www.thedesignermagazine.com 35
His creative demeanour began at an Ultimately, this is about understanding
early age. “I used to make things as a what it takes to make a kitchen a ‘happy
kid,” he explains. “I always escaped into an space’ to be in. “One of the most classic
imaginary world of sculpture and art.” things is something like sightlines. In 95 per
At the School of Architecture, he says, cent of all UK kitchens – maybe 100,000
students were constantly encouraged to ask kitchens a year – the cooking is done facing
questions about what they designed. “But in the wall because it’s convenient to extract
the end, I found I related to artisans – the fumes from that location. It’s the wrong
idea of the intelligent craftsman – more than way round. It should be about feeling
architecture.” comfortable while you cook. You should
His natural affinity towards kitchens be able to face into the room and talk.
stemmed from the influence of his aunt, the When you have your back to people, you’re
food writer Elizabeth David, who started him anxious. You don’t feel relaxed or bonded
thinking about the role of the kitchen. “I loved to people.”
cooking and she had great passion for design,” Important as thinking through his ideas
says Grey. “After school, I built her a sink is for his own professional understanding,
cabinet, in the back of a Landrover in Chelsea, Grey is also very passionate about sharing
with wood shavings blowing down the street. these ideas through his books. “I care
“Elizabeth and I thought kitchens were about how people use kitchens and I love
the most miserable places – expensive and communicating about it,” he explains. “My
very inhumane. Plastic everywhere. For my kitchens are terribly expensive and I hate
first proper commission, I rebelled against that. I think householders are incredibly
that. I thought we’ll do exactly the opposite, badly served. They don’t get access to good
producing this punky-gothic room. The design unless they’re very rich. By doing the
media loved it and before I knew it I was this books, people can take the ideas and use
rebel darling, featured in The Times.” them for themselves. My current interest is
What makes Grey’s approach especially to bring this information into regular use
intriguing, is the level of thought and by designers, and to brief the general public
ideas that inform his work. For him, it goes about it so they can ask for it and expect it.”
immeasurably deeper than simply how a Grey’s influence on kitchen design is
kitchen looks. “The current big thing is pretty widespread. The unfitted approach,
neuroscience, how the brain works,” says ‘soft geometry’ and the bold use of colour
Grey. “We’re starting to understand the links that are all Johnny Grey characteristics
between brain, body and emotions. This continue to have an expanding impact.
is a design tool. Architecture forms a big Ideas that he championed at a smaller level
part of it. It’s about making a living space – are used more commonly now too, such as
bringing in light, outside access, light and Belfast sinks, willow baskets, and end-grain
good circulation. Understanding what makes blocks. He even owns the patent on willow
people feel comfortable.” baskets woven into drawer frames. ➔
Jonny Grey.indd 35 27/8/08 15:35:14
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