Long relegated to the back of the house, the kitchen as utility space is being replaced by the modern show kitchen. Located squarely front-of-house, newer kitchens often reinstate the "great room" idea.
Over the past few decades, kitchens have been coming out of the shadows. Hallie Busta writes about why spaces for food preparation, traditionally considered unsightly and utilitarian, have become one of the showpieces of the modern house.
One factor is that residential design now prioritizes "showing in" as much as showing off. According to U.S. Commission of Fine Arts secretary Thomas Luebke, "'It was the inversion of a historic relationship, which was that the most important thing was the face on the street, and that was the social face [...] It changes the focus from one of the public ream to an extended private realm.'"
The open kitchen bucks a previous trend toward compartmentalizing the middle class household into many rooms, each with a separate function. "Since then, however, the trend has cycled and homeowners seek open plans that seamlessly connect dedicated food prep spaces at the back of the house with living and dining areas that span indoors and outdoors."
FULL STORY: Building on History: A kitchen conundrum of historic proportions
How the Drive for Profit Flattens the American Landscape
Mass-market production and the commodification of housing has led to a ‘flattening’ of design into a limited set of bland, homogeneous options.
Is it a Rowhouse, or a Rowhome?
Philadelphia has long been acknowledged as the capital of rowhouses in the United States. It’s becoming more common for those rowhouses to be referred to as rowhomes.
Philly City Council to Consider Bill Protecting Neighbors from Construction Damage
The proposal would hold builders accountable for damage incurred to adjacent homes as historic rowhouse properties see increased redevelopment.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
Podcast: Addressing the Root Causes of Transit Violence
Deploying transit police is a short-term fix. How can transit agencies build sustainable safety efforts?
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
