99% Invisible – 541- The Frankfurt Kitchen

Intro

In this episode of “99% Invisible,” we explore the fascinating history of the Frankfurt Kitchen, a revolutionary design that transformed the way we think about kitchens. Designed by Margaretta Shutalohatsky, the Frankfurt Kitchen was a part of the public housing units built in Frankfurt, Germany, after World War I. This kitchen was considered the first modern kitchen and introduced many standard features that were unheard of before, making cooking less burdensome for women.

Main Takeaways

The Evolution of Kitchen Design

• The Frankfurt Kitchen was considered the first modern kitchen and was a part of the public housing units built in Frankfurt, Germany, after World War I.
• It introduced many standard features that were unheard of before, including modern stoves, well-planned storage, and a double sink.
• Kitchens were not considered worthy of an architect’s expertise for most of modern history, but the Frankfurt Kitchen changed that perception.
• Margaretta Shutalohatsky, one of Austria’s first woman architects, designed the Frankfurt Kitchen with the aim of making kitchen work easy and quick.

The Quest for Kitchenless Houses

• In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were various movements and ideas to eliminate private kitchens and make cooking a communal effort.
• Marie Howland, Alice Constance Austin, and others envisioned kitchenless houses as a way to free women from the burden of housework.
• Some of these designs included shared kitchens or underground food train systems.
• Ebenezer Howard incorporated kitchenless homes into his garden city communities in England.

The Frankfurt Kitchen’s Impact

• The Frankfurt Kitchen was mass-produced and installed in about 10,000 public housing units in Frankfurt between 1926 and 1930.
• It brought a significant change by separating the kitchen from other living spaces, unlike the joint living room kitchens of the past.
• The efficiency of the Frankfurt Kitchen increased expectations on the laborer, leading to higher workloads.
• The design of the Frankfurt Kitchen was hugely influential in the United States, with many imitators.

Reevaluating the Legacy

• The legacy of the Frankfurt Kitchen is complex, with criticism from some second wave feminists.
• While the kitchen design aimed to make cooking easier, it did not address the underlying issues of women’s unpaid labor and societal expectations.
• It is important to celebrate and value women’s knowledge of food and provide them with choices and career options.
• Affordable food options, school meals, and energy-saving jobs are essential factors in empowering women in the kitchen.

Summary

The Evolution of Kitchen Design

The Frankfurt Kitchen, designed by Margaretta Shutalohatsky, revolutionized kitchen design by introducing modern features such as stoves, storage, and sinks. This marked a shift in the perception of kitchens as a space worthy of architectural expertise.

The Quest for Kitchenless Houses

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were movements to eliminate private kitchens and create communal cooking spaces. Designs such as kitchenless houses, shared kitchens, and underground food train systems were proposed as ways to alleviate the burden of housework on women.

The Frankfurt Kitchen’s Impact

The Frankfurt Kitchen was mass-produced and installed in public housing units, bringing a significant change by separating the kitchen from living spaces. However, the increased efficiency also led to higher workloads for women. The design of the Frankfurt Kitchen influenced kitchen designs in the United States.

Reevaluating the Legacy

The legacy of the Frankfurt Kitchen is complex, with criticism from some second wave feminists. While the design aimed to make cooking easier, it did not address the underlying issues of women’s unpaid labor and societal expectations. It is crucial to value women’s knowledge of food and provide them with choices and career options.

Conclusion

The Frankfurt Kitchen was a groundbreaking design that transformed the way we think about kitchens. While it brought efficiency and convenience, it also highlighted the need to address the larger issues of women’s unpaid labor and societal expectations. By celebrating women’s knowledge of food and providing them with choices, we can empower them in the kitchen and beyond.