Stripped-back structure
Raw and robust materials in the kitchen reveal the enduring influence of brutalism and its fascination with material honesty. In the Willisdene kitchen (page 46), Archier has left the brick wall of the addition exposed rather than add a layer of tiles over the top, which architect Josh FITZGERALD says is in keeping with the practice’s interest in “materials that will improve with wear.” In the kitchen of Moloney Architects’ Wooden Box House (pictured and page 90), exposed beams give the sense of “undressing the structure,” says Mick Moloney. In the same vein, the use of formply for the cabinets – a material more typically used in concrete formwork – veers away from applied finishes and celebrates the imperfect.