the plissé kettle by michele de lucchi for alessi resembles a folded piece of fabric

michele de lucchi has drawn from the worlds of architecture, design and fashion for the design of plissé, a sculptural kettle for alessi. similar to a fabric which transforms into a three-dimensional shape through thick pleating, the kettle takes the form of an haute couture dress made from thermoplastic resin and proposed in four colors – red, grey, white and matte black.

‘the “plissé” kettle’s shape is defined by its folds, a technique that is quite old but still very much in use today,’ notes michele de lucchi, ‘with the skillful and creative use of pleating, fashion designers shape fabrics and create clothes like sculptural works of art.’ the italian architect and designer also mentions that the kettle ‘was shaped starting from a folded sheet of paper, then developed and produced by alessi as if it were a beautiful sartorial object.’ ‘the folds give form to the shape, they structure it, because a form without folds is only a volume without form – the folds transform simple two-dimensional sheets into three-dimensional objects,’ de lucchi concludes.

lifestyle photos by santi caleca, art direction by RADL

plissé is easy to open and close, can be rapidly removed from its hidden base and is equipped with an anti-limescale filter. the kettle is simple in its use, and comes with a safety device that cuts off the power supply if there is too little or no water inside. its base is thermally insulated, so even once the water has reached boiling point, it can be placed safely on any surface.