For those who crave modern design for outdoor entertaining, the new Fuego 01 outdoor grill, designed by Robert Brunner of the leading international design consultancy Pentagram, has brought the age-old tradition of barbecuing into the 21st century. The Fuego 01 outdoor grill brings a new level of entertaining to this ancient ritual by transforming the bulky conventional grill into a sleek social hub and combining breakthrough technology with museum-quality aesthetics. Debuting this month, the Fuego is the first company to realize outdoor grilling is more than a cooking event. It is also a social event.
Fuego is the brainchild of founder industrial designer Robert Brunner, the company's chief industrial designer, and Alex Siow (also the founder of Zephyr Ventilation), Fuego's CEO. After years of participating in family backyard barbecue parties, Brunner recognized the shortcomings of the traditional outdoor grill and its role in outdoor family gatherings. With the design of the Fuego 01, Brunner developed a grill-as-gathering-spot concept to inform his design for the company's inaugural product.
At first glance, Fuego 01 engages a design vocabulary more closely associated with high-end furniture than the vernacular of the traditional outdoor grill. The stunning simplicity of Fuego 01 celebrates all-weather materials in their purest form, combining an austere precision-engineered brushed stainless steel frame with farmed teak and slate countertops and a cast iron grilling surface.
The Fuego 01 truly sings in any modern home. Come rain or shine, the teak countertops may be oiled to maintain their original color, or left to acquire a beautiful silvery patina. With its bold geometries and a striking material palette lifting the eye, Fuego 01's modernist idylls are a seamless extension of any modernist example of architecture.
With social interaction as a driving concept behind Fuego 01, the conventional, bulky grill lid is replaced with a slim lid that retracts within the unit when not in use. The geometric slits on the front and rear of Fuego play a functional and aesthetic role. They are part of a modular storage system, which accepts everything from spice jars to champagne buckets and food trays to assist the grill master in action.
The Fuego's island configuration is designed with approachable features such as surrounding work counters and food prep trays for guests to gather and sip cocktails, while participating in the grilling experience. In addition to its innovative design and functional mobility (equipped with hidden swivel caster wheels for ease and convenience), Fuego 01 (42 inches) is also brimming with high tech features.
Fuego 01 is designed with a patented hybrid cooking system, which can be changed to gas, gas-fired infrared, and traditional charcoal. Its patented "quick change" drawer system allows the chef to determine the type of fuel of their choice. There is even a first-ever grill-surface temperature thermometer to gauge cooking time. A gentle chime will sound to indicate when food is done.
For those who lack the space for a Fuego 01, the new Fuego 02 is a trimmer version of its sister, yet boasts as much style, technology and signature features. Fuego 02 (30-inches) fits perfectly on an urban balcony or rooftop garden, where those who love to entertain in small spaces, can still do so without giving up on high concept design and technology.
"I like to think of the Fuego as the 'campfire for modernists,'" says Robert Brunner. "Our intention is to re-invigorate the outdoor grill market by breaking all boundaries with a product that is functional, yet appeals to the modern urbanite's lifestyle."
FUEGO has created a modernist rethink of outdoor living, providing the best in functionality, technology and style. With pioneering designs that are original, innovative and bold, FUEGO offers the first outdoor grill designed as an entertainment center and social hub for the backyard. For further information, visit http://www.fuegoliving.com or contact FUEGO North America at (415) 558 7151.