Nendo's Wonderful Toru, an Electric Kettle for Alessi
Recorded: May 28, 2026, 2:03 p.m.
| Original | Summarized |
Nendo's Wonderful Toru, an Electric Kettle for Alessi - Core77 Company Directory ID Jobs Awards Blog Guides Discussion About Sign In / Join Now Core77 Company Directory ID Jobs Awards Blog Guides Discussion e Sign In / Join Now e Nendo's Wonderful Toru, an Electric Kettle for Alessi By Rain Noe in Doing a lot with a little: Nendo's Toru, an electric kettle for Alessi, perfectly reconciles gesture with form.Taking advantage of Alessi's distinguishing metalworking techniques, which is the origin of the company, the stainless-steel body is shaped simply like a pitcher. The handle coming out from the top seems to go through the side of the body, forming a continuous line to the spout.A handle of a kettle is usually gripped from the side, but thanks to the top-suspended shape, the kettle can be easily lifted from the power base, and hot water can be poured smoothly by holding the upper part of the handle as a fulcrum and lightly tilting the kettle. With its soft form, the base has an integrated appearance with the kettle when power is being supplied, while it takes on a straight and simple silhouette when the kettle is detached, designed to blend in well with its surroundings in either case. From the distinctive handle and spout that seem to pierce through the body, the collection is named "toru" (meaning "through" in Japanese). Alas, Alessi's only selling a version with a European plug or a British plug. (Thanks, tariffs.)
o Favorite This Q Comment Comments Ryan Cee a month ago Z I love how it looks like a Klein bottle; I even thought it was one for a minute. Share your thoughts Join over 240,000 designers who stay up-to-date with the Core77 newsletter. Subscribe Directory Company Profiles Core77 Directory Find the Best Industrial Design Goddard, Inc. Y Studios Mixer Design Group DesignThink, Inc. FLUID Design The Metcalfe Group, Inc. PDR K mSign In with Twitter OR jSign In with Core77 Account Email or Username Password Forgot password? Keep me signed in Cancel Don't have an account? Join Now K Join Now with Google OR jJoin Now with Email Email Not Public Username Password Confirm Password Please complete the captcha. Cancel Already have an account? Sign In By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use K Please complete the captcha. Cancel
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Nendo's Wonderful Toru, an electric kettle developed for Alessi, exemplifies a reconciliation of gesture and form through the utilization of Alessi's established metalworking techniques. The stainless steel body of the kettle is designed with a simple, pitcher-like shape. A key aspect of the design is the handle, which extends from the top and appears to pass through the body, creating a continuous line that flows to the spout. This structural choice fundamentally alters the interaction with the object; instead of the traditional side grip, the top-suspended shape allows the kettle to be easily lifted from its power base. Furthermore, the design facilitates smooth pouring, as the user can use the upper part of the handle as a fulcrum to tilt the kettle, thereby guiding the hot water effectively. The aesthetic of the form shifts depending on the operational state of the kettle. When the power is supplied, the base integrates seamlessly with the kettle, creating a unified appearance. Conversely, when detached from the base, the kettle adopts a straight and simple silhouette, which is intentionally designed to ensure it blends harmoniously with its environment regardless of context. The naming of the collection, "toru," signifies "through" in Japanese, referencing the distinctive handle and spout that seem to penetrate the body of the vessel. This design approach emphasizes functional innovation integrated directly into the physical form of the object. Alessi is noted to offer this line with either a European or a British plug, an availability which is attributed to external tariffs. |