Selected by TP Bennett for Nido, the kitchens were chosen to provide residents with stylish, modern facilities. The compact units deliver everything required without encroaching on valuable living space.
Following extensive discussions with Nido and TP Bennett to ascertain the needs of the building and its residents, Elfin Kitchens was able to develop a series of bespoke designs that would fit the property, both in terms of size and aesthetic appeal.
Design and the look and feel of the kitchens was a vital element in the development. Nido Spitalfields is a smart and stylish development, providing students from overseas with the very best in British university accommodation. Therefore the kitchen facilities had to meet very discerning criteria.
Delivering six kitchen styles, including those with DDA compliant features, Elfin was able to offer three types of cluster room kitchen to provide cooking facilities for up to six residents in addition to contour kitchens designed specifically for use in areas with narrow access points alongside its standard kitchen model.
Considering the need to meet very specific health and safety guidelines, due to the nature of the building, Elfin designed in a 1kg dry powder fire suppression unit linked in to the main fire alarm system. This coupled with the non-combustible steel core of its kitchen units meant that Elfin was able to provide a series of kitchen solutions that would be able to withstand attack from fire and was subsequently tested as such at the BRE Watford, achieving an impressive pass rating following six fire tests using highly flammable oil pan fires. As such, fire protection specialists, Autoquench, were able to set the temperature of the fire suppression system accordingly, delivering an impressive additional safety feature.
With safety in mind, Elfin also commissioned a series of CDA ceramic domino hotplates to be fitted in the kitchens complete with a 15 minute automatic cut off timer meaning the risk of accidental fire as a result of the hotplate being mistakenly left on could be dramatically reduced.
Working closely with the contractor, ISG, Elfin developed a series of pre-built kitchens ready for delivery and installation. Due to the sheer scale of the building however, reaching 31 storeys, Elfin recognised the need to develop a system to easily deliver these kitchens to the 12th floor, without causing any disruption to other parts of the building work.
As such, a lifting rig was designed, built and installed to lift the kitchen units onto a rolling loading platform, via the site tower cranes, to quickly and easily move the kitchens up the building to their designated floor, ready for installation. To help move the units once inside the building, Elfin produced a series of low level pallet trucks and skates which slid underneath the units allowing them to be moved with ease to their designated space. Fitted with adjustable legs, the kitchen units could be moved with ease in to place to be installed over a floating floor allowing for the kitchen to be lowered in to place with the front edge detail meeting that of the floor.
The 700 units were simply fitted into single studios, apartments and shared kitchen areas, providing students with a smart, stylish and robust kitchen complete with all the essentials required. Modified to fit the space in which the kitchen is fitted, the robust white powder coated steel units comprise a combination oven, two specialist hotplates, an ‘A rated’ fridge and smart stainless steel sink complete with a monobloc mixer tap.
Kate Freer from Nido, commented, “The compact kitchen units supplied by Elfin Kitchens are ideal for the Nido Spitalfields development and combine safety, style and durability with an affordable price, four issues which were key to the selection of the units. Delivering everything students need to cook and prepare food, the units are ideal and fit in extremely well with the surrounding décor of the accommodation whilst the added safety feature from the hot plate cut off timer and fire suppression unit provides complete peace of mind both to us as the property management company and the student residents on site.”
Delivered to site as a complete unit, ready with an appropriate waste kit, the kitchen units were simply plumbed into the service pipe supply and connected to an electricity source, making the installation process incredibly quick and simple, allowing other installation works to carry on uninterrupted.
Located in central London, Nido Spitalfields is the tallest student accommodation in the world. Scaling some 105 metres in height, the new building offers students a comfortable, contemporary living space fitted to the highest standards, offering incredible views across the London skyline.
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