Ageless Kitchen Worktop is a kitchen feature for senior citizens, supported by rigorous researches and robust evidences. The project concentrated on elderly and how to overcome their physical limitations in the kitchen by universal design as a solution; design that accentuates usability for all people to the greatest extent possible, regardless of age and condition.

AGELESS KITCHEN WORKTOP – DESIGN BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

Kitchen set becomes hazardous and inaccessible with aging, it needs design with adaptation to make performing tasks easier, decrease accidents, and encourage independency of senior citizens. The built-in conventional kitchen renovation comes with a high price, even sometimes it changes the whole interior and layout. The nomadic features are now becoming a global solution, that can be installed and accessed easily.

KITCHEN AND ELDERLY RESEARCH – PHOTO BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

RESEARCH & ISSUES – PHOTO BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

“LET THE KITCHEN DO THE HARD WORK”

The concept is both effort and space saving, in order to help the elder’s performance in the kitchen. This compact kitchen is intended for one user and set to be movable. With pull in and out system, everything is reachable by arms. It takes one position to perform by objects that come to the user, and the user does not have to reach them.

design by: helen agustine

CONCEPT SKETCHES – PHOTO BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

As a compact feature, the users can apply it in many spaces in their home, and easily to buy in retails. It means the elderly does not have to give a big effort and high cost in renovating kitchen set to adjust their physical limitation in the kitchen.

WORKTOP ZONES – DESIGN BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

The worktop is divided into 3 zones: Cooking, Cleaning, and Preparing. The linear open storage accommodates 3 parts of kitchen zones, and it is intended for user to find and organise the equipments easily. Table trolley can be pulled out under the table, and it is available as additional preparing area with the height of seating position and a set of helping features (such as one handed jar opener, guard lips for holding bread, and ingredients containers). It’s shape fits to the main worktop, so it fuses with the worktop’s shape and appears as unity when it is closed.

OPEN TROLLEY – DESIGN BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

CLOSED TROLLEY – DESIGN BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

Prototype was made to understand the spatial relationship in the real human scale and examines the radius of the elder’s reach, include the worktop width, height, sink, depth, and location of appliances. The prototype was tested to real senior citizens to observe and collect their feedback and opinions.

PROTOTYPE 1:1 – PHOTO BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

PROTOTYPE TESTING – DESIGN BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

The induction cooktop is applied as a safety feature for cooking that can be instantly cool once the pan is removed. Two large burners are located closer to the user, while the smaller burner for simmering is located at the back area. User can easily slide the heavy kitchen equipments into the sink by slanted sink surface design. The helper tray is available on the sink to wash and dry the dishes more comfortably.

KITCHEN WORKTOP LAYOUT – DESIGN BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

The preparation table contains installed grater that affixed firmly on the worktop to help user with dexterity problem. The grated and chopped food drops down to the drawer containers below the worktop to avoid lifting up the chopping board. The elderly user may use the trolley as a stroller to help them walk and transfer the meal from the kitchen to dining table.

KITCHEN WORKTOP ELEVATION – DESIGN BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

A big gratitude to Sylvia and Don (senior citizens) for their helpful contribution and feedback as the future user in this kitchen worktop design project.  – PHOTO BY: HELEN AGUSTINE

for more pictures check out : instagram.com/architravelust/