Designer kettles show how almost anything can become a playground for architects and designers. Especially the things we use every day, the ones that actually matter.
In this group, the kitchen kettle turns into something sculptural, something you feel as much as you see. It’s a quiet, honest way for art to slip into everyday life.
DESIGN KETTLES: CLASSICS AND ICONS
The kettles on this list share a few things. They come from heavyweight designers, they’re made and sold by trusted manufacturers (Alessi among them, but not the only one), and they’re still in production. Some have been made for over thirty years. So here it is: a selection of the most thoughtful and well-made design kettles to bring into your kitchen.
9091, Richard Sapper
Richard Sapper’s 9091 kettle went into production in the late 1980s and has become a symbol of great kitchen design from those years. With this kettle, Alessi and Sapper succeeded in their goal of creating kitchen objects that are both functional and evocative (such as the beautiful 9090 coffee maker). Distancing himself from his own usual functionalism, Sapper created a poetic and multisensory object. The kettle features two small brass whistles that produce the musical notes B and E when the water boils, replacing the traditional whistle. By adding this element, Sapper aimed to enhance the overall sense of well-being in cooking or having tea at home, substituting a pleasant sound for the somewhat anxiety-inducing whistle. He succeeded brilliantly, creating a design icon now collected by the world’s best museums, including the V&A in London.
Kettle 9093/1, Michael Graves
Designed by Michael Graves for Alessi in 1985, the 9093 kettle is a defining example of postmodern industrial design. Its conical stainless steel body, pale blue handle, and red bird-shaped whistle reflect Graves’s distinctive blend of historical reference and ironic detail. Developed in collaboration with the technical team at Alessi, the kettle combines functionality with expressive form, drawing on Art Deco and Pop influences. Still produced in Italy, it remains one of Alessi’s best-selling product, with over 1.5 million units sold worldwide.
Il Conico, Aldo Rossi
Il Conico is a design by Milanese architect Aldo Rossi, produced by Alessi since 1986. The kettle is akin to the stunning La Conica coffee maker, developed by Rossi and Alessi two years earlier. Like the coffee maker, the kettle combines an evocative, brief, and descriptive name with a form that shares these characteristics. Both of Aldo Rossi’s designs have earned significant public interest, seen as images of the future due to their stylized, elemental, and geometrically pure forms. It’s no coincidence that Il Conico was part of the tea service on the Star Trek spaceship.
Collage Kettle, Utilise.Objects
Collage is a teapot designed by the Belgian studio utilise.objects for Serax. It draws inspiration from traditional Japanese cast iron teapots, with the addition of a handle and filter that make it easier to use and more functional. It’s also meant to be a sculptural, decorative piece. As the designers put it: “The Collage tea service is based on the perfect balance between material, shape and proportion, and on the idea that tableware can also serve perfectly well as decoration, instead of being stored away after use.”
Hario Buono
The Hario V60 kettle is a fascinating object with attractive lines. Created by Hario, a renowned Japanese producer specialised in coffee equipment, it is part of a line designed for filter coffee enthusiasts. Made of stainless steel, this kettle is both functional and intriguing, featuring a gooseneck spout that allows for maximum precision in water pouring, and an ergonomic handle reminiscent of a pitcher. A small masterpiece of Japanese design that stands out in any kitchen.
Bulbul, Achille Castiglioni
Introduced in 2021 to celebrate Alessi’s centenary, the BulBul kettle by Achille Castiglioni embodies all the best qualities of the renowned Italian design master’s projects. Castiglioni cleverly transforms the rounded shape of a curling stone into a beautiful stainless steel kettle. The handle’s design seems to invite playful interaction on the kitchen counter, showcasing Castiglioni’s exceptional talent for blending functions from very different realms, creating ironic and intelligent objects that are signature features of his work. Beyond the conceptual brilliance of its form, the kettle’s functionality is top-notch: it is made from 18/10 stainless steel with a magnetic base suitable for induction cooktops. In terms of sustainability, replacement parts such as the whistle and lid are readily available, enhancing its durability.
KETTLE, Sori Yanagi
Sori Yanagi is one of the great masters of Japanese industrial design, revered by generations of designers. His essential, almost anonymous style has inspired figures like Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa in their Super Normal exhibition and book, emphasizing formal elegance. Among Yanagi’s many metal designs for the kitchen and everyday life, his famous kettle holds a special place, winning over design enthusiasts worldwide. The wide base allows water to heat quickly, while the lid and handle, with plastic guards, are ergonomic and pleasant to handle.
Cha, Naoto Fukasawa
Naoto Fukasawa is one of the great designers of our time. His work is characterized by the essentiality of forms, minimalism, and a strong formal balance typical of Japanese designers. Fukasawa has collaborated with the top design companies worldwide, creating many objects in stainless steel for Alessi. Among these, the Cha kettle stands out for its refined shapes and dual function. Cha can be used as a kettle, but also as a teapot, thanks to a filter inside the reservoir.
Kettle, Le Creuset
The Le Creuset kettle brings together tradition and reliability in an object made for those who appreciate things that are well built and made to last. It’s crafted from enamel-coated steel, solid and durable, and somehow gets even better with time and use. Its classic design—with clean lines and the brand’s signature colors—recalls old-school craftsmanship, while practical touches like the whistle and ergonomic handle make it easy and safe to use.
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