04/05/2026
Alexander Kielland Kitchen
Set within a raw concrete house — gabled roof clad in corrugated steel, polished cement and wide plank flooring — this kitchen was designed to meet the architecture on its own terms. As the kitchen adds warmth from elm wood fronts, and tinted green quartzite, the result is an expressive palette of honest, natural surfaces — bold in character, precise in ex*****on.
With two islands, this kitchen layout is noteworthy on its own, providing ergonomic advantages in addition to a clear design narrative. Both islands are clad in Fuxite quartzite on their outward-facing sides, but as one moves in between them, elm wood and the elevated stone backsplash is revealed. In the grand industrial context of the house, these furnishing elements provide a contrasting environment.
This kitchen allows the cook to prepare food in a 360-degree workflow, providing immediate access to ample counter space, while keeping line of sight (and speech) through the linear house interior. While the kitchen counter provides versatile cooking zones including both teppanyaki and induction, the downdraft ventilators allow the ceiling to stay deliberately unaffected by any kitchen installation. The steel elements above are also interpreted in the form of custom-made handles for the tall cabinets – industrial and functional, easy to spot and use. With a sink in seamless quartzite cut out from the countertop and compact cabinetry for storage and utilities, this kitchen comes together as more minimalist than what it may first appear. A design focused on removing excess, leaving the materials in focus.
Photos by Fotograf Tom Haga.