The jury’s comment:

“If Wes Anderson designed kitchens, they would look and function like this: a brilliant piece of storytelling, place-making and home-building expressed in all aspects of the work. A huge amount of care and attention has been given to all the rituals in this space and its unique, handcrafted design sits within the wider home as if it was always meant to be there. A true celebration of imagination, craft, creativity and place, the result is foodie heaven.”

PROJECT DETAILS

Location: Titirangi, Auckland

Client: Private client

Building area (m²): 150m²

Project brief: The client wanted their kitchen to have a sense of openness towards the lounge area, allowing for views of the surrounding bush. They required a large island bench that would accommodate at least four people and would serve as the heart of the home for socialising, dining and food preparation. Clever and considered storage with wide, deep, pull-out drawers and a centralised space for organic waste, recycling and general waste were key elements. A lot of the food is prepared from scratch so one of the requirements was to have a dedicated area for making pasta with a bench surface to which a pasta maker could clamp.

Credits: 

• Project Lead, designer and maker – Raimana Jones
• Maker – Mathilde Polmard

“The kitchen design balances modernity and humility with a bold use of materials and textures. Oiled recycled rimu and hand-turned knobs contrast with the visual lightness of the steel framework. Folded steelwork was blackened through a chemical reaction to intensify its surface quality and increase water resistance. The colour palette is inspired by the bush with a soft, lichen-hue, powder coated on the steel cabinets and deep-red accents on structural elements. Terracotta tiles were added to the kitchen flooring area, complementing the warmth of the recycled rimu. Additionally, three custom lamp shades were created with black sand mixed into the clay as a nod to the West Coast beaches.” – The Atelier Jones Design team

Watch the finalist presentation here: 

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