Theory of the kitchen

Wood features highly in the Bastide Collection by Carpe Diem.

An island table from Carpe Diem provides seating and storage.

Sleek storage.

A traditional stone sink from Carpe Diem.

Scavolini’s Purist lines.

The metal pan drawer by Poggenpohl provides more accessibility than cupboards.

Open-plan Dream kitchen by Scavolini.

stop

The transformation of the kitchen's footprint indicates an extraordinary shift in the way people eat, cook and socialise. The evolution of the kitchen has encompassed a multitude of developments from the atrium type room in Ancient Greece to the post war galley style prevalent in the 1920s to the high tech integrated designs emanating from kitchen designers today.

Advances during the Industrialisation period affected most major technological developments in the kitchen with the introduction of iron stoves and the distribution of water, electricity and gas through pipes. It is however, social attitudes at the beginning of the 20th century that developed changes in design. The ‘Frankfurt Kitchen' developed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky in 1926 embodied a standard for kitchen design.

The 1.9 x 3.4m kitchen was designed with the purpose of optimising kitchen work to reduce cooking time and to lower the cost of building well-equipped kitchens. The design was heavily influenced by the railway dining cars of the period and although it was heavily critised due to its size, it was built in approximately 10,000 social housing apartments in Frankfurt. Too small to live or work in, the kitchen remained separated from the living areas.

The popularity of integrating the newly developed kitchen appliances in the 1940s shifted the trend from small box kitchens to larger rooms suitable for use as a dining area too. It was the introduction of the extractor hood in the 1980's and the change in perception of cooking that allowed the kitchen to be opened up and the open plan kitchen was born.

The open plan kitchen is just as popular today as it was in the 1980's for a number of reasons. Interior designer for Emaar, Padmini Acharya uses open plan style kitchens for practical reasons, she says: "In a typical apartment we use the 3 x 3 kitchen module which is invariably open plan. We have seen that works best for apartments in terms of optimum utilisation of space, function and ergonomic use of air-conditioning." Interior designer, Emma Gower attributes the open plan kitchen trend to more relaxed attitudes, she says: "By opening up our homes to multifunctional spaces that we invite guests into, these once private spaces in our lives are now on show. In the 21st century we are becoming much more open and relaxed in the way we live our lives."

Having an open plan kitchen does not mean a kitchen has to be smaller, in fact with an increasing amount of time spent in the kitchen for both cooking and socialising the kitchen has grown considerably since the days of the Frankfurt Kitchen. Martin Barry, senior designer, Mark Wilkinson Furniture says: "We are finding that the demand is more towards enlarging the kitchen, creating a larger living space where the family can interact. The kitchen should become a family room not a work room."

Kitchen designer, Jamie Drake believes that evolving technology and a desire to spend more time in the kitchen has had a dramatic impact on the way in which kitchens are now being designed. He says: "The evolution in kitchen design and planning has been a direct result of a sophisticated user who has travelled the world either in reality or through the media. Their experiences are influencing the aesthetic direction of their kitchens and homes."

The trend to integrate high-end technology and appliances in the 1940s continues today. The +Integration kitchen from Poggenpohl mixes a sleek contemporary design with the latest futuristic technology. Red Dot Award winner, the +Integration allows the user to control and operate all kitchen appliances as well as building services and media such as alarm systems, lighting, air conditioning, heating and internet through the use of a laptop or infrared remote. Oscar Mathews, marketing manager, Palmon Group who distribute Siematic Kitchens in the Middle East talks about installing entertainment systems into the kitchen. He says: "Technology has moved into the kitchen with options ranging from plasmas, LCDs and internet access which are all being incorporated into the kitchen."

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM