AURA, Jason M

Conventional kitchen chimneys are bulky and blocky, and they add a lot of visual weight to the room for an appliance that only works while something is on the stove. AURA is an electric extractor hood for Elica that does the same job from a monolithic, wall-flat form, occupying less than a third of the volume of existing hoods. It’s present when you’re cooking and part of the decor when you’re not, and because the form is so slim, mounting is simpler and it sits cleanly over existing kitchen ranges.

The idea is that clearing fumes should feel as easy as opening a window. A tap on the swingarm releases it, and it falls gently out over the cooking surface to increase suction. The panels below walk the concept, the anatomy, and the two operating modes.

AURA, an extractor hood for Elica.

$Side profile: the whole hood is a slim slab against the wall, a fraction of a conventional chimney's depth.$

Anatomy: the swingarm extends outward for more aggressive suction, a shallow depression on it signals where to push, perimeter vents cover the whole cooking surface, primary vents do the main suction, and twin CFLs light the hob.

The hood in motion.

Normal mode: the swingarm rests above the unit. Vapor is drawn into the hood and discharged through ducts at the rear.

Intense mode: clicking the swingarm makes it protrude over the cooking surface, so the hood can work harder.

The swingarm's extra surface area clears fumes faster. Brushless motors and aluminum turbines keep it quiet and pull heat out of the air.

The swingarm opening and closing.

Designed at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, for Elica. See the full project on Behance →