KITCHEN
The kitchen is often the heart of the home, but to feel comfortable it must accommodate several competing functions in close proximity.
Kitchen from our Wright This Way project
GATHERING SPACES
Kitchens aren’t just for cooking. They are also a place for gathering together. Often this is accomplished by incorporating sitting or eating areas. Islands are great for this role, but bars and breakfast nooks can serve the same purpose. It’s even possible to create a great kitchen by building it around the dining table—“farmhouse” style. But in those cases when there is no room for an island, nook, bar or dining table, make the kitchen as open as possible to the dining room, with a large cased opening, pass-through or interior windows.
THE FOUR MAIN COOKING ZONES
Once the basic shape and program of the kitchen have been established, decide where the windows will go. Under them should be placed counters and possibly the sink. To make the sink easy to use, the dishwasher and a trash drawer should be provided on either side of it.
In addition to the sink and prep counters, the refrigerator and cooktop serve as the main cooking zones. To avoid feeling too spread out, these four elements should be no further than ten feet apart from each other, and counters should be installed directly adjacent to the sink and cooktop. Typically about twelve linear feet of counter space in total is needed, divided up as necessary into segments three feet or longer.
SUPPORTING FEATURES
Once the main four cooking zones are fixed, it’s necessary to account for other necessities. If the oven is not located under the cooktop, it can be part of a tall cabinet assembly paired with the microwave. Otherwise the microwave can be located as a drawer unit or on extra counter space.
Although some projects may contain a separate pantry closet, it’s often convenient to dedicate a tall cabinet for food storage, either shallow (14”–18” deep) or full-depth (24”–26”) with the incorporation of tall pull-out drawers.
It’s also important to identify what cleaning supplies will be kept in the kitchen, especially large ones like a broom or vacuum—since it may be necessary to house them in a tall cabinet as well.
Shelving should be located over the counters—usually about five to eight linear feet are needed. If there isn’t enough wall space, consider installing open shelves across the face of the windows.
Be sure and identify any other spatial requirements you may have, including possibly a wine refrigerator, dog feeding station or bar. It’s also important to consider what sizes of appliances you will need. The architect will start with basic assumptions, but it’s critical to point out when larger sizes are desired so that the layout can be adjusted as required.
In summary:
To make the kitchen function well while serving as the heart of the home: it must balance cooking, storage and gathering all in close proximity. Start by deciding what, if any, dining or seating will be incorporated into the room. Next, decide where the windows will be and layout the kitchen by locating the four main cooking zones—sink, cooktop, refrigerator, and prep counters—within ten feet of each other. Once these are placed, consider the supporting elements like ovens, pantry, cleaning supplies, and other appliances.
The ideas above are largely based on A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction by Christopher Alexander, et al. Oxford University Press, 1977, specifically patterns: #139 Farmhouse Kitchen, #184 Cooking Layout, #199 Sunny Counter, #200 Open Shelves.
