Bookcase Alcove

Raw Birch and Black MDF

The bookcase alcove is made of raw black MDF and birch plywood. The black MDF has a nice speckled raw texture, which gives the surface life, as opposed to a flat painted surface. The birch plywood provides a good contrast to the black MDF in both color and with its woodgrain, versus the homogeneity of the MDF. Also, the warmness and wooden quality of the birch creates an inviting and warm atmosphere inside the alcove. 

Using two neutral color tones makes the content of the bookcase stand out with its color and form, but without overwhelming the bookcase due to the hierarchy of the strict geometric grid. 

The bookcase is built into the wall which makes it a part of the kitchen, while also making the room more spacious creating a recess into the wall. It acts as a link between the kitchen and the dining room, activating this middlespace with an alcove for temporary stay. Apart from the obvious use as a bookcase, it also has the important function of giving color and “life” to the minimalistic kitchen-space.