Three Californian architecture studios share how they design elevated outdoor spaces for living, dining and cooking.
Outdoor living is synonymous with Californian design. Known for its temperate climate, the golden state’s residential architecture has a long-held reputation for its ability to dissolve boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
In recent years, a home’s relationship to the outdoors has taken precedence as we appreciate its resounding impact on how we live. Never before has the outdoor kitchen – to cook and entertain open-air – played such a part in the residential design conversation.
Taking the premium culinary experience from inside to outside is something
Recognising
In partnership with
Walker Workshop
When it comes to designing an outdoor kitchen, Noah says they design to include the same ‘creature comforts’ offered inside the home. “In fact, in some cases, the outdoor space has fewer limitations. The outdoor pizza oven is a prime example of function. It can create the perfect communal activity in a generously sized, refined outdoor area as warm and inviting as an intimate restaurant.”
Feldman Architecture
Feldman Architecture’s portfolio of outdoor living spaces prioritises solar exposure, orientation towards views and natural protection from the elements. When designing an outdoor kitchen, they work intimately with the client to understand the type of cooking they envision happening outside; “Will they be grilling, smoking, cooking, or simply hosting and entertaining? This allows us to craft a customised floor plan, as well as source the most appropriate and highest-quality appliances,” Chris says. “Often, these spaces act as outdoor catering kitchens and hosting spaces, focused heavily on larger events,” he adds.
For entertaining,
Faulkner Architects
Giving an outdoor space the same consideration as its indoor counterpart, including multiple seating options and planning for children, is critical to what
Put simply, Greg says when designing an outdoor kitchen, they should be easy to clean and maintain and built with minimal materials – most favourably, stainless steel. “Build only what is needed – a place to prepare food and a cooking method. Open wood grills are best.”
Kalamazoo’s open wood grill takes the form of their
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