The new Toru electric kettle, a collaboration between the Japanese design studio Nendo and the Italian heritage brand Alessi, is a study in the economy of gesture. By revisiting Alessi’s foundational expertise in stainless-steel metalworking, Nendo has produced an object that feels less like a traditional appliance and more like a singular, fluid line suspended in space.
The design centers on a continuous stainless-steel tube that serves as the kettle’s handle. Rather than being affixed to the side as an afterthought, the handle emerges from the top of the pitcher-like body, appears to pierce through the side, and extends forward to form the spout. This visual loop creates a sense of structural integrity that belies the complexity of its manufacturing.
Beyond its aesthetic minimalism, the Toru introduces a subtle ergonomic shift. While most electric kettles are designed to be gripped from the side, Nendo’s top-suspended handle allows the user to lift the vessel from its power base with minimal effort. By utilizing the upper part of the handle as a fulcrum, the act of pouring becomes a controlled, light tilt rather than a heavy lift, reconciling the weight of the water with the natural movement of the wrist.
With reporting from Core77.
Source · Core77
