exuding rustic charm, loris dadda's 'zea' stove lets you prepare polenta taragna outdoors

loris dadda pays homage to italian culinary traditions

Fusing Lombary’s culinary traditions with the demands of contemporary cooking, Zea is an outdoor stove conceived by Loris Dadda, its rustic form echoing the humble character of the beloved dish. The project celebrates the heritage of the traditional Italian meal, polenta taragna, and sets out to retrace a journey in the product designer’s ancestral folklore, reviving a period of raw craftsmanship.

Following a process of exploration, research, and experimentation, Dadda infuses a distinct character to polenta’s historically humble preparation method by introducing a dedicated stove complete with the requisite implements — akin to the typically found specialized ovens for pizza or barbecues for meats. It caters to outdoor utilization, simply requiring quality timber, fire, water, maize and buckwheat flours, butter, and cheese for functionality.

all images courtesy of Loris Dadda

zea outdoor stove embraces simplicity and functionality

Zea emerges from designer Loris Dadda’s extensive exploration, collection, and research project titled Vivere le Origini (Living the Origins). This culinary stove nods to the past, paying homage to the intrinsic identity that polenta taragna has bestowed upon contemporary gastronomy, as well as its enduring impact on entire generations of Italian. Notably, the project harks back to the simplicity and functionality of heaths and fireplaces characteristic of the bucolic landscapes of Lombardy during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

From its furnace to its wheels, all components of the stove originate from a single sheet of black iron measuring 1000 x 2000 mm, meanwhile beech wood was chosen for the handles and supports for its durability and practicality. The design process began with comprehensive 3D drawings, followed by laying out each component on a 2D surface and fabricating using a CNC machine with laser cutting capabilities. Skillfully bent and welded together, these pieces bridge the gap between the past and the present, melding traditional rustic charm with modern sensibilities.

fusing Lombary’s culinary traditions with the demands of contemporary cooking

Zea is a designated cooking station for polenta taragna

designed for outdoor cooking

the stove is akin to specialized ovens for pizza or barbecues for meats

all components of the stove originate from a single sheet of black iron

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project info:

name: Zea
designer: Loris Dadda

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom