# Solar Cooking Tables The SUNplace Table Cooks Food Like a BBQ Using Solar-Powered Clean Energy By Ady Floyd | Published 2015-07-13 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cooking-tables References: [fastcodesign](http://www.fastcodesign.com/3048372/a-quirky-bbq-unleashes-the-suns-power?partner=rss) & [lanzavecchia-wai](http://lanzavecchia-wai.com/projects/sunplace-for-le-affinita-selettive-solar-cooking-table-set/) SUNplace is a [solar-powered cooking table](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-electric-pavilion) that uses clean energy to cook food in a futuristic barbecue-inspired way. This cooking table was created by the duo design team of Francesca Lanzavecchia and Hunn Wai. The unique table was designed as a project for the 2015 Milan Expo. The Expo explores the future of food and encourages designers to present new ways to make and enjoy meals. The SUNplace is a [communal cooking grill](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-teppanyaki) with an overhanging Fresnel lens that cooks food on a cast iron grill using solar power. The grill is placed in the center of a [circular wooden table](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-1) that encourages groups of people to participate in a shared cooking experience. This unique table comes with glasses and gloves that provide complete protection for those who are using the grill. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 67% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Home](https://www.trendhunter.com/home) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Solar-powered Cooking:** The SUNplace table showcases the trend of using solar power for cooking, offering opportunities for companies to develop innovative solar-powered cooking solutions. - **Communal Cooking Experience:** The SUNplace table highlights the trend of communal cooking experiences, presenting opportunities for businesses to create interactive cooking platforms for groups. - **Sustainable Design in Food Production:** The SUNplace table exemplifies the trend of incorporating sustainable design in food production, prompting industries to explore sustainable material choices and energy-efficient cooking methods. ### Where This Applies - **Renewable Energy:** The SUNplace table indicates opportunities for the renewable energy industry to develop and promote solar-powered cooking devices for both outdoor and indoor use. - **Hospitality and Event Planning:** The SUNplace table opens opportunities for the hospitality and event planning industry to provide unique and interactive communal cooking experiences for their guests and clients. - **Kitchen Appliance Manufacturing:** The SUNplace table presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the kitchen appliance manufacturing industry to design and produce sustainable and energy-efficient cooking appliances. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Folding Solar-Equipped Camping Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecoeshiner-solar-table.md) - [Communal Outdoor Cooking Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-grill-table.md) - [Tubiform Solar Ovens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tubiform-solar-oven.md) - [Portable Solar Ovens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-solar-oven.md) - [DIY Solar Oven Guides](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-solar-oven.md) - [Beer-Branded Solar Cookers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/busch-light-solar-cooker.md) - [Compact Tabletop Charcoal Grills](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/afterglow-portable-charcoal-stove.md) - [Renewable Energy Camping Grills](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adventure-boilgrill.md) - [Energy-Producing Furniture Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ya18-stool.md)