DESIGN NAME: Eco-Frame
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Kitchen composition
INSPIRATION: Research in modular, mass production and more industrial look for kitchen cabinets
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Our Eco Frame model, challenges both the custom materials for kitchens and the layout. It is an alternative sustainable choice, constructed with low tech yet cheap materials , very appealing giving an aesthetic of more unfinished or raw design. Yet, it can blend equally well in a loft, a log cabin, a high tech city apartment or a high budget residential project. It is designed with all the ergonomic features of contemporary design in mind, and can offer design, ergonomics, aesthetics and socialization to the potential user. Moreover, it is a sustainable design and can be mass produced.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Our composition offers the versatility in operation that has almost every common kitchen choice, without any particular demands in dimensions and space. The Eco frame layout, can be installed in bigger and smaller residential projects alike. We have included 6 appliances, Oven- Microwave, Cooktop, fridge, dishwasher, wine storage and ice maker.
The first 4 are necessities to be used in every ergonomic and practical kitchen design. Out layout offers good flow when working at the kitchen, sufficient worktop for preparation of the meals, as well as sufficient storage for every modern house.
What constitutes an innovation is that Eco Frame offers a unique layout design that makes it very contemporary and easy to be installed even in smaller city apartments. It offers two peninsulas, one for the everyday meal-preparation tasks and the other as a counter and wine-cocktail corner to enjoy the company of family members, friends or wines without preventing the cook to execute the tasks around the working area. For the installation one wall can be used, and the composition can be free or built-in between walls without compromising easy workflow and interaction, as shown in our renderings.
Moreover, the niche the particular space offers is used for wine storage, which is lit by LED lights and offers an aesthetic and accessible built-in cellar.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: It was initially started as a concept design for A design competition in September 2011, and was completed in October 2011
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Furniture Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: Eco frame kitchen offers the advantage of easy planning, order and installation. The whole composition consists of side metal frames of anodized aluminium which support the side, back, bottom and top OSB panels. So it is easy to order according to desired layout since all the side aluminium
frames for the base and wall units have the same overall dimensions 4.8 Width x 64.5Depth x 72 Height. The technology that is used for the production of the aluminium frames is common and one that offers mass production techniques globally and locally, including the transportation and assembling of the metal profiles. The inside supporting panels are OSB, 19mm thick, while 4mm thick OSB is used for the doors. Why OSB? Because we strive to solidify sustainable practices, throughout all the phases and aspects of the building process. OSB is manufactured wood product. It comes in a range of thickness and styles. It is made of strands of wood which are laid across each other at various orientations to increase tensile strength, bonded with a wax and resin adhesive and compressed to create a dense board. The compression of the wooden strands is typically achieved with the use of a thermal press. During the process of compression, the strands are bound together with the help of water-proof and oil-proof resin, heat and pressure. This process helps avoid internal gaps or spaces which, in turn, helps ensure a rigid, strong, and water-resistant product. Moreover,
the resins used in the OSB panel emit very low levels of formaldehyde.
An OSB panel might look much like plywood or particle board. In fact, the three products are used for many of the same purposes. There are some important differences, however. OSB is cheaper than plywood because it can be made from small pieces of wood, rather than the large sheets of wood that plywood is made from. This means that OSB can be harvested from younger, faster growing trees than plywood, usually yellow pine and bamboo, making it a very sustainable choice. It can be treated the same way as laminated wood boards in terms of varnishes and finishes.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: 4.8 Width x 64.5Depth x 72 Height for aluminium frames
19 mm OSB panels for the modules-4mm OSB panels for the doors
TAGS: modular, mass production, industrial, sustainable kitchen cabinets
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: -
CHALLENGE: -
ADDED DATE: 2012-02-28 12:32:11
TEAM MEMBERS (3) : BllendDesignOffice, Helen Brasinika Founder & Head Designer and Anastasia Rokkou Senior Design Technologist /3D renderer
IMAGE CREDITS: Helen Brasinika, 2011.
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