Week 2: 5 Client Requirements

Heston Blumenthal: Dysfunction

1. Cooking

First and foremost, Heston requires a large cooking space. Occupying the top floor of his 'hollow stairs', the cooking spaces very high roof will open at least above head height on the ground floor, allowing the smells of the kitchen to spill into the ground floor space and a viewing platform, offering customers a birds-eye view of Heston in the kitchen.

2. Planning and Researching

The office space represents the time and effort behind Heston's effortless creations of immaculate cuisine. Thus, the office space will be mostly concealed, behind and below the kitchen space two floors deep. Viewers might catch a glimpse of Heston in his office through the multiple staircases (see 'Heston's Hidden Home' post).

3. Storing

Heston's cooking often involves unique means of cooking and presenting his food. This requires special facilities that are concealed from the public where by he can store such equipment. This equipment must be near the public, unconcealed kitchen for easy access but away from the consumers eye. Thus, it will be contained on the floor below the kitchen, a short walk but concealed by the staircase and walls. (see 'Heston's Hidden Home' post)

4. Reflecting

Heston's cooking champions mystery, trickery and more often than not, misguides the consumer under false pretences, blurring the connection of the senses, drawing the nose and eyes one way and sending the tastebuds the other. I believe Heston's workspace should reflect this. Thus, the staircases connecting the various floors, whilst apparently simple in their industrial look and conventional use of material, trap the eye into believing it will see deep into Heston's mysterious dungeon, opening more of a view into further rooms as one descends the stairs, but never enough to fully understand what goes behind the confusing works or Heston in his kitchen (see 'Heston's Hidden Home' post)

5. Exciting

Undoubtably, Heston's work excites and tantalises us, awed by all our senses that he seeks to engage, we are overwhelmed with this holistic experience of food. Heston's workspace will reflect this awe not only in the ways mentioned above but in the sheer scale of his workspace. Consumers gaze down from a barrier into this expansive kitchen, one that is intriguing and mysterious enough to draw someone in, but terrifying in its dungeon-like design and industrial 'boxiness' to both excite and terrify them.

Revival Cycles: Brass

1. Exhibiting

Obviously the Revival Cycles require a large exhibition space in which to showcase the impeccably detailed designs. Comprised of high ceilings and a dimly lit interior, the space seeks to promote the dark grandeur and mystery of the polished vehicles.

2. Building and Customising

The workshop is a space of pure function; a large brightly lit area with intense soundproofing so as not to disturb the quiet, tranquil exhibition spaces that work to evoke historical bikes and stimulate fond memories in potential buyers and enthusiastics.

3. Storing

Again, functionality is key here, the hidden storage room will multi-level bike storage to save space and be easily accessible from the exhibition and workshop spaces.

4. Transporting

Asian inspired stairs with a central ramp and flanking steps will dominate the public access spots, with more basic stair and ramp combinations in private sections.

5. Evoking

Primarily, the role of the Revival Cycles is to evoke historical designs by remastering them in the modern era; the kind of evocation that requires a setting - colour scheme, scale and materials - that allow viewers to feel the history seep through this modern space. This will be achieved through the use of black and wood-panelled walls and diffused light through the roof in exhibition spaces.