Methodology Flowchart
Kitchen Typologies
Designing through disruption resulted in three new kitchen typologies: linear, everything is a kitchen, and kitchen-less. These kitchen typologies can organise space in different ways, and the possible arrangements are explored within this chapter.
Rules and Assumptions
This initial testing is simplified in its level of detail – focusing on the spatial arrangements, using the new typologies, and not technology or material finishes. The rules and assumptions enable the prototypes to have consistency and therefore can be compared to each other.
The 4 x 8 Flat Testing
4m x 8m is the same size as the protagonist’s current home. Keeping the size consistent, as one of the rules, during this stage of testing makes the scale of the outcomes (prototypes) comparable. This design phase explores the possibilities within the limits of familiar sizes and forms. Rearranging and manipulating the familiar rather than creating anything unrecognisably new.
Unit + Building
An apartment is never a stand-alone entity. The unit generates a building as a consequence. It was logical therefore to show the unit and the building in parallel, despite the unit being the focus of the 4 x 8 testing.
Matrix Questionnaire
We developed a matrix questionnaire to assess the comfort of the prototypes and find the best performing arrangements in the least subjective way possible.
Pin-Up Grading
The protagonist used the matrix to give a total score for each prototype, which resulted in a top performer for each new typology. These winning prototypes clearly have successful attributes that can be carried forward into more detailed design stages.
