A Revolutionary Recipe for Housewives: the Cubex Kitchen

One hundred years ago kitchens were often limited to free-standing furniture and a stove in a living area. The interwar period, however, was a turning point as the kitchen gradually transformed into a rationally designed and carefully equipped separate space, with standardised functional elements. After the First World War, there was a desire for a new way of living in Europe, and the classical pre-war recipe for the kitchen made way for a revolutionary recipe with ingredients like Taylorism and standardisation. This design transformation can be attributed to both architects and so-called household experts. This paper reflects on the way concepts of the rational kitchen came about in Europe and focuses on some key examples in the Belgian context, notably the renowned Cubex kitchen (ca. 1930) designed by architect Louis H. De Koninck (1896-1984). The findings are based on a complementary combination of archival records and primary written sources on the one hand, and on-site material-technical observations on the other hand. As several examples of these kitchens are still preserved, it is only through this physical experience that their scale, sight, installation and use can be adequately grasped. Some conserved Cubex kitchens provide insight in how they are still used in today’s households. By understanding their context, key design concepts, and construction features, like materiality and finishing, an overview of this unique kitchen type is created.