DESIGNED AND BUILT IN 2007 BY THREE COUPLES AS A CO-HOUSING INITIATIVE IN MELBOURNE'S INNER WEST, THIS PROPERTY WAS AT THE VANGUARD OF AUSTRALIAN SUSTAINABLE PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN.

MINDFUL OF THE LEGACY OF THE PROJECT, THE NEW CLIENTS WERE LOOKING FOR AN UPDATE TO THE KITCHEN,BRINGING IN MODERN HIGH-TECH CONVENIENCES WITH A CALM, CLUTTER-FREE SENSE OF ORGANISATION.

INSPIRED BY THE JAPANESE THERAPEUTIC PRACTICE KNOWN AS SHINRIN-YOKU, OR FOREST BATHING, THIS KITCHEN RECREATES THE COLOUR AND MATERIALITY OF IMMERSION IN A FOREST, WHERE THE SIMPLE ACT OF SPENDING TIME, LISTENING TO THE BIRDS, FEELING THE BREEZE AND WATCHING THE DAPPLED SUNSHINE FILTER THROUGH THE LEAVES, CREATES A SENSE OF BALANCE AND CALM.

THE NEW KITCHEN ISLAND INCORPORATES A GRACEFUL CURVE TO BETTER COMPLEMENT THE CONCAVE FORM OF THE HOUSE. FEATURING RECYCLED HARDWOOD TIMBER BLADES, EARTHY GREEN TILES, SOFT GREY TRAVERTINE AND A LARGE SCULPTURAL STAINLESS STEEL BENCHTOP WITH MOULDED SINKS. TWO CUSTOM RECYCLED TIMBER SHELVING UNITS REPEAT THE CURVED MOTIF, PROVIDING AN OPEN DISPLAY AREA AND FURTHER ENHANCING THIS KITCHEN'S FEELING OF BEING GROUNDED TO ITS SENSE OF PLACE.