IKEA METOD + matali crasset, paola navone and thomas sandell/studio irvine

IKEA METOD + matali crasset, paola navone and thomas sandell/studio irvine

exploring the everyday life at home, IKEA temporary has transformed a two-storey space in milan to showcase their products along with the modular METOD kitchen. collaborating with three renowned designers, the METOD kitchen has been interpreted by matali crasset, paola navone and thomas sandell/studio irvine.

playing around with METOD
image courtesy of matali craset

french designer matali craset, known for her furniture, hotel designs and electronic products has interpreted her version of the kitchen for a young family of three. encouraging them to spend more time together, the concept is influenced by a children’s playground where despite the small space, it allows the child to play side by side while the parents cook.

the space incorporates a child size bed
image courtesy of matali craset

matali craset comments: ‘i like to think of this kitchen as an island with a natural flow or circulation…what I really love about this kitchen is that it turns the typical hierarchy upside down with the child constantly in the center. it’s a kitchen that opens us up to new ways of living.’

image courtesy of matali craset

image courtesy of matali craset

kitchen drama with an italian accent
image © designboom

italian architect paola navone, known for her playful and lively designs has explored a kitchen embodying the italian family and culture. focused on providing lots of space, not only for cooking but also for people to socialize and engage with each other, the timber frame wrapping around the space encourages spices, pots and utensils to be hung off- like organized clutter. 

‘it’s not supposed to be perfect, but rather a little bit messy and ironic. just like life itself. I imagine this kitchen like a movie scene where you, as a viewer, feel drawn into the action.’ a comment made by paola navone.

kitchen utensils are hung on the timber gridded walls

a refined kitchen for the standing-or-sitting-chef
image © designboom

another possibility exploring life in the kitchen is the design by thomas sandell and studio irvine. the creative collaboration between the stockholm-based and milan-based studios have led to the formation of a kitchen for a common family situation- where one or more members has a disability. the resulting layout is completely symmetrical with both sides mirroring the other and where there is a set of everything- from the stoves to the glasses and cooking fans. the only difference between the two is the heights of the worktop where one is lower allowing easy maneuverability for a wheelchair user.

the height of the counter top is fitted for a wheelchair user
image © designboom

illustrating contemporary swedish aesthetics that is clean and elegant, marialaura rossiello from studio irvine says: ‘the first aim we had was to not create something that looks like its designed for disabled people.. but we wanted a beautiful kitchen that everyone can use together.’

image © designboom
outside the IKEAtemporary space on via vigevano, milan