Elfin has supplied 34 ‘Economy Plus’ kitchens (B-100-sMos-K) with safety timers to the groundbreaking Marston Court project in Ealing, London.
The scheme consists of re-purposed shipping containers, which have been converted into apartments for emergency hostel accommodation. The specially designed studio, one- and two-bedroom accommodation offers a sustainable, robust, affordable and flexible option for the urban infill site, which was previously occupied by largely disused 1970s garage blocks. The devolopment is a partnership between Ealing Council and QED Sustainable Urban Developments.
The Economy Plus range of kitchens from Elfin echoes many of the benefits associated with the accommodation. The units’ robust powder coated steel construction provides superb durability, while flexible configurations allowed the kitchens to be designed for the compact space inside the studios. In addition, extra worktop and cupboards were supplied by Elfin to provide occupants with extra storage facilities.
Each container was converted by CargoTek, in conjunction with Cityzen, which was also responsible for the specification of the kitchens. Commenting on Elfin Kitchens, John Smith, Director at Cityzen, said: “This was one of the first times we’d used the kitchens from Elfin, and we were really impressed with the overall offering; they’re very robust and practical, with all the appliances provided in one simple package, which makes installation far quicker. Plus, it’s also useful to only have one point of contact for all the kitchen facilities, rather than having to deal with multiple suppliers — we’re sure to use them again on future projects of this type.”
The Marston Court project comprises four pavilions, which are two and three storeys high, providing 34 units in total. There is also a site management office and laundry, with refuse storage. The whole site is built to Secured by Design principles and landscaped with open outside spaces and a play area.
Ross Gilbert, Managing Director of CargoTek, said: “Elfin Kitchens were a perfect fit for what we were trying to achieve at Marston Court. The development provides emergency accommodation for homeless people in the Borough of Ealing, so the units needed to be compact and robust. The modular and standardised system that the ‘Economy Plus’ range offers also means the kitchens can be easily maintained by the council.”
The ‘Economy Plus’ range of kitchens incorporates high quality appliances, including a refrigerator, sink and tap, plus a choice of solo or combination microwave, oven and grill.
Bob Andrew, Managing Director at Elfin Kitchens, said: “We have been involved in some unusual projects in the past, but Marston Court really is a great example of how to adapt spaces for compact living, while also addressing a need in the local community. Emergency accommodation is a vital service in our cities and the re-purposing of the containers on an unused site shows how great ideas can flourish, given the right circumstances.”
Starting at 900mm wide up to 1,500mm, compact kitchens from Elfin save space and offer great flexibility, with right or left-hand versions available, as well as hotplates, dishwashers, combi-ovens and additional storage units.
