PRODUCT FEATURE | Multigenerational kitchens
Symphony’s Freedom range includes pull-down shelves, smart rise-and-fall hob and sink units plus waterfall edges on worktops
Luma House, Kings Cross, Brandt Design CASE STUDY:
This wheelchair-friendly kitchen was designed and installed by Brandt Design for a property at the Luma Park develop- ment in King’s Cross. Features include a gap under the sink to provide
wheelchair access, plus practical pull-down shelving. There is a fully integrated fridge-freezer with generous double doors, while custom housing makes way for a single Neff Hide & Slide oven and microwave. It features a near-invisible induction hob with ultra-low profile, while the discreet under-cabinet extractor fan has a remote control so the client can operate it without relying on touch controls.
InHouse’s Chris Dance says pull-outs for drawers and cupboards, raised dishwashers or washing machines, and motion-activated lights can make a big difference
particularly important. Quooker taps have been designed with a range of functional and safety features to cater for different users”.
Paul Illingworth, design manager at Abode, adds that taps that are designed to be used by people of all ages,
including those with limited
mobility or reduced dexterity, are outperforming other inclusive style taps that sacrifice form over function.
Push-button taps Ronke Ugbaja, leader, product management, Lixil EMENA and Grohe UK, says that one of the latest ways of thinking is to replace the tap lever with a button at the end of the spout that can easily be pushed with the wrist, forearm, or elbow. “Our SmartControl kitchen tap features this new mechanism, a concept lent from similar technology used in Grohe shower systems. Not only does this
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method prevent the risk of cross- contamination from daily touch and usage but also when preparing food.” In terms of the other potentially hazardous appliances in the home, such as the hob and oven, many experts agree an induction hob is the safest and most practical. Obviously, all of these appliances should be out of reach of
little fingers and lower
cupboards should ideally be lockable to keep children from getting in. In a kitchen that
needs to be
wheelchair-friendly, Thomas recom- mends a Neff Hide and Slide oven with a pull-out shelf underneath where hot pans can be placed before being shifted
over also to the that worksurface,
reducing the risk of burns or scalds. Voice activation and operation is a feature
is becoming
increasingly prevalent across appliances. An increasing number of appliances have it – in particular,
Quooker taps have a childproof, patented double push-and-turn mechanism
cooking appliances, as well as extractors, which aren’t always the easiest to access. Looking to the future, Thomas is calling on showrooms to be more inclusive, by making them more accessible to wheelchair users. One impact
of greater accessibility in
showrooms could be that it helps to further normalise the idea of the multigenerational kitchen for all. As well as a call for greater
consideration of accessible design in showrooms, the installation/installer industry is also beginning to take multigenerational design more seriously, and this is evidenced by the Installer Show’s latest booking – Johnny Grey’s 4G Kitchen, which will be on display as a “conversation starter”. Grey is also planning a series of talks at the show exploring responsive design, including ideas around multi- generational living and the Unfitted Kitchen [for more on this see The kbbreview interview, pages 22-24]. Across the wider market, manufacturers and suppliers are increasingly recognising the importance of this market.
Chris Dance, showroom manager at Inhouse Inspired Room Design, concludes: “As more people recognise the benefits of multigenerational living, we will see an increase in popularity in the coming years. The drivers for a significant rise in multigenerational living may include economic factors, such as the rising cost of housing, financing, housing policy changes, the desire for shared care-giving and, family connection”
• December 2023
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