Sculptural kitchen at the heart of the home – both functionally and in terms of design

Slender benchtops, handleless joinery and folded metal planes on the island are all features of this contemporary kitchen design

This mid-level kitchen and dining area by Strachan architecture, house, interior design, table, black, Strachan Architects, plywood, stainless steel, Blum, KWC, Tap — This mid-level kitchen and dining area by Strachan Group Architects is separated by a balustrade and stacker doors from a full-height central atrium with a glass roof that draws natural light deep into the heart of the home.

With living spaces in front and stairs behind, architecture, concrete floor, house, interior design, living room, Strachan Group Architects, Real Fires, fireplace

Designed by Strachan Group Architects, this home’s open-plan architecture, house, interior design, plywood, spotlights, Strachan Architects

This central kitchen and accompanying dining area follows architecture, home, house, interior design, patio, porch, window, wood, black, Strachan Architects,

Slender benchtops, minimalist joinery and folded metal planes architecture, countertop, floor, concrete flooring, furniture, house, interior design, kitchen, black, plywood, KWC Tap, Stainless Benchtop

Simple shapes and a two-tone material palette, give architecture, furniture, house, interior design, table, black, McNaughton Windows & Doors, Strachan Architects, KWC Taps,

Some kitchens stand out as hard-working functional workspaces, while others quietly meld into the background. Then there’s another breed again, a more abstract design that invites attention while still playing down its function.

This kitchen – firmly in the last category – is on the mid-level of a contemporary, three-level home designed by Strachan Group Architects, with Roy Tebbutt as project architect. The home is on prime coastal land and has a strong, strategic architectural presence, optimising key views while also screening out the neighbours.

“The home’s black horizontal cladding is a design reference to the surrounding striated sandstone cliffs while vertical timber elements add warmth and contrast,” says Tebbutt. ”And this dramatic two-tone exterior is echoed in the kitchen’s strong, simple material palette.”

The kitchen has a pared-back look in term of form as well as finish. The minimalist, recessed handle joinery repeats the design of other joinery elements through the home.

Keeping it neat, most appliances and ample storage is integrated into the hoop pine plywood cabinetry wall that provides a warm backdrop to the kitchen. A large walk-in scullery, accessed through a hidden doorway in the cabinetry, matches the kitchen and also helps keep it clutter free.

“The island is a strong, sculptural element in its own right,” says Tebbutt. “It has a folded matt black steel surround, topped with a bead-blasted stainless steel bench. Geometric folds in the metal provide leg room for the bar stools.”

Despite offering plenty of functionality, the island retains its clean look with an integrated sink, flush hob and pop-up extractor.Central to proceedings, the workspace is close to the dining and living areas and also next to the home’s north-facing patio.