Branch Out
RSA - Beyond the Kitchen Table brief
In multigenerational homes, elderly family members often experience social isolation. They can be left feeling lonely and unable to engage like they used to with their families, leading to boredom and frustration, even within a busy home. Elderly people with stronger family connections enjoy better mental and physical health into old age.
Drawing is an ancient form of communication that can be used to stimulate play and interaction. The kitchen table encompasses this expressive method of conversation through a table projection, encouraging the family to leave visual traces of their thoughts for someone else to see. Providing a non-verbal communication platform is inspired by nature’s mycorrhizae, a fungus, which provides nutrients to plants who lack them to ensure good health and wellbeing. Connection between the family is also achieved in the kitchen layout, with branches coming off from the extractor fan like arms reaching out to the whole space. Having the island as a focal point orchestrates good eye contact and fluid movement, with two other zones feeding out for storage, and cleaning.
The adaptability of the components enables them to be fitted to various kitchen sizes and shapes. The height of the tables can also be adjusted to accommodate wheelchairs, children or standing users to create a kitchen suitable for all.
