MODULAR KITCHEN UNIT
I built a flat-pack kitchen for a climate-scarce, mobile future: it folds down in 15 minutes and bolts back together for easy repair. Made from scavenged sheet steel and tubing, its scaffold-like frame uses interchangeable joints and open bays so tops, burners, or storage can swap in as needs change. Hands-on prototyping-testing joints, spans and loads with minimal material-proved a lightweight but durable core. The result is a portable, semi-industrial kitchen that signals improvisation over extraction and accepts life where stability is never guaranteed.
MAKING
Built from nested steel tubes bolted with standard M8s, the frame emphasises low-tech assembly and repair. True rigidity appears only when all modules interlock, teaching that in resource-poor futures strength lies in collaboration. An aluminium tabletop—plasma- or hand-cut, edge-folded for stiffness—doubles as a brace: it slots onto the posts and is tied back with a single threaded rod. A centre hinge lets the surface fold flat for transport, secured by simple fasteners; achieving this required iterative filing and hinge tests. The result is a lightweight, scavenged kitchen that packs quickly yet stays robust, proving modular dependency and basic mechanics can create stability without permanence.
Structurally and visually, the design borrows from scaffolding: lightweight tubular frames, interchangeable joints, and open bays that
EXTRACTOR TO PLANT SYSTEM
Steam extractor condenses cooking vapour to water herbs, symbolising extreme future resource conservation and poetic sustainability.
Made from old pan lid, tubing, found metal pieces, bolts and nuts.
©bridgetcathie.com by Bridget Cathie