Houses Revisited: Waipukurau Kitchen
Large sliding doors on the north side of the kitchen open up to the garden.
The solid black island and range hood create a sense of visual strength and solidity.
Looking along the south wall of the kitchen into the scullery kitchen.
The scullery kitchen sits behind the tall wall of cupboards.
Kitchen plan.
Architect Simon Clarkson and kitchen designer Leanne Larking have created a 'green' kitchen that doesn't compromise on style, first published in 2012.
When someone says they are going off the grid, it brings to mind a converted van or a rustic hut in the hills, with a hanging kettle over a fire.
This kitchen, designed by Leanne Larking of Quattro Uno Design in association with Clarkson Architects, is part of a green home that shows going off the grid can be sleek, stylish and comfortable. The house is run from power generated by solar panels and water heated by a small boiler system.
The kitchen was designed with this and other elements of the house in mind. Situated in a rural setting in Central Hawkes Bay, project architect Simon Clarkson has created a sense of strength and permanence in the landscape with the use of pre-cast concrete spines that run through the house.
Larking has worked to create a similar sense of strength and solidity in the kitchen. The scale and geometrical proportions were inspired by the robust, large scale of the architecture.
The range hood and island are made of absolute black velvet granite and look, and most probably are, indestructible. This is a kitchen for a family with three children, so it needed to be as durable and hardwearing as possible. The black is offset with a warm pale wooden veneer on the tall cabinetry and the drawers on the island.
The tall backdrop of cupboards conceals two fridges and plentiful storage space. A scullery kitchen sits behind this wall of cupboards, as does a small cook’s office. The office is a concealed spot for household administration like school notices and files.
The island has the gas hob and sink on it, rather than the hob being on the wall as is more often the case. This, says Larking, makes more sense for dishes, and it means that the cook never has their back to guests but faces out across the open plan dining area.
The clients wanted a kitchen that was built to last. Larking and Clarkson have created a durable, practical space that with its sleek lines and hardwearing materials should age very gracefully.
Click here to see more Houses Revisited. And sign up to our email newsletters to receive Houses Revisited straight to your inbox.
Note: These are stories from our archives and, since the time of writing, some details may have changed including names, personnel of specific firms, registration status, etc.
