Few creations in modern kitchen design have made as bold a statement as the Spazio Vivo Mobile Kitchen Unit. Conceived in 1968 by Italian architect and designer Virgilio Forchiassin and brought to life by Snaidero, this visionary project forever changed the relationship between space, technology, and domestic life.

At a time when the kitchen was considered a fixed, immovable part of the home, Spazio Vivo introduced mobility, modularity, and multi-functionality—ideas that are foundational in kitchen design today.

Reimagining the Kitchen in 1968

Spazio Vivo wasn’t just ahead of its time but decades ahead. Its features included:

• A compact frame on casters, allowing the kitchen to move freely within the home
• An integrated cooking module, complete with a stove and a mini refrigerator
• A pull-out cutting board, offering workspace only when needed
• Clever internal storage compartments, optimizing space in a minimalist design

This groundbreaking concept redefined how kitchens could operate in small-scale or flexible environments, especially urban living spaces, making them more adaptive, responsive, and efficient.

A Spotlight at MoMA: Where innovation meets culture

In 1972, Spazio Vivo earned a prestigious place in the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape.” The show highlighted radical Italian design that challenged traditional ideas about domestic life and material culture.

Spazio Vivo stood out as a revolutionary interpretation of the kitchen—transforming it from a fixed “sacred” zone into something dynamic and free-form. It celebrated a more casual and contemporary approach to everyday living.

Time magazine at the time described it as a “substantive critique” of conventional domestic roles, a recognition of how deeply Snaidero’s design questioned and reshaped social norms.

Snaidero’s Legacy in the MoMA Architecture and Design Collection

Being selected for inclusion in MoMA’s permanent collection is not just a mark of design excellence—it signals a lasting influence on culture and architecture. For Snaidero, this inclusion validated a design philosophy grounded in three pillars:

1. Functionality with vision
2. Craftsmanship rooted in Italian tradition
3. Innovation that anticipates the future

Spazio Vivo didn’t just offer solutions for the home. It introduced a new paradigm for how people could live—more freely, efficiently, and intentionally.

Design DNA that continues today

The spirit of Spazio Vivo still lives on in Snaidero’s contemporary collections, including those featured at Snaidero West Palm Beach. While the forms have evolved, the design values remain unchanged:

• Modularity and custom configuration
• Material innovation and long-lasting finishes
• Seamless integration of technology
• Emphasis on clarity, space-saving, and refined minimalism

This lineage continues through collections such as Elementi, Vision, and Way, which reinterpret the idea of a kitchen as a fluid and intuitive environment, perfectly suited for the South Florida lifestyle.

A Legacy that inspires contemporary Florida Living

For homeowners in West Palm Beach, where indoor and outdoor living blend seamlessly and luxury is defined by purposeful design, Snaidero’s MoMA legacy is more than history—it’s a living influence.

Designers and clients draw inspiration from Spazio Vivo’s clarity and modular efficiency. It proves that compact does not mean compromised, and that kitchens can be elegant without excess.

Whether planning a sleek condo kitchen overlooking the Intracoastal or a minimalist culinary space in a modern coastal estate, the design principles pioneered in Spazio Vivo are as relevant today as they were over 50 years ago.