Dishdrawer Design Moment

Thinking outside the box was the catalyst for a mini revolution in the kitchen, writes Chris Pearson.

- Chris Pearson

One morning in 1987, Fisher & Paykel (F&P) engineer Adrian Sargeant and designer Phil Brace stood in a squeezy kitchen in Mosgiel, near Dunedin in New Zealand. Observing the chunky dishwasher and how tricky it was to open and close, they asked themselves how it might be improved. Perhaps they could house it in a drawer, like other kitchen essentials? Returning to F&P’s design centre in the South Island town, they made a mock-up resembling a filing cabinet, two drawers stacked one on top of the other.

The concept ticked all the boxes. It would save space; it would be easier to load and unload because of its sliding mechanism; it required less bending because it could be mounted at waist level; and it would use less power and water for one load. Later, they reasoned the drawers did not have to be stacked one on the other – you could have two at waist level, placed side by side. Or, if your kitchen was really cosy, you could install just one single drawer.