Our kitchens have become our pride. They often take centre stage at homes. A major chunk of the layout of houses are thought out surrounding the kitchen. However, kitchens were not always conversation starters. Taking a look at the drastic evolution that kitchens have gone through is not only a matter of intrigue but also a source of constant amazement!
Early Age
Back in the early ages, kitchens were the core of the house which, held fire. As the middle ages came knocking, the advancement of designs, most importantly, that of the chimney, made way for kitchens to slowly separate out.
Consequently, in the 18th century, kitchens had completely shifted out of sight. They were either at the back of the house or even in the basement. Servants dominated the kitchens under strict instructions, making it a hub of constant activity. There was non-stop activity in the kitchens with a wide variety of employment, including turnspit dogs that kept turning a wheel to keep the meat roasting!
19th – 20th Century
As time started flowing, the technological advancements started trickling into the kitchens. Cast iron stoves became a huge step up in the 19th century. However, the kitchen still remained a separate entity from the main house. It was yet not a place to either eat or entertain!
At the turn of the 20th century, ergonomics started playing a major role while devising kitchen plans. With the industrial revolution taking centre stage, the kitchen layout to became more inclusive and accommodative in nature. Poggenpohl, set up in 1892, adopted the kitchen cabinets termed “The Ideal” with style and brought in the era of modular kitchens by 1923.
As a result, in the roaring 1920s another milestone was achieved in terms of kitchen architecture. In Germany, Margaret Schutte-Lihotzky designed the Frankfurt Kitchen giving way to the modern kitchen. The kitchen was small and was designed like an assembly line, therefore, putting everything within arm’s length.
These kitchens slowly became the norm. It was so due to the space crunch in rental apartments. Consequently, this design gave way to the golden triangle! The kitchen work triangle was ideal, sought out by designers. In the triangle, three important points were to be linked together efficiently- the cooktop, the sink and the refrigerator. This would hence, create the most ergonomic layout for the working woman!
Modern Age Kitchens
As the various inventions kept pouring in, the Kitchen was slowly becoming less dishevelled. Rather, it was more a display of a wide array of technological advancements in the guise of refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers etc. Slowly the concept of fitted kitchens came in, whereby all technological wonders started taking centre stage. This kitchen designed around technology helped increase efficiency and reduce time consumption. Usonian homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright introduced the concept of free and open layouts. In this design, the kitchen was slowly incorporated into the design of the living areas.
+Integration by Poggenpohl introduces the same concept into engineering kitchens. The designs seamlessly blend the kitchen into the living spaces with technically sound craftsmanship. Various technological elements are added into the kitchen to give it an essence of a smart home and to make the activities commonly associated with a separate living room, merge in with the kitchen!
Today, our culinary habits have also completely taken a tour around the world. Food is no longer just a necessity and cooking is no longer merely a chore. The concept of cooking has been widely accepted now, as a meditative art form. So the design of kitchens now have become all about the artistic state of mind revolving around food.
Cabinets are no longer just cabinets that store ingredients or utensils but are a display themselves. And the kitchen is no longer just a room, but the heart of any home layout.
Poggenpohl
Artesio by Poggenpohl has taken the concept of a modern kitchen as a place of art and moulded it into reality with elegance. The use of glass, manageable drawers, smooth shelves and cabinets embodies the core beliefs of any culinary enthusiast driven by a love to eat, host and create.
It resonates with the people who have come to believe that the kitchen is not just a place to cook but also, a place to entertain your guests, exchange ideas and merge it into the larger sphere of life.