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Problem
Problem
In an old apartment of mine, I had very little kitchen space. Between the sink and the range was the only place I could prepare food. I wanted a surface I could use as a kitchen-top but also a cutting board
Method
Method
The design method behind this project was largely concurrent engineering while taking inspiration from other kitchen furnishings. The main form factor comes from a YouTuber who makes food content. The other inspiration came from the industry standard countertops that I encounter by working at 2 different restaurants.
Ethan Chlebowski’s kitchen island
An important thing to mention is the help of my Uncle Lou. There were many important decisions made with his help, as a seasoned architect. He also provided the wooden butcher block pieces that make up the cutting board top. In our concurrent engineering method, we progressively resolved issues with high attention to detail.
Process
Process
The process began with sketching what form the cart should take. I then finalized the dimensions with an engineering drawing made in SolidWorks. I then purchased the materials, with exception of the wood countertop.
This is a rough drawing of the dimensions and grain of the countertop. There were two separate pieces that were too small to be combined with a parallel grain, so they were glued together perpendicularly.
Here the butcher block's perpendicular grain and the beveled edge can be seen
The apron being glued on with pipe clamps
Once the countertop was finished and the wooden apron was attached, the rest of the cart could be assembled. The 1.5” aluminum angles are a compromise after discovering how expensive stainless steel is, and the shelves are made of plywood with a maple trim. This is an upside down soft assembly of the kitchen cart.
Outline
Outline
I began with wanting a larger space for cooking purposes. From there I took inspiration from similar designs to come up with a general form. After that, I sketched the version of the cart I had in mind and modeled it in SolidWorks. Along with the model, more sketches of the fixtures and detailing helped guide fabrication.
Reflection
Reflection
The strategy of continuously defining design details worked well. It guaranteed that each part of the design was made with a higher quality. While the cart is still waiting for final assembly, each stage thus far has been successful.
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