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Green and functional
Green and functional from Kitchen Trends volume 2507
Bright colors, ample storage and an imaginative blackboard feature leave no doubt this kitchen suits a busy family with young children. What is not readily apparent is that Paul and Kat Schuster were equally concerned about the environmental impact of the kitchen's design and its day-to-day functionality.
The kitchen was stripped down to basics with minimalist details, says architect Mark Meyer.
"The lack of ornamentation goes to the heart of sustainable design by reducing the amount of materials needed," he says. "By not using skirting boards or coving, less wood was required."
Instead, fast-growing bamboo was used for the cabinetry, which was topped by stainless steel or bright green CaesarStone. The energy-rated appliances are also stainless steel.
To streamline the space, the upper cabinets were eliminated, allowing an unobstructed view and more light. However, the bare walls meant there was nothing to muffle the usual noise any family makes.
"A drawback of durable materials is that they are hard surfaces, which causes sound to echo. The kitchen was really noisy," Paul Schuster says.
To solve this, the ceiling in the dining area was dropped and wrapped in recycled cardboard, which functions as a baffle to absorb sound.
Structural elements were incorporated into the decor, such as the steel support beams. The concrete foundation slab forms the floor. Tumbled glass, obtained free from a recycling center, was added to the top layer of the slab, which was then ground down and polished. The result was an affordable version of terrazzo.
Good design means the space is bright enough that electric lights are rarely needed. Windows on the north side prevent harsh shadows, while the deep overhang of the second-story balcony diffuses direct sunlight on the south side.
Along with environmental factors, the home-owners wanted a room where they could keep in constant contact with their children.
"We angled the kitchen so we can see the entire ground floor," Paul Schuster says. "This means if the children are in the living room or out by the pool we can watch them. We also discovered an unexpected benefit – this design puts us in the thick of things when we're entertaining."
Durable materials and bold colors define this sustainable, energy-efficient house. A translucent wall allows light in while maintaining privacy.
The kitchen sits at an angle so the parents can see the children playing inside or outside. Topped with bright green CaesarStone, the island is a parallelogram to echo the shape of the room.
A burnt orange feature wall adds a spark to this kitchen. The cabinetry is made from fast-growing, sustainable bamboo, while the perimeter countertops are stainless steel to complement the appliances. Chips of recycled glass accent the white, polished concrete floor. The homeowners plan to compost organic waste, so the sink doesn't have a garbage disposer.
With plenty of hard surfaces, sound tends to echo. To ease the problem, the bright green cardboard enveloping the dropped ceiling acts as a baffle to soak up noise. Below is a table of kirei board, a material made from sorghum stalks. At the side of the room, blackboards conceal extra storage and give family members a place to express themselves.
Credit List
Architect
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Mark Meyer, designSTUDIO (Austin, TX)
Builder
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Robert Zirkel, Shelter Design & Construction
Flooring
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Polished concrete with recycled glass aggregate
Countertops
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Stainless steel; CaesarStone in Apple Martini
Backsplash
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Glass mosaic in green and white from Austin ModHouse
Ventilation
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Broan range hood designed by FA Porsche from Best by Broan
Story by Lori Nims
Photography by Thomas McConnell
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