Surviving Modernism:The Live-in Kitchen Including The Turkish Cypriot Case

ABSTRACT: The kitchen has evolved drastically through periods of social change in human history, transforming from a gathering spot to a symbol of segregation; from the primitive hearth which was the sole space for every activity regarding life, to the Modern rational kitchen where women were isolated within. Today’s kitchen, however, has evolved back into its primal status, accommodating every member of the family hence including multiple functions. Evolution of the kitchen is a multi-faceted, intricate process that was influenced by several diverse however interdependent factors. This study aims to examine and understand the dynamics beneath the evolution of kitchen; referring to cultural, economical and political aspects that shaped the kitchen, with a reference to blurring gender thresholds in the domestic sphere. Recognizing Turkish Cypriot community’s special attachment to the kitchen space, evolution of the Turkish Cypriot kitchen is analysed over a timeline covering the past hundred years. Comparative analysis is carried out between different types of recent dwellings in North Cyprus. User-initiated transformations in kitchen spaces of governmental housing units are examined in an effort to reveal the underlying reasons beneath the modification efforts and to understand the meaning of the ‘livein kitchen’ in Turkish Cypriot households. Keywords: Live-in Kitchen, Frankfurt Kitchen, Turkish Cypriot Dwelling, Gender Roles, Spatial Modification. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………