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Looking Up: Dream Design for Kitchen
May 17, 2023
Anurag Yadav
How a well-designed ceiling can work magic in the kitchen is well demonstrated by the unique design in a London house by Billy and Katerina, Bureau De Change.
Whenever one thinks about ceilings for homes, the thing that comes to mind is white and flat. Despite all the developments and innovations in kitchen interior design, this aspect usually ends up neglected or far from the reach of new or unique treatments. Despite the attention to designing and decorating the rest of the house, a ‘ceiling’ seems to be something that skips the mind rather easily.
A great ceiling design, whether it is in the living room, the kitchen or the bedroom, can give a unique, inimitable and individual character to that space. Not only residents but guests also experience the difference simply by coming across uniquely designed ceilings that leave an indelible impression in the mind.
Designers and homeowners do aver that we have all forgotten to look up. Incorporating external elements, especially greenery, can make a dramatic impact. Creativity demands, wherever possible, to make ceilings a part of any room’s beauty but when it comes to the kitchen, the change can be amazing.
As an assignment for Billy Mavropoulos and Katerina Dionysopoulou of Bureau de Change, their London-based design company, this three-storey period terrace house in North London appealed to a scheme that would open up views to the adjoining Parkland Walk conservation area and create an enriched family kitchen and living space.
Large panels of glass set into the zigzagging ceiling and rear wall of the extension look out into a secluded garden and the treetops of the park. Photo Courtesy: Billy and Katerina
The focal point of the project is a pleated roof at the back of the house, which appears to be formed from a flat surface, forced to crinkle up into a faceted structure, as it is pushed up against the exterior wall. From the garden, the pleats are purposefully sunk from view, creating the impression of a simple flat roof, which allows the character of the original building to stand out.
Katerina Dionysopoulou, Co-Founder of Bureau de Change says, “With the pleated roof we wanted to not only bring a graphic feel to the modern extension but also create a feeling of motion which would emphasise the meeting of old and new.”
The original building fabric at ground level has been removed, and replaced by the new folded extension which appears to 'prop up' the remainder of the house. Eliminating any visible columns was technically challenging, but essential in preserving uninterrupted views and forging a connection between the interior and surrounding woodland.
Materials and colors were carefully proportioned and distributed to visually mark the transitions between living spaces and to create a natural circulation. Photo Courtesy: Billy and Katerina
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Aside from its graphic appeal, the folded roof was also designed with practical applications in mind. Forming a side and rear extension, the roof expands the existing kitchen and creates a new dining and work area. The roof pleats are replicated along the party wall, concealing a home office which can be opened up when required, and creating an alcove into which seating snugly slots. The boundary of the kitchen is marked assertively by the end of the pleated ceiling, which is capped by a midnight blue surface that emphasises its ample peaks and troughs. Darkened surfaces continue through the kitchen, connecting it to a long passage that extends along the left side of the property, conveniently and discreetly creating a storage and utilities ‘zone’.
Billy and Katerina
Bureau de Change was founded by architects Katerina Dionysopoulou and Billy Mavropoulos. In their London-based design company, Bureau de Change( www.b-de-c.com), the duo combine the pragmatism and formality of their architectural training at the Royal College of Art and Foster+Partners with a sense of theatre, playfulness and innovation to the design of spaces, products and environments.
Katerina led the team designing the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, winning the coveted Lubetkin Prize. She is a visiting lecturer at Harvard University. Prior to founding Bureau de Change, Billy worked as an independent design consultant on projects for the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Selfridges. In 2010, a major design publication featured him as the next generation issue as a designer who will change the face of design within the next 30 years.
Their recent projects, quite a few of which have been well-awarded, have used bespoke cast brickwork, woven furniture and rapid prototyping to form sculptural surfaces.
The poise of the roof offers natural points for the placement of generous skylights, bringing light into the living area, which would otherwise be shrouded by its position in the centre of the house. Importantly, these openings also satisfy the owners’ desire to see the nearby woodland whilst relaxing in the space. The skylights have been positioned in order to create a natural ventilation system, which expels cooking smells and quickly fills the house with fresh air when desired.
The scheme is characterised by a rich palette of colours, materials and textures which create a different experience in each space. Large terrazzo slabs, encaustic tiles and tonal parquet complement the complexion of the original building whilst enhancing the graphic impact of the angular extension.
Commenting on the design, Co-Founder Billy Mavropoulos, says, “Materials and colours were carefully proportioned and distributed to visually mark the transitions between living spaces and create a natural circulation.”
The new kitchen extension has brought a new centre to this family home, which is as atmospheric as it is practical.
[The article was first published in the October-December 2015 issue of Kitchen Ideas.]
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