Who Invented the Kitchen? The History of the Most Important Room in the House

The desire for comfort and convenience is the driving force of progress. German architect Margaret Schütte-Lihotzky wanted to simplify domestic housework: make the movement around the kitchen faster, and the workspace more functional. As a result, today the kitchen is the most important place in the house. We tell you where it all started.

What You Need to Know About Early KitchensDozensof kilometers were walked by housewives while cooking. All because of incorrectly arranged furniture. The galleyon a ship became the prototype of the first "modular" standard kitchen. In 1843yearKatherine Biddle first thought about a kitchen where everything was within reach. That was the ergonomics.

1913: American Kristin Frederick conducted an experiment with housewives — exactly so! She tied a string to the foot of the test subjects, and at the end of the day measured how far the woman actually walked in a day on the kitchen floor. As a result, Mrs. Frederick proved that dividing the kitchen into zones (cooking — washing — storage) can save almost half a kilometer of steps per day. Fewer movements, more achievements!

1920s: Lillian Gilbert, mother of 12 children, calculated the optimal placement of kitchen furniture, its shape and size through personal experience. For that, she sketched the movements of all members of her family around the kitchen. The result was samples of "practical kitchens," created according to the principles of ergonomics. By the way, she invented the trash can with a pedal, shelves on the refrigerator door, and an electric mixer.

"Frankfurt Kitchen": What Is the Idea?

All the ideas and theories developed were embodied in 1926 in the first standard built-in kitchen designed by architect Margaret Schütte-Lihotzky. Why was the kitchen called the "Frankfurt Kitchen"? It's simple: it was installed in ten thousand apartments in Frankfurt by default and became the most important and beloved place in the house.

Frankfurt Kitchen in a Museum This was the first kitchen in history made exactly as a suite. All necessary furniture and equipment (stove, sink, worktop, cabinets) had the same height. Margaret proposed to "integrate" previously standalone elements and fix them in a specific place. The lower kitchen cabinets lost their legs and were installed on a concrete base. Three centers of activity appeared: the stove, the sink, and the worktop. What happened next?

In the 1950s, experiments with kitchen cabinet design began: plastic and stainless steel replaced wood. By the 1960s, household appliances had become decorations rather than utility items. The more appliances, the more prestigious. Manufacturers of household appliances did not lag behind and worked on increasingly functional models.

In 1963, in the birthplace of the "Frankfurt Kitchen" in Germany, the company Miele released the first dishwasher with the ability to be built under the worktop. Today, this is nothing unusual, but then the G45 model with a 12-standard set of dishes, a stainless steel wash chamber, and a dispenser for detergents was a hit.

Essential Kitchen Appliances Today

No modern kitchen can do without household appliances. When designing a kitchen suite, homeowners choose the optimal set of appliances. To seamlessly integrate the functional element into the desired interior design, it is advisable to choose built-in appliances.

Refrigerator

The masterpiece on any kitchen. First and foremost, you need to consider its size. It's precisely this that determines how the refrigerator will fit into the kitchen dimensions. A single-door refrigerator or Side-by-side models will differ significantly in width and depth, while the height of different models can vary from 50 centimeters to two meters.

Oven

Separate stoves have long been replaced by cooktops with an integrated oven. This is convenient and functional: the oven can be placed at a comfortable height, taking into account the correct "work triangle".

Previously, one had to constantly watch food in the oven. Today, housewives can completely relax. For example, in the Miele oven series Generation 7000, there is a TasteControl function — it's impossible to overcook the dish. After the cooking program ends, the oven door opens slightly, and the cooling fan blows hot air out. In just five minutes, the temperature in the working chamber drops by about 100°C, and the appliance door closes again.

Smartphones are also involved: the oven with the FoodView function has a built-in camera protected from heating. It transmits high-resolution images to the Miele@Mobile app on a tablet or smartphone.

If the dish is not browned enough, you can change the cooking time or temperature in the app. And this doesn't require being at the kitchen.

Extractor Hood

Integrated extractor hoods are created to neutralize the appearance of unpleasant odors and reduce the impact of vapors on kitchen walls, ceiling, and cabinet facades. They are essential when the kitchen is also a dining room or part of a studio. One of the main criteria for choosing a hood should be its size. Ideally, it should be slightly larger or equal to the width of the cooktop.

Dishwasher

When choosing a built-in dishwasher, plan space for its placement. Ideally, it should accommodate 8 to 14 sets of dishes: this is optimal if you have a large family or frequently have guests.

Today, it's no longer necessary to manually dose detergents: the Miele dishwasher series G 7000 will do it for you. The AutoDos system automatically doses the required amount of detergent depending on the selected program and the level of dish soiling.

And you can control the process via the Miele@Mobile mobile app on a smartphone or tablet. With the AutoStart function, starting the dishwasher at a convenient time for you is no problem.