updated height of 95 cm improves ergonomics and makes it easier to integrate under-counter appliances. Finally, removing the spacer between the frame and the worktop results in a cleaner, more seamless design, while also reducing transition gaps where dirt could accumulate, especially in outdoor settings.
The very possibility of outdoor use is one of the major innovations of Axis 2025. Thanks to a selection of weather-resistant materials and finishes, the kitchen system can now be placed in open-air environments. The satin-finished stainless steel structure, long associated with strength and hygiene, is now topped with a surface made from a special double-green eco-friendly material.
Among the available finishes is Corkcrete, the innovative mortar made from cork and natural compounds, whose first application in furniture design is credited to Opinion Ciatti. In addition to ensuring resistance and durability, every material and surface has been carefully selected to enhance the professional quality of the system, offering specific work areas for each phase of food preparation. The eco top is ideal for cutting, stainless steel accommodates hot pots and pans (an additional stainless steel cover can be added if needed), and Corkcrete provides a refined surface for plating, pleasant to the touch and elegant in appearance.
Finally, adjustable feet allow each module to adapt to any type of surface, including the more challenging conditions of outdoor environments.
Thanks to the many customisation options made possible by the addition of accessories (support surfaces, hanging grids, under-counter shelves, sinks, and taps) and appliances (gas or induction cooktops, BBQ and teppanyaki plates, freestanding or built-in), Axis adapts to every setting. In offices and co-working spaces, where a traditional kitchen might be bulky and impractical. In contemporary homes, where kitchen and living areas merge into a single space and everything happens in the same environment. In restaurants, culinary workshops and high-end hospitality venues, where efficiency, aesthetics and modularity are essential.
