By LAWRENCE TAN

After the huge success of its Ora-Ïto Collection, Gorenje introduces a white version to its sleek black minimalist predecessor at this year’s IFA 2008, along with two new kitchen lines – Pure and Allure.

Pure

Allure

While the new lines exemplify the typical high standards we have come to expect of the Slovenian kitchen appliances maker, both of which boast several patent protected technological innovations, it’s their futuristic kitchen concepts that offer an exciting sneak peek into Gorenje’s product roadmap.

We have already shown you their "Made for iPod" refrigerator in our previous article. Gorenje also introduced another interesting concept – freestanding kitchen range aptly named Qube – that seemingly does away with unsightly plumbing and power circuitry hubs.

The sleek black glass core of the cubic shaped appliances outlined in metal-white composites and color-adjustable lighting handles do not give away much as to the function of the appliance.

Take the foldable cooking hub for example, it is wall-mounted like a LCD TV and opens up like a laptop to reveal a cooking hob with a kitchen hood.

These appliances highlight the increasing emphasis on aesthetics and design in furnishing one’s living space, and challenge the notion of having designated areas for specific functions.

With the Qube, having a fridge in the hall or a cooking hob in your bedroom may not sound like a ludicrous idea after all.