Also interesting are further downstream effects of cheap labor. A fun example I once saw on Twitter: open-plan kitchens are rare in poorer countries (like India) relative to countries where labor is more expensive. Cooking being a thing that medium or high-income families did on their own as labor became more expensive meant kitchens became higher status and less necessary to hide from the rest of the house (as did practical benefits like being able to watch your kids). America before the mid-20th century almost universally had closed-off kitchens, since labor was cheaper then too.
America before the mid-20th century almost universally had closed-off kitchens, since labor was cheaper then too.
Not exclusively, though. For instance, colonial Pennsylvania German houses often put the kitchen centrally, reflecting a social structure where cooking was more convivial. (It also helps with efficient heating.)
Also interesting are further downstream effects of cheap labor. A fun example I once saw on Twitter: open-plan kitchens are rare in poorer countries (like India) relative to countries where labor is more expensive. Cooking being a thing that medium or high-income families did on their own as labor became more expensive meant kitchens became higher status and less necessary to hide from the rest of the house (as did practical benefits like being able to watch your kids). America before the mid-20th century almost universally had closed-off kitchens, since labor was cheaper then too.
Not exclusively, though. For instance, colonial Pennsylvania German houses often put the kitchen centrally, reflecting a social structure where cooking was more convivial. (It also helps with efficient heating.)