Prior to the remodel, the existing Woolworth kitchen was a long, narrow and cluttered space with dated decoration. The client desired to utilize the existing space to create a clean, contemporary kitchen and add a simple, organized home office while allowing for ease of mobility for their son in a wheelchair. For the central focal point, the architect created a custom cast-in-situ concrete island, accented with black quartz, and framed from above with laminated maple ceiling panels - the design of which was inspired by the routine act of boiling water. The island retains the wood texture from its formwork and leans outward as it curves through the narrow space, allowing ease of use for the disabled. The kitchen also includes a custom operable handicapped ramp which is simple, manual, and direct so that it will be nearly maintenance free.

Jury Comments: We like the straight forward way an individual can change their environment to be self-sufficient. Necessity is the motherhood of intervention, and these inventions are both architectural and clever.