Cohousing-L Mailing List: Designing and Specifying CH Kitchens

[Chris ScottHanson (chris]

Hi all...

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

I have a question for you about some basic assumptions I am making  
about common house kitchen design.  It goes like this.

Am I right in assuming that

DURING DESIGN, a common house kitchen for 34 households should be  
designed with, at least:
a) two high quality, quiet and efficient residential refrigerators
b) two high quality, high capacity residential (insulated) ranges,  
with 4 - 6 burners each
c) at least one soup ring of at least 30,000 BTU (maybe better 40,000  
BTU)
d) two high quality residential range hoods, one over each range
e) high quality high capacity, probably commercial grade, dishwashing  
facilities
f)  integrated dish wash area, preferably at countertop height.
g) separate, social multi-cook food prep area


DURING PERMITTING AND CONSTRUCTION
a) leave out the commercial dishwashing system (to help avoid having  
to install a fully commercial grade kitchen) but including the  
counters and all the space required for the dishwashing system.
b) include and install everything else

AFTER MOVE IN
a) install a commercial dishwashing system (90 second clean cycle, or  
similar)
(My preference would be counter top level so there is no bending and  
lifting, and with slide in and slide out capability for the big  
trays.  Dish storage IN THE TRAYS is always good, if possible, so  
that clean dishes are not handled, and contaminated.)

If cohousing design professionals have opinions they are willing to  
share here, I would love to know what all of you think.

Thanks,


Chris ScottHanson