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

New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

The Quiet Housing Crisis in Rural America
While housing shortages in major cities are grabbing headlines, rural communities are seeing higher rates of growth in housing prices and a silently spreading homelessness crisis.

Federal Loan to Support San Diego Desalination Plant Overhaul
The financing will go toward funding an updated cooling system and ensuring the protection of local marine life.

Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations
An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.

The Joy of Walking
An essay meditating on the simple pleasures of a good walk.
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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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.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.