Designing Kitchen for the Younger Generation

February 7, 2023

Anshul Chodha, Principal Architect, Sanctuary Architects explains the nitty gritty of designing kitchens for the younger generation living in metro cities.

Lifestyle has a big influence on designing kitchens. Urbanisation and migration have changed the family structure for the younger generations. Higher education and employment have the two biggest factors driving migrating population into Bengaluru. Living away from their hometowns, the younger generations turn to live as a nuclear family.

A peek into user requirements

Many younger people migrate to Bengaluru may be at the age of 23-24 years. They get their first job and are most likely to find their partners and move into their first home. These young professionals usually don’t have any specific time when they come back home. Their home is a pad which comes alive at any time. Their kitchen is a bar, it also serves as a platform for people to sit on, sometimes even read on.

Therefore, the design approach of the kitchen needs to accommodate all these. The kitchen has to be designed as a combination of many things. Their kitchen is a foyer for keeping things. For example, they keep their keys and things they pick up at the last minute before they leave.

The kitchen is actually the precipice of that house. Another important aspect is that these kitchens are generally compact sometimes measuring about 40 sq ft. Another thing to keep in mind is that these young professionals don’t cook much, they order in.

Appliances for such kitchens

All in all, the kitchen sizes are getting smaller. Apartment sizes are getting smaller. More often, we are approached to design these micro homes where obviously the gadgets' sizes have to be smaller. We have to find ways by which we can conceal these gadgets in places we have never thought of before. And, the chimney has to get smaller. In future, we might see even gadgets that can expand if necessary and become bigger.

[Edited Excerpts from a Round Table Discussion on ‘Shifting Kitchen Design Trends: A Result of Changing Lifestyle’ held at JW Marriott, Bengaluru as part of Crompton presents Kitchens Unplugged powered by Kitchen Ideas.]