Kitchen work triangles in modern design. by Mehak Patel

Kitchen work triangles in modern design.

The kitchen work triangle is a concept that was developed back in the 1940’s, at a time when kitchens were compact, and appliances, large. The triangle connects 3 main work areas within the kitchen – the stove, the sink and the refrigerator. The rule goes as follows - the distance between these three areas should be between 4 feet and 9 feet, no more and no less, with the sum of the three sides lying between 13 feet and 26 feet.

Put simply, it’s a way to ensure that the cook doesn’t have to walk miles while cooking - just pivot from place to place between preparation and cooking.

However, in the last decade or so, homes have evolved and how. Today, with the rise of modular kitchens and new technology, the kitchen is like a relaxed hub, a big part of the home. Gone are the days of one person running the show. We now see more husbands helping out their wives, children hanging around, and even multiple cooks working at any given point. In essence, the kitchen has become more of a family space.

It’s why most kitchens these days have an open floor plan, and why, on average they are much larger than those in the past. Complete with with kitchen islands, ovens, wine coolers, and microwaves. The original triangle, while once the norm, is now stretched beyond recognition.

To adapt, kitchen design experts now recommend ‘kitchen work zones’ rather than triangles. where individual "stations" fulfill different activities, like cooking, preparing, cleaning, and food storage. Like the triangle, this approach also focuses on workflow: store the proper equipment and supplies in their respective zones and you're less apt to waste time tracking them down.

With the zone approach, you also avoid bumping elbows with others who share the same space, but are doing something completely different. That’s not to say we’re throwing the triangle concept out the window, but merely adapting it in a different form with the kitchen zone. When choosing to remodel, the most important consideration to take in to is asking yourself what your space will allow for, who will use it, how you will use it, and how it can best be configured to meet your needs.