Officine Gullo, a Florentine company of excellence in the production of metal kitchens, creates a pair of kitchen designs for the outdoor spaces of two luxury hospitality gems in Tuscany belonging to the prestigious Belmond group: Villa San Michele in the hills of Florence and Castello di Casole in the province of Siena.
Officine Gullo’s Outdoor Kitchen at Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence
Nestled in the hills of Fiesole, Villa San Michele stands on an ancient Renaissance monastery surrounded by terraced gardens and incredible views of Florence and Chianti. A fairytale boutique hotel, a place where the past meets the future, it’s a villa suspended over the eternal beauty of Florence.
The Officine Gullo outdoor kitchen, installed under the portico of the restaurant-pizzeria adjacent to the panoramic pool, makes the setting feel even more unique and exclusive, allowing chefs to have the same haute cuisine tools at their disposal as if they were in a professional indoor kitchen. In fact, when it comes to external kitchens, Officine Gullo transports all the added values of the company’s solutions outside: high technology, better performance, unmistakable style, and maximum customization possibilities.
In this project, the kitchen, matte beige color (RAL 1019) and satin chrome finish, consists of a linear design with a pizza oven and lava stone barbecue, as well as two parallel islands. The first island is dedicated to food preparation and washing, and the second includes a refrigerated display counter for meat and fish.
Villa San Michele selected Officine Gullo for the realization of this bespoke poolside project “because of the brand’s history and tradition, its exclusivity, its attention to detail, and above all for the unique possibility of customization.”
The project stemmed from the owner’s desire to enhance the pool environment with an informal and interactive dining concept. A kitchen that is both functional and beautiful to look at. Officine Gullo responded to the needs of Villa San Michele, which was looking for “a timeless style that communicates well with its surroundingsand makes guests feel at home,” says Alfio Liotta, executive assistant manager in charge of catering. “Through show cooking, we want to offer an interactive experience that enhances the relationship between guests and our team.
The chefs, who desired maximum functionality from the kitchen, also played an important role in the design: each space was meticulously studied to allow them to move with agility and ease within it.
In addition, Officine Gullo made two carts for Villa San Michele, one for preparing cocktails and one for serving cheeses at the restaurant tables. Two versatile and compact pieces of furniture, created by combining durable materials and clever design in the service of functionality and aesthetics.
The Officine Gullo outdoor kitchen at Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany
Two wide avenues lined with cypress trees lead to Castello di Casole, an ancient castle where the eye can wander among the vineyards that form its backdrop. This noble estate boasts a very ancient history and over the years has hosted royalty, movie stars, and political figures. Today the buildings have been carefully restored, paying homage to a past rich in history while offering every modern comfort.
For Castello di Casole’s outdoor kitchen, located just steps away from the facility’s spectacular infinity pool, Officine Gullo created a glossy Bianco Perla (RAL 1013) outdoor kitchen with a brushed chrome finish, consisting of three elements: a kitchen with barbecue and pizza oven, an island with sink, induction plates, pasta cooker, and a counter for food preparation with a steel top.
“We chose Officine Gullo for its history, unmistakable aesthetics, and functionality. The idea was to create a real restaurant by our pool, looking for a classic style with strong roots in Tuscan tradition while being innovative at the same time,” says Luca Corsini, Castello’s Food & Beverage Manager.
The project was also defined in detail thanks to the contribution of the property’s chefs who, together with Officine Gullo’s design studio, fine-tuned every detail of the kitchen. Daniele Sera, Executive Chef of Castello di Casole explains, “We will use the kitchen as a space not only to create our dishes but also to interact with our guests. We appreciate the exclusivity of being able to enhance the pool environment by cooking in front of our diners and being able to interact with them. Compared to an indoor kitchen, an outdoor kitchen has to have the same functionality, but it has to be able to withstand the weather and it has to be meticulous in detail since it is on view.”
Officine Gullo’s outdoor kitchens are in fact designed for outdoor living, and feature the use of high-quality AISI 316 stainless steel, known for its excellent anti-corrosive characteristics. This material, characterized by a low ferrous component, offers unrivaled durability, absolute corrosion resistance, and an elegant design that can enhance any style of furniture.
Pietro Gullo, Managing Director of Officine Gullo, comments on the collaboration as follows, “We are honored to have designed our kitchens for two of the most prestigious structures in the world of luxury hospitality in Tuscany. We share fundamental values with Belmond, first and foremost the common goal of wanting to offer the highest quality and exclusivity. In other words, excellence.”