BUILDING THE CONTAINER OF DREAMS: Part 8

(Extracts from my PhD Thesis)
This series of posts provides a step-by-step description of the construction and conversion processes involved in building the Container of Dreams. They outline my studio investigations and experimentation and document both accomplishments and failures experienced throughout the project.

Kitchen zone showing cabinets, benchtop, sink, taps, cooker and wall-mounted cabinets

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​Recap: The main focus of my Phd project was to devise an inexpensive liveable dwelling prototype to showcase micro-housing concepts in a tangible way. My research began by exploring possibilities of adapting discarded shipping containers in the creation of this model. Shipping containers were chosen for this purpose due to their affordability, availability, flexibility and speed of construction. I called the prototype ‘Container of Dreams’. 

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Part 8: Interior
Kitchen Zone

To install the kitchen sink a large sink-sized hole was cut in both the timber benchtop and the top of the metal unit using the cardboard template that was provided with the sink. The sink is a Clark Evolution single bowl sink which, along with the tapware, was donated by Caroma. The sink is marketed as appropriate for smaller kitchens and has added features, which make it ideal for this application, which includes a range of multi-function accessories such as a stainless steel draining basket, a colander, and a wooden chopping board.  These supplementary elements assist in making the sink and benchtop area genuinely adaptable and multi-purpose. Two wall mounted metal cabinets, purchased from IKEA, were then installed above the kitchen cabinetry. These helped to engender the presence of what is understood as a kitchen and provide important additional storage space.
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I decided not to include a freestanding stove in the kitchen zone for a number of reasons. It was not in the limits of my budget and they are rather large, cumbersome items requiring a lot of space. A portable induction cooktop, was instead selected for the cooking application and was purchased from IKEA. Induction units are considered extremely energy efficient and this item takes up very little space in an area where space is already at a premium. The cooktop unit is compact and portable, so that when it is not in use it can be neatly stored away, freeing up bench space for other applications. 

Table shown in extended mode

​The table area was conceived yet again with efficient use of space in mind. The design is using a simple folding technique which allows it to be transformable to accommodate extra people, or additional area for work or other purposes, and to fold down out of the way when not in use, as shown in the images. When folded down it remains as a small table space to allow for a laptop, writing desk and even a personal meals area. 

Table shown in folded mode

​The table required three (3) legs, which were purchased from IKEA, to be fixed to the underside of a pre-made timber benchtop, which was bought from Bunnings. Two (2) of the legs are fixed permanently to the folded down version of the table. The third leg is attached easily using a simple screwing motion into the fitting, as shown in the image below. This leg is stored away in the kitchen cabinet when not in use.

Table leg fitting showing simple screw in design

This concludes the build of the kitchen zone. Next week I will discuss the requirements of the bathroom zone. Stay tuned for details...