▷ The evolution of kitchen design

Most kitchens these days are an important part of any home. These can be open spaces with washing up stations, a meal preparation area, a table for example, these are the most common elements of a typical 19th century kitchen. XXI.
But if we go back 100 years ago, things weren’t like that.
Discover how cuisine has evolved from the Middle Ages to today.

As Csmall houses from the Middle Ages to the 18th century

Cooking in the Middle Ages was, as it is still today, a common and social act. In those days, the only source of light and heat was a fire, usually placed in the middle of the room. These fires became a problem for communities, due to the vast areas of smoke they produced. It wasn’t until the 16th century that fireplaces were adopted across Europe, and because they were so large, they separated the room into two areas: one for cooking and the other for living.
Cuisine as we know it today began to take shape…

The first changes in the 18th and 14th centuries

Economic and social changes in the 18th and 19th centuries made kitchens very popular. Increased trade and appreciation of foreign cuisines led to the emergence of more elaborate cooking styles.
New technologies, such as cast iron ranges, have increased productivity and provided efficiency in the kitchen.

At this time, despite the large number of servants to cook and clean, the spaces reserved for the kitchens were dark, cramped and located at the back of the house, because at the time it was a sign of poor hospitality for a noise or smell from the kitchen to spread to the rest of the house.

The 20th century and the industrial revolution

If the pace of change in the 18th and 19th centuries was rapid, then it was unstoppable in the 20th century. As Europe and America were dominated by industrialization, the kitchen was one of the places where change was most noticeable.
Factories produced everything from cotton to steel to kitchen appliances, and cabinets were produced in large quantities and sold at a lower price than ever before.

Another major development of the early 20th century was the introduction of gas stoves. In previous decades, families relied on coal to power their cooking equipment. But even so, kitchens were seen as a place that served only practical purposes.

A turning point in the 1920s

The 1920s were the decade that saw the most dramatic changes in kitchens. Architect Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky was responsible for creating practical, efficient and compact kitchens, known as Frankfurt kitchens, which would solve several post-war housing problems in major cities.

These had a compact design where everything was within reach, saving time when doing household chores. This also gave rise to the idea of the “golden triangle”, in which the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher are ideally placed for maximum efficiency.

From the 40s to the 80s

Unlike the 20th century, where the main thing was that the space was practical, between 1940 and 1980, aesthetics became more important. People have become more demanding of unusual appliances, utensils and cabinets.
Freestanding cabinets fell out of fashion and rows of fully fitted cabinets, worktops and appliances emerged.

Kitchens from 1959 have become an icon of interior design. The cabinets were luxurious, built with appliances and a clean style. In the 1960s and 1970s, cheaper kitchens were built from MDF (fiberboard) to replace the more durable ones.

The current and the future

Today, kitchens are the heart of a home and are now one of the places where you can do it all: cook, entertain, relax and work. It is therefore very appreciated that they are spacious, bright, practical and elegant.

But what do we expect from the kitchens of tomorrow? Appliances with self-cleaning ovens, boiling water taps and instant ice makers are now commonplace in contemporary kitchens. The most advanced technologies such as smart kitchens are also highly anticipated by consumers. From refrigerators that rearrange milk to knives and forks that send signals to eat more slowly.