Kalli- Architecture & Design were commissioned by their clients to make the ground floor level of their purpose built four storeys terraced house, welcoming and reflecting their design aesthetics. Originally the entrance door opened to a dark corridor full of standard height doors, leading to auxiliary rooms and ending to an undefined enlarged space with no clear function. The rear room of the kitchen/dining was utilizing a neutral material palette of flat surfaces with no depth or texture.

For Kalli- Architecture & Design, the idea developed around the concept of the narrative of a walk. The corridor becomes a defined pathway that leads to a space enlargement, a ‘square’, from where you either enter the rear room, the hidden cloakroom or the upper levels. The kitchen/dining area is the room of interest of this level. A place to create, spend time as a family and entertain.

The pathway gets emphasized by the introduction of an architectural element, a series of timber slats in repetition, that create a rhythm. This regular and repeated pattern of spacial elements create a sense of organized movement as a musical beat. It can give direction, it can enhance the visual interest, it can disguise. The repetitive pattern creates curved shapes in space. The architectural element’s geometry can direct and smoothly transition the user from one space to the other.

The main room of the ground floor needed an emphasis, a point of interest that draws attention in space. The kitchen island becomes a monolithic sculptural element and the rest of the design stays subtle and toned down. The final area of the ground floor level has a specific character due to its glazed roof. This is the place for the dining table and the gathering of family and friends. Its character gets enhanced by the change of color of the existing structure. The material palette is limited to dark stained oak, microconcrete topping and black toned mineral surfaces.