The intention was to create a space which would maximise and improve the quality of life for working parents and their children within the city of Manchester. The 70 Oxford Street site was selected due to it’s close proximity to both Oxford Road station and the City Centre. Kin aims to provide a number of serviced facilities and above all a space which families can use together, all day every day.The serviced facilities were designed to help support working parents. Combining specific facilities such as, a launderette and a pharmacy into one space, will result in parent having more time to spend with their children as opposed to rushing from one end of the city to another to the facilities they require.
On entering Kin at one of its two entrances, an expansive thoroughfare style vestibule takes you directly from Oxford Street or Whitworth Street West and past the serviced facility counters. This thoroughfare enables quick and easy access to Kin and acts almost as an interior high street.
When creating this space I felt it paramount to incorporate meaningful services which would appeal and help working parents. The Pharmacy, Post Office, Launderette with Online shopping storage and Doctors Surgery are all facilities which I felt would benefit parents and their children by being located together in one space. After all washing and ironing are one of the most time consuming daily chores, also the time waiting at home for an important delivery is one of the annoyances we all have to deal with. Kin aims to alleviate the stresses of modern life by incorporating these facilities under the same roof, which will limit the time lost to those daily chores.
A doctors surgery within Kin will help support working parents by enabling them to simply drop into the doctor with any concerns they might have. This will also be a less stressful and busy environment in comparison to a hospital clinic. Nervous new parents can drop into Kin for some reassurance from other parents or the advice of a doctor. This community aspect of Kin will be particularly useful for parents who may not have extended family close by, this will help to cultivate an urban tribe of city dwelling families.
The entire space is linked together with a striking geometric helical staircase, the staircase binds the different elements of the space together and allows people to flow easily through the space. The staircase has been designed to make it as easy as possible for parents to use with small children. Often parents with more than one child will have to carry the youngest up the stairs, whilst at the same time steadying the eldest. The main staircase at Kin has an integrated children’s handrail which aims to encourage children’s confidence at using stairs.
Located at the entrance to the 1st floor Restaurant, this interactive installation aims to encourage parents and their children to ‘let their hair down’ and have some fun by uploading their kith of kin photo to the website and in doing so this will help create a visual community
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The restaurant at Kin is a family friendly restaurant. Being a largely open plan area this will enable easy access for parents with pushchairs. This will also aim to encourage parents to feel comfortable bringing their children to a restaurant.
The asethic of Kin gradually changes throughout the building but remains sophisticated . It was paramount to sidestep the usual garish child friendly spaces in order to encourage parents to spend time within the space. A neutral palette with controlled hints of colour runs throughout. The restaurant is a dramatic element of Kin,its bold dark ceiling and contrasting light floor create an elegant scene for dining. Large communal tables have been selected to encourage interaction between different families within the space.
The second floor plays host to the Work Zone and Playspace.Two contrasting elements in such close proximity allows parents a quiet space to catch up with emails or work in the work zone whilst being close by to their child in the playspace. The bespoke doors incorporate low level peep windows which enable children to look through and see their parents
The Playspace is the colourful heart of Kin. With mini trampolines sunk into the floor children can jump and play to their hearts content. Parents are accommodated for too in this area with two large raised seating nooks which jut out into the void over the restaurant. Baby change and toilet facilities are located behind the playhouses
Located on the third floor is the studio. The studio is a facility which enables parents and their children to attend hourly dance, gym and yoga classes together. Changing cubicals are also located on this floor. The studio is purely for family orientated classes, this means that parents are not restricted to specific times and have more options available to them.
Located next to the studio, the two w/câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s provide a place for people to freshen up before and after a class
The main staircase is a main feature within Kin, it has been designed to enhance childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience of traveling through the space. The inner mild steel balustrade is coated with a matt chalkboard paint which enables children to use the chalk in their Little&Big kits. The chalk will chart their journeys within the space while the children drag it along as they walk up or down.
The roof garden provides a safe space for children to play outside. The roof garden also has vegetable patches which aim to teach children about food and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s origin. These patches will also supply produce to the restaurant.