Top View

Because, I LOVE FOOD. Sharing good food with family and friends is one of life’s pleasures. But it is easy to get stuck in the daily rut of life and lose your passion. This Social Kitchen project ‘Because, I LOVE FOOD’ is designed to help rediscover the joys of spending time in the kitchen or at the table. The signage is a picture of ‘Jagannath’ (God from the Hindu Mythology), painted directly on the brick façade. He has huge round eyes, an ear to ear smile and arms spread wide to embrace you. He has 56 course meals five times a day. His temple in Puri, Orissa has the largest kitchen in the world which feeds the entire city. The clients own an organic farm and an orchard and live in their farmhouse on the east side of the kitchen. So why not extend their kitchen into a public kitchen where people can gather and celebrate life? Hence this project. The kitchen is purely vegetarian. Because- it is the best way to experiment and explore vegetables and fruits from the farm next door. And is economical and eco friendly. Mostly Earthenware pots and pans are used for cooking. Food is served on leaf plates so they can be composted after use. The area is divided into a number of small brick structures. Two main kitchens, a store, a bakery, a fruit juice stall, an organic shop, wash and toilet areas are scattered around the 900sqm plot. The kitchens are comprised of 18 fully equipped small ‘home’ kitchen units. At the center of the kitchen is the ‘tulsi’ or the holy basil plant. Each unit has a hob chimney, sink, fridge, cutlery baskets, and storage for ingredients (which are daily replenished from the main store) and a breakfast counter. You can sit and watch as the chef prepares food as per your taste or tie an apron and cook in the kitchen yourself. Around the kitchen are little tables and stools shaped like paving blocks. So you can eat alone or join 20 tables to have jolly meal with family or friends. Or you can join a few stools to make a table, sit on the floor and eat.