The Coolidge examiner., 1932-06-17

"a ARCHITECTURAL exhibitions
IGESZI this winter emphasize over.
I2GE,I whelming trend toward smaller ~
III kitchens and larger bathrooms. -
Ny There is no particular connec- kX
IG2&9I ton between these opposite ten ~
E8%2l dencies, except that both have
a sound scientific basis and are interest III
ing Illustrations of American leadership III
In everything that makes for efficiency 1 III
and good living.
Small kitchens are In general more con.
venient than large ones. Fifty years ago b
the average American kitchen was often kae&;
the largest room in the house, expanse
Of vast open space frequently used as a kMN
general sitting room, as a laundry, and *kzEs
a playroom for the children. Distances LX%
from one point to another were so great zs
that food preparation became a task re Esa
quiring the combined efforts of several nEs
persons. An inquisitive husband who "a
strapped pedometer to his wife's wrist E
found that she walked more than a quar-. Ea$
ter OF mile while making a custard pie
in such an old-fashioned kitchen.
The modern kitchen is designed for the
utmost conservation OF time and energy,
and the ideal size for the average home. ac-
cording to scientists is an oblong room no more
than by IL feet The oblong shape Is better
than the square because fewer steps are re-
quired In crossing the room from one work
center to another
Science also dictates the arrangement OF the
equipment. Everything is arranged for pur-
poses Of step saving. Most women work in a
right to left motion. The order of their kitchen
is fxed,-frst. gathering up the raw food from
cupboard and refrigerator: second. preparing
1t for the stove; third, cooking II and serving
q. rff Nrfou @t,o AfeIan
and putting them away. This fixed order is
reflected in the arrangement of the kitchen fur
niture.-irst. refrigerator and food cupboard
second, work table; third, stove; fourth, serv-
ing table: fifth, sink and dish cupboard.
The scientists prescribe that the walls shall
be lined with all the equipment in the order
named, so that work proceeds exactly like the
assembling of an automobile on an endless
belt And the kitchen of the future will be as
small as 1t can conveniently be and meet these
requirements.
Bigger and Better Bathrooms
On the other hand, bathrooms just naturally
tend to increase in size and Importance. The
modern bathroom has come to be one Of the
most attractive rooms in the house. well
lighted well ventilated and luxuriously equip
ped and decorated.
The American bathroom has no precedent
In the lives and customs Of people OF other
lands. There are no period styles" in bath
rooms to copy. The bathroom is development
OF the past 35 years, and architects have only
recently begun seriously to study the equip
ment and decorative treatment of this modern
American room.
Originality in bathroom architecture was
held back for long time by the casual and
undistnguished beginnings of the room itself.
A generation ago, when home owner became
converted to its Importance as a factor in
health and comfort. he would order one in
stalled in his house. usually converting another
room. large closet or back hallway into a
bathroom. And this attitude toward the bath
room has left its mark upon architects and
builders up to very recent years. In planning
new houses, or remodelling old Ones they gave
the least possible consideration to the bath
room 1t was tucked away in any old corner,
and grudgingly given a small obscure window.
Times are changing, however, and today
architects and builders have begun to realize
that the bathroom is so essential to the we'll
being of the whole family that from the very
starting of the plans for house 1t should be
part Of that home and should receive special
attention.
In the houses of the future this particular
room will be planned and built as bathroom,
with more light, more air and more sunshine
than ever before. 1t will have plenty OF space,
and will be frequently equipped with such
machinery of health exercisers, weighing
machines and sun lamps.
Magic OF Machinery
Science and invention have worked so many
miracles in the daily life Of the Twentieth
Century that people sometimes fail to realize
their supreme contribution to the noble task
of abolishing household drudgery In an hour,
the modern home maker can accomplish things