My name is Alexa Williams. I grew up on the West Coast of Canada, just outside of Vancouver. I am completing my BFA in Design at Cornish College of the Arts, with a concentration in Interior Architecture.

My mother, an interior designer, and my father, a boat builder and chef, have played a huge role in my upbringing and shaped my outlook of the world. My senior project brings these two realms, food and design, together in the form of a culinary incubator. Preparing, cooking, and sharing food has been a central element in my life. It is a fundamental part of every culture as it provides a way for us to connect with others and share our experiences.

El Cuchillo: the culinary incubator is sited in Vancouver. It is more than a space for the research of food. It offers space for people from all walks of life to combine their experience, knowledge and creativity to push the boundaries of cuisine. Ferran Adria’s El Bulli Lab was among the case studies I researched to inform the design of my incubator. The main concept for the project is cutting through space. This allows for new perspectives and creates a dynamic overlap of space. Rituals of preparing and sharing food allow for an exchange of both practice and knowledge, which is a key element of progress in any society. Creating access to these cultural practices and fields of knowledge allow for connections to be made from person to person, from culture to culture. This transfer ignites innovation.

At Cornish College of the Arts, I focused my projects on wellness, collaborative space and user experience. Following graduation I will begin a new chapter in my career as an Interior Architect, joining the design team at ZGF Architects in Seattle.