In creating a place where she could both work and live, Louisa Grey, founder of London design studio House of Grey rewrote the rules. Deciding to create something that was part-home, part-studio and that adhered to the tenants of Circular Salutogenic Design with its material palette, Grey’s incredible space, House of Holism, is a tranquil hybrid that rejects our burnout corporate culture. Instead, it asks why the office shouldn’t be as inspiring and energising for those who work there, as their own homes?
For those unfamiliar, Circular Salutogenic Design basically refers to interior design practices that allow humans to live in harmony with the planet and themselves. As such, the materials chosen for House of Holism were all non-toxic and sourced from the Earth. Not only does this have implications on the space’s environmental footprint, but for those who inhabit it, can promote groundedness, improve concentration and reduce stress. And while every inch of House of Holism has been designed through this lens, nowhere are these ideas more evident than in the kitchen.
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Here, a suite of seamlessly integrated Fisher & Paykel appliances, including an Integrated Single DishDrawer™, an Integrated CoolDrawer™, an Integrated French Door Refrigerator Freezer and an Induction Hob are subtle enough so as not to disrupt the flow of the space, but durable and practical enough to withstand frequent use. Grey collaborated with Finch to bring her vision to life, where every material used was completely natural and chemical-free. The cupboards and drawers, for instance, have been crafted from locally-sourced birch plywood with UK Ash used to give their façades a natural finish. While in the coffee-making cabinet (housing one of Fisher & Paykel’s Built-in Coffee Makers) surfaces have been made from salvaged marble. Elsewhere, the movable kitchen island has been finished in a durable and water-resistant mineral coating made mostly of lime.
The beauty of the use of Fisher & Paykel here is the way in which its products allow the unique materials of the space to shine. Even an appliance as useful as the Fisher & Paykel Wine Cabinet slip into the background with such subtlety and finesse that you almost wouldn’t notice it unless it was in use; encapsulating the idea of work-life balance that is so intrinsic to the rest of this project.
