The synergy between universities and businesses

Gilbreth's collaboration with the Brooklyn Borough Gas Company not only produced a revolutionary kitchen design but also highlighted the synergy between academic research and practical applications. His work helped lay the foundations of industrial engineering and influenced subsequent generations of designers and psychologists.

Despite the social expectations placed on women during her era, Gilbreth's legacy challenges stereotypes and highlights the importance of recognizing talent regardless of gender.

From L to U

The L-shaped kitchen layout prevailed until 1948, when Hazel K. Stiebeling, head of the Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics, presented a report heralding a new era in kitchen design.

The Office was working on designs and construction drawings for kitchens with various equipment arrangements, including split U, L, U and L layouts, and split layouts. parallel walls.

The main objective of these projects was to minimize the need to move, bend over and stretch, following the established principles of simplifying work. One of the most significant results was the creation of the U-shaped kitchen, capable of reducing the steps even further.

This model had a continuous U shape, where the sink was positioned in the center of the U, while the refrigerator and hob were at the ends. This arrangement allowed housewives toeasily access all work areaswithout having to walk far.

These studies have shown that the accurate analysis of the movements to be performed, the strategic position of the utensils and the maximum use of space are essential to create kitchens that simplify daily activities, reduce physical effort and improve the overall user experience.

Furthermore, these approaches have paved the way for greater synergy between scientific research and the practical design of domestic spaces, demonstrating the potential of science in optimizing the environments in which we live.

On the cover: An image of Gilbreth's Kitchen Practical, an 'L-shaped' kitchen conceived by Lilian Moller Gilbreth in the 1920s. Ph. Courtesy Purdue Archive.