Kitchens as we know them today have functionality as their main feature and for that their space was historically organized from an industrial logic. The development of home appliances and the precise definition of the layout guarantee a functional floor plan and the optimization of work in the kitchen. As part of this layout we find the worktops, horizontal half-height surfaces that have multiple uses and, therefore, many possible configurations.
Islands are an essential part of any larger kitchen layout, increasing counter space, storage space, and eating space as well as offering a visual focal point for the kitchen area. Serving a variety of functions, they can be designed in a variety of different ways, with some incorporating stools or chairs, sinks, drawers, or even dishwashers and microwaves. To determine which elements to include and how to arrange them, designers must determine the main purpose or focus of the island. Will it primarily serve as a breakfast bar, a space to entertain guests, an extension of the kitchen, or as something else? And with this function in mind, how should it enhance the kitchen workflow vis-à-vis the rest of the area? These considerations, combined with basic accessibility requirements, necessitate that the design of the island be carefully thought out. Below, we enumerate some of the essential factors of kitchen island design.
Regardless of the design adopted for kitchen spaces, for some years now and with increasing frequency, many architects have been deciding to design kitchens by integrating them into other rooms in the home. Free of dividing walls or joinery, integrated kitchens are implemented with the aim of leaving the activities that take place there in full view of everyone, encouraging interaction and communication between the inhabitants.
![The History of Kitchens: From the Great Banquets to the Built-in Furniture, Cozinha Americana, 1946. Autor: Harris & Ewing, fotógrafo. N STREET, KITCHEN. [Entre 1905 e 1945] Fotografia. Recuperado da Biblioteca do Congresso dos EUA [www.loc.gov/item/2016861773/]. Imagem em Domínio Público [PD US Government]. Image via Wikimedia Commons](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/620d/1ec9/e2d8/a640/0601/6f2d/newsletter/flatwork-1946-american-kitchen.jpg?1645027019)
The discovery of fire was one of the great events that changed the social organization of human agglomerations, which gradually passed from nomadic to sedentary lifestyle. Fire, which in that context served to keep people warm and protect the group, was also being explored as a source for cooking food, which not only changed human eating habits, but also made it possible to conserve food, changing the social organization of communities. The preparation and meals were collective acts, which brought people together to feed, warm up and protect themselves. It is from this habit that we inherited the practice of large banquets and the appreciation of food and meal times. Food preparation, on the other hand, was gradually marginalized.
While the Egyptians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, Persians, Greeks and Romans shared the habit of holding large banquets, the preparation gained less and less prestige, losing its collective social dimension until it was physically segregated in a specific room: the kitchen.
Whether it's by sharing a meal at a restaurant or preparing a home-cooked meal together, food does in fact, bring people together. With that in mind, architects placed kitchens at the heart of homes, giving residents a space to cook, dine, and spend quality time with their families and friends. However, not all homes can fit spacious kitchens, some are too small and others don't have the proper spatial configuration for it. In this interior focus, we will explore how architects and designers opted for different kitchen layouts based on different spatial and user needs.
At its heart, extreme-minimalism is a rebellion against consumerism, it’s a cathartic process of learning to live without. But it’s also a decorative style in its own right – a clean world for a clean mind.
With contemporary lifestyles meaning more entertaining from home, forward-facing kitchen islands with integrated seating make staying in the new going out. But what makes the perfect kitchen island?
Meals have always been bonding and bringing people together to eat. Sitting around a table or preparing food becomes even more enjoyable in spaces that focus on comfort and well-being. Moreover, cooking with different techniques can add a unique flavor to the experience, especially when it comes to wood-burning stoves, barbecue grills, and wood-fired pizza ovens.
As an architectural project comes to its last phases, it is time to put together the smaller details in bathrooms and kitchens, which means choosing finishes for the walls and floors, as well as the countertops, and picking the right fittings and fixtures. These elements are essential for a well-designed space, regardless of the style.
A wood-burning stove (or wood burner or log burner in the UK) is a heating appliance used for cooking. Food cooked on a wood-burning stove tends to have a more intense flavor since it requires a slow, artisanal process that results in more complex dishes. For this reason, these stoves are becoming a popular choice for people who want to create a unique environment for family and friends to gather at home for a delicious meal.
Displacement implies uncertainty, uprooting, and instability, in addition to the loss of community, privacy, and physical and emotional orientation. Addressing these needs through appropriate architectural responses can help displaced communities regain social, economic, and environmental well-being. In this context, community kitchens are designed to help generate a sense of belonging and "normality" in domestic lives.
