Melbourne Foodies Drive Communal Kitchen Design

Melbourne’s passion for culinary cuisine is influencing how developers design kitchen and communal spaces in city apartments.

This ‘foodie’ demographic – characterised by their obsession with experimental cooking and fresh food markets – prioritise kitchen spaces such as shared outdoor cooking amenities and private dining areas as the most important add-on when looking for a new apartment.

Head of Apartments for Lendlease’s Urban Regeneration business in Australia, Ben Christie, said there is a strong trend towards buyers seeking shared, professional kitchen spaces over the past five years.

“Modern kitchens are no longer a room just for family meal times – they’re for entertaining guests and exploring culinary passion,” Mr Christie said.

“Cooking appeals to every age group and demographic, and our apartment designs take into consideration these practical and functional spaces to ‘feed’ our customers' love for home cooked food.

“Younger generations are more accustomed to using shared cooking and kitchen amenities not just for socialising but to help cut down on cost of living expenses.

“Developments like Melbourne Quarter are catering to these needs with a diverse offering of sophisticated, professional communal dining facilities," he said.

"This includes three internal private dining areas, full indoor dining rooms and al fresco entertainment areas featuring BBQ facilities with access to outdoor terrace gardens.

“Melbourne Quarter’s largest private dining room has a feature store room for catered functions and its open-plan layout allows for multiple guests.”

Mr Christie said shared dining spaces help people to transition from the hustle and bustle of the city into their homes, and help to build a sense of shared ownership, belonging and community.

“A sense of community is the most powerful driver of satisfaction within apartments and is fostered through shared spaces where residents can relax over a glass of wine and share a meal together,” he said.

“This flexible amenity makes a huge difference in resident’s lifestyles and in the future leasing potential of a property.”

Popular kitchens trends include flexible draws and open shelving to maximise kitchen storage space, which is designed for minimal bending. The island bench remains the kitchen’s most popular feature piece.