beyond the kitchen table update.

First iteration of my co-living design project in which I am designing a space that captures the balance between individual ownership and community in one space. The problem most co living spaces seem to run into is creating a place where everyone cleans up after themselves and takes ownership of a space shared by so many. My design is intended to give the residents their own ‘preparation stations’ that contain everything they need to make their own meal. These stations can be positioned alone or joined together for those who wish to collaborate through cooking. This flexibility will hopefully encourage this harmony between each individual and the community they are part of. 

The way we live as generations are changing and with it the needs of the home. Housing costs mean millennials struggle to get onto the property ladder, seeing a rise in those choosing a co-living lifestyle, becoming 1/3 of us by 2030. How does this affect the kitchen?Existing spaces fail to provide a sense of ownership over the space causing mess and lack of conviviality between residents, as personally experienced while cooking in a communal kitchen. Exploring existing research into the benefits of a co-living lifestyle, a common theme that cropped up was the flexibility this way of living allows. This flexibility is something that has influenced the design process, how to create a space that works for everyone using it.The design provides residents with their own ‘preparation stations’ that contain everything they need to make their own meal. These stations can be positioned alone or joined together for those who wish to collaborate while cooking. This flexibility encourages balance between each individual and the community they form.