THE LINE LOST IN TRANSGRESSION: DECIPHERING THE IDEOLOGY BEHIND KITCHEN MOTION ANALYSIS

Abstract

The emphasis on functionality and efficiency has been a Modern Architecture obsession. The construct of the kitchen demonstrates the most scrutiny into functionality out of all domestic spaces. “Micromotion study”, a term coined by Frank B. Gilbreth, was used to study the movement of the human in their work processes. Micromotion, as an efficiency study tool, was applied into the kitchen to satisfy the requirement of it being the most efficient space of the home. In this abstraction of movement, motion has taken on another form – the line, in mediums of model and graphics. This transgression shows qualities of dehumanization in its disintegration of physical association with the human body. This dissertation will explore how this line, which now appears as a subject on its own, manifests itself through two discourses. The first being how the association of human movement as an indicative of efficiency in the kitchen is but a façade. The role of the line in the representation of the kitchen is speculated to connote much more to the ideology of efficiency than just mere functionality. In the graphical use of the line in the research of efficiency in the kitchen, the exploration as to how the line has transgressed will open new insights regarding and domestic environment and society. Secondly, the line abstracted, appears in negative space, making it into a subject of aesthetic expressions that induces many interpretations. Siegfried Giedion said the line “takes a form and life on its own” Abstraction of the line created an opportunity for a new interpretation of the line in another context besides architecture such as Art. How can the aesthetics of the line be seen to change the ideology of kitchen? Is it about efficiency anymore? The dissertation seeks to understand the transgression of the dehumanized line from the modern ideal of efficiency to fit into societal values, how this line then went on to change the scope of kitchen design then, now and in the future.