| Popis: |
The CUBEX-kitchen was designed between 1927 and 1929 by modernist architect Louis Herