The art of discretion

The best designs solve a problem. Finding space in the kitchen can certainly be a challenge, and it’s one that the Siemens iQ700 flexInduction meets by integrating an extractor into a hob. We particularly like this idea for hobs mounted on island units, as they allow you to cook without a cumbersome extractor obscuring your view.

Not to be outdone, Miele showed its new FL induction hob with extractor, which can be integrated into work surfaces to create a sleek and streamlined aesthetic. It features Miele’s Con@ ctivity 2.0 technology – wireless hob-to-hood communication and control – so that the extraction power of the hood adjusts automatically.

These ideas may seem cutting edge, but in fact, Siemens and Miele are playing catch up. Bavarian cooktop manufacturer Bora has been integrating extractors into its hobs since 2006, when Willi Bruckbauer developed and patented his first cooktop extractor system, the Bora Professional. An innovation for 2017 is the Bora Professional Revolution 2.0, which has a mechanical rather than electrical system. This means that when a cooking zone is switched on, the cover flaps open automatically. At the end of the cooking process, the flaps close, and once again the cooktop is completely flush.

This model also has a minimum installation height of just 199 mm, so it offers more freedom for ambitious kitchen design – for instance, it can be installed on a floating worktop.