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Compact Kitchens
July 11, 2023
The speakers discussed the various aspects of designing compact kitchens and why it is becoming the go-to solution in apartments in a city like Mumbai
The land being costly, the apartment in the city is getting compact which means the kitchen space too gets smaller. This makes a small yet compact kitchen which facilitates fitting in gadgets and appliances without cluttering the space vital.
Designing for the younger vs the older generation
When you are working in a city like Mumbai, compact is the inbuilt environment that designers get. “Very few architects get to design lavish larger kitchens. When we are working with the older generation, they want traditional things like atta chakki. Now all the appliances and gadgets are being pushed into the kitchen. For example, a washing machine is also now a part of the kitchen. This is because it’s not only the kitchen, but the entire house/apartment is compact. In the case of millennials in the studio apartments, the aspirations are different,” opines Milind Pai, Chief Architect, Milind Pai – Architects & Interior Designers.
Lalita Tharani, Co-founder & Principal Architect, Collaborative Architecture adds, “Today’s kitchen design is quite different than what we used to design 15-20 years ago. In the studio apartments, the younger generation aspires to go more modern, minimalistic and high-tech. The gadgets and appliances to be used have to be the new age ones which are multifunctional. For example, a sink that closes out and becomes a counter and opens up when we need to use the sink is useful. So we can have more space to work with.”
The experience centres set up by the appliance and kitchen makers help to open up the client's vision and help designers. Photo Courtesy: Kitchen Ideas
Optimum utilisation of space
During Covid times high-end apartments were not doing well and hence a lot of developers were putting their money into building affordable compact apartments in the suburbs. “In a show flat that we designed for such an apartment was 365 sq ft 1BHK with two bathrooms, one guest room and a kitchen which according to new by-laws can be passed as an alcove. It was a 6 ft by 8 ft kitchen in an L shape,” shares Santosh Wadekar, Design Director, StudioSW.
He further adds, “The issue in such compact spaces is generally fitting in the refrigerator because of the spaces that need to be left behind and the sides. The only solution is going for built-in which comes with lesser depth but is three times more costly. Practically, the ones who are going to buy those tiny apartments can’t afford them. But since it was a show flat, we did that. But overall, the space felt cramped.”
Talking about how space planning varies, Pai shares, “When you have to squeeze in washing machine and dishwasher into the kitchen, the platform height has to either go variable or it has to go at a higher height. And, these things need to be discussed with the client at the beginning. We also need to keep in mind the dimensional measures of the gadgets. Sometimes clients might not be able to envisage the requirement and only realise it later. So, mock-ups are important.”
Manish Dikshit, Founding Principal, Aum Architects adds, “For a compact kitchen, it is possible to fit in all the necessary appliances by using built-in appliances but it has to be planned well keeping in mind how you want the kitchen to be used. “Another challenge is the rigidity of the clients in terms of placement of appliances. For example, in one project the client wanted the dishwasher placed on the left side of the sink and initially, we planned to have it on the right-hand side.”
Ruchi Sharma, Principal Designer, RS.De Experiential Design Firm feels that an open kitchen format will suit a compact kitchen. “Kitchen being an interactive space, open kitchen format works well. Designing a visually open kitchen with glass barriers also works. This will also help in keeping the smells and fumes out of the living room.”
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Storage in a compact kitchen
Talking about storage in a compact kitchen, Lalita shares, “Families in the traditional household want to store grains and masalas for about a year. So, we have to make space for storage literally anywhere possible; for example, storage in the ceiling or the passages. The kitchen storage is extending outside the kitchen.”
Ruchi adds, “Most of our client profile is Marwadi and Gujraties and they have a practice of having a granaries room. This helps us to segregate what they use on a daily basis versus their weekly requirements and this is a huge help in planning the storage.”
Miloni Sampat, Principal Interior Designer, Miloni Sampat & Associates feels that designers have to be creative about storage. “We have started putting drawers in kitchen skirtings. We can also put drawers on the side of the sinks and keep the washing utilities there. Since spaces are very stringent, we have to work on optimum utilisation of the space. Even in overhead shutters, we have started incorporating spice racks.”
For a compact kitchen, it is possible to fit in all the necessary appliances by using built-in appliances but it has to be planned well keeping in mind how you want the kitchen to be used.
Customising a compact kitchen
Talking about how detailing and customising become even more crucial in a compact unit, Shami Goregaoker, Design Director, GA design shares, “The smallest kitchen I designed was about 9 ft by 8 ft. It was a 3-bedroom apartment with three generations living in it. The apartment itself wasn’t compact but the kitchen was small for some reason. Within that compact space, we had to fit in a Mandir and a dishwasher as well.”
She further adds, “Thankfully, there was a duct outside one of the toilets and the washing machine was put there. The husband needed a cup of coffee every two hours and wanted a separate induction for the same. They also had atta chakki, idlimaker and all the usual kitchen gadgets. One of the family members used the juicer frequently. So, these are the requirements that needed to be fulfilled. In addition, we even measured the dabbas and their numbers to get the storage right.”
Selection of appliances
Talking about the selection of appliances for a compact kitchen, Dikshit shares, “For me, appliances that will make functioning in the kitchen easier are the most important ones. For example, the dishwasher wasn’t an essential appliance in the Indian kitchen because maids were taking care of the washing part. But during the lockdown period, people felt the necessity of having an appliance like a dishwasher and it is now considered an important appliance in all the new kitchens we are designing now. Another thing going for the dishwasher is now families have become smaller than 7 people that a dishwasher can cater to.”
Explaining the kind of detailing that goes into the selection of appliances that can fit into the kitchen, Pai adds, “In the case of refrigerators, how the refrigerator opens up needs to be taken into consideration while deciding on the placement. Whether the door opens on the left or right; whether the door needs to be opened 90 degrees or 180 degrees for the drawers to be pulled out; whether the refrigerator needs additional space on the side for the doors to open needs to be checked. If they want a model with an ice dispenser we also have to plan the plumbing line behind the refrigerator. All these small details need to be planned thoroughly.”
Designing a kitchen is a detailed process and information from clients and requirements will be helpful. Photo Courtesy: Kitchen Ideas
Designing a kitchen is a detailed process and information from clients and requirements will be helpful. “Even if the client is not investing in dishwashers right now they may have plans to add it at some point later on so we have to make a space for it and keep the electrical and plumbing lines ready. We can close it behind the shutter to be used as a storage space in the meanwhile,” explains Miloni.
According to Ruchi, the experience centres set up by the appliance and kitchen makers helps to open up the client's vision and help designers. “Since technology is advancing very fast it’s an impossible task to be abreast with all the latest upgrades in gadgets and appliances. That’s why we ask the client to visit those experience centres. Of course, we guide them in selecting the appliances in terms of possibilities of fitting in a particular appliance or gadget in the given space.”
High-tech appliances and gadgets are opening up newer possibilities in the kitchen.
“The technology in appliances is changing rapidly more so with automation being integrated. Voice control through Alexa or Google Now is a game changer. The appliances are becoming smart. For example, now, there are refrigerators that can gauge the quantity and the freshness of the contents and alert users for action. We are at the cusp,” shares Wadekar.
[Edited Excerpts from a Round Table Discussion held at Four Seasons Hotel, Worli, Mumbai as part of Crompton presents Kitchens Unplugged powered by Kitchen Ideas.]
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