While the kitchen is a ubiquitous part of almost every home—and, in many cases, is considered symbolic of domestic living entirely—it can also take up precious space, produce visual clutter, and detract from the minimalist aesthetic of an otherwise sleek, modern home. For some homeowners, the solution is simply to keep the kitchen clean and organized at all times. But for some innovative contemporary architects and their clients, the solution is to design a compact, concealable kitchen that can quickly and easily be shuttered out of view. Below, we discuss several examples of hidden kitchens, as well as some common techniques and strategies of designing them.
Whether by traditional windows, linear openings in the wall, or skylights, the manipulation and incorporation of natural lighting in architectural projects can render a radical change in interior spaces.
A monochrome environment is a space in which most architectural elements are of a single color. Although it is common for architects to design black or white monochromatic spaces due to its neutrality, it is possible to use almost any color to design a space, taking advantage of their infinite tones, undertones, and shades.
When designing residential spaces, be it a new construction or a renovation, the kitchen is a space that tends to be one of the most complex. Not only does it need to serve a very specific function, but it also needs several pieces of furniture, household appliances, and the ability to adapt to electrical and plumbing considerations. Kitchens often also serve as an hub for social interactions and family gatherings, so it is critical that the space can provide a degree of flexibility.
Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) and curated by Mariana Pestana, the 5th Istanbul Design Biennial will take place on 26 September – 8 November 2020. To be held with the title Empathy Revisited: designs for more than one, the biennial invites everyone from around the world to respond to the open call.
Gone are the days when the kitchen was relegated to a service area. Following the traditional system of bourgeois residential tripartition (dividing the house into social, intimate, and service areas), the kitchen was originally designed as an independent and closed space. Today, more and more, projects seek to integrate and relate it to other rooms in the house, facilitating different interactions among its residents. Due to this transformation, the appearance of the kitchen also changed, and traditional ceramic and stone cladding gave way to new materials.
![Cozinha em Frankfurt, Alemanha. Autoria desconhecida. Imagem em Domínio Público [PD-old]. Image via Wikimedia Commons](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/620d/1ec9/0af3/0537/e06f/9a1e/thumb_jpg/frankfurter-kuche-via-wikimedia-commons-dominio-publico.jpg?1645027019 "Cozinha em Frankfurt, Alemanha. Autoria desconhecida. Imagem em Domínio Público [PD-old]. Image via Wikimedia Commons")
![Homens colhendo uvas, desenhadas no estilo do antigo Egito, 1878. Fonte original: Ebers, Georg. "Egypt: Descriptive, Historical, and Picturesque." Volume 1. Cassell & Company, Limited: New York, 1878. p 060. Imagem sob licença Creative Commons [CC-BY-SA-2.5]. Image via Wikimedia Commons](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/620d/1ec9/e2d8/a601/65d8/2660/thumb_jpg/men-harvesting-grapes-drawn-in-the-style-of-ancient-egypvia-wikimedia-commons-dominio-publico.jpg?1645027022 "Homens colhendo uvas, desenhadas no estilo do antigo Egito, 1878. Fonte original: Ebers, Georg. \"Egypt: Descriptive, Historical, and Picturesque.\" Volume 1. Cassell & Company, Limited: New York, 1878. p 060. Imagem sob licença Creative Commons [CC-BY-SA-2.5]. Image via Wikimedia Commons")
![Ave assada no espeto. Disponível em Ilustração de uma edição de “The Decameron”, Flandres, 1432. Paris, Biblioteca Nacional, Arsenal, manuscrito 5070. Imagem em Domínio Público [PD Old]. Image via Wikimedia Commons](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/620d/1ec9/e2d8/a601/65d8/265f/thumb_jpg/ilustracao-do-the-decameron-flanders-1432-paris-biblioteque-nationale-arsenal-manuscrito-5070-via-wikimedia-commons-dominio-publico.jpg?1645027019 "Ave assada no espeto. Disponível em Ilustração de uma edição de “The Decameron”, Flandres, 1432. Paris, Biblioteca Nacional, Arsenal, manuscrito 5070. Imagem em Domínio Público [PD Old]. Image via Wikimedia Commons")
.jpg?1591644193 "Tetrys 607 Apartament / CR2 Arquitetura. Image © Cris Farhat")
