Purely from an ergonomic POV, and just pertaining to the DW, the designer has a bad back?

The DW isn't bad. The rest looks like they bought a floor sample out of a designer's showroom and tried to make it fit. Maybe it's better in person--the fish eye lens is a little distorting.

It's not quite ADA, but it looks accessible-ish?

There was a worst kitchen design ever contest?

And the gap between fridge and counter is to get into the window box for herbs?

Fori, I like your floor sample theory! But no, it doesn't look better in person. Just smaller.

Looks very much not accessible.

Maybe they enjoy cleaning dust bunnies.

Maybe this is a tall person's kitchen? Are the counters more than 36" from the floor?

Bwahhahaha, I love it!

Champagne tastes on a beer budget.

Lol Jillius. Your explanation could be typed out in pretty calligraphy, framed and hung in the kitchen.

New take on unfitted kitchen that only involves appliances?

@Jillius. ROFL. Well darling, you know that I'm female so got to wear those high heels everywhere. Stilettos are in for cabinets these days.

That's it! The other appliances are scared of heights.

I'll bet the DW mocks the fridge all. day. long.

Maybe those little truss-like things under the cabinets are earthquake stabilizers.

It's bright and clean and has ventilation!

It LOOKS like there is room to move around with a walker (no, not chair friendly) but those RE photos lie about that.

It's a SF flat and they have to make compromises.

Let's get your sister on and see what she thinks.

My guess is for very tall people. Watch my giant life! Apparently they liked it.

IKEA? Or they bought a showroom display and made it fit as best as they could? This is awful.

Sadly, IKEA cabinets and doors would look better than that. They would be full overlay and close fit.

It really does look like someone bought a showroom, Craigslist, or demolition kitchen. "It was a steal!" I've been caught like that, get something for such a great price, thinking "I can make it work" but just, no.

Can't wait to see your sister on here and what these fabulous people will do to help her create HER kitchen :)

bpathome -- yes, I am DYING to get at that kitchen.

High end San Francisco condo

http://www.paragon-re.com/real_estate/ca/san_francisco/450_corbett_ave_/23-3-446677/

Oh, I get it now. It is "architectural" and reflects SF's own Golden Gate Bridge!

I think Fori is correct - someone in the home is in a walker or wheelchair. One of the bathrooms pictured in Watchmelol's link above looks like it has one of those tubs that are for people with disabilities.

That kitchen isn't ADA friendly at all. I had to lower things and make it shorter for my mom in a wheelchair.

I like that they advertise a fancy custom kitchen european cabinetry in the advertisement...

Looking at the floor plan, it doesn't look as if the elevator goes to the upper floor, only to the first floor of the unit. It doesn't look very accessible to me. I would think that if it was, the real estate listing would mention its accessibility. The kitchen looks like a tremendous waste of space; otherwise, it's a gorgeous place.

Thanks for all the excellent theories! I'm surprised no one has mentioned the most obvious explanation: drugs.

Maybe because even drugs won't explain that?