Housing and Kitchen Reform in the Post-War Era Research Paper

Housing and Kitchen Reform in the Post-War Era - Research Paper Example Political ideologies determined the kind of domestic life that people adopted. This paper will discuss how these ideologies affected the reform in architecture and design. Great Kitchen Debate The great kitchen debate happened in 1959 in a Moscow exhibition. The debate erupted as Nixon guided Khrushchev through the half kitchen in the exhibition1. After the Russian leader caught sight of the newest model of the American kitchen, he reacted in disregard of the capitalist luxury portrayed in the architectural design of the kitchen in the subject (Figure 1). Nixon tried to highlight the fact that the kitchen was a model that featured the essence of giving women easier work in the kitchen. In order to ascertain the logic behind the debate, there is a justification of examining architecture of the kitchen in question2. The Evolution of the Kitchen in America in the Post War Period After the Second World War, every American wanted to own a house. At this time, multiple slums offered inadeq uate space insufficient space. In a bid to solve this problem, modernism in architecture resulted. There proved to be a dire need of providing people with sufficiency and convenience in their houses. This need led to the innovation of architectural design. ... The process involved evolution of the kitchen architectural space into an organization that symbolized consumption and hygiene. According to the streamlining ideology, the kitchen adopted a linear sequence that had gained popularity in America’s industrial setting (Figure 2). The sequence was a symbol of the active flow of activity in the kitchen, analogous to the real picture in the industrial setting. The kitchen portrayed the highest reflection of the rampant technological advances during that period3. In addition, it served as a bookmark of the American values and consumer habits. The materials used in the kitchen floors, walls, and appliances were an indication of the latest innovations in the American society. Streamlining of the kitchen involved effective use of the available space. Usually, cabinets assumed a linear arrangement. In addition, architecture in the post war period had aspects of the ease with which Americans had started taking life. Architecture of the Pos t War Kitchen The post war kitchen had a sink beneath the window and consisted of inbuilt-wall to wall cabinets. The ‘kitchen work triangle ‘concept of designing a kitchen in the new era took its roots. The guidelines for designing an effective kitchen in the 1950s demanded that the door should have a door that presents the kitchen with a clear opening. In addition, the door should allow should not cause a distraction to the functioning of any of the appliances. The design and position of the inbuilt cabinets should leave free space for operations. The free space, commonly designated as the triangle working area, had set dimensions. In essence, the total distance travelled in the work area could not exceed 26† (Figure 3). The work triangle resulted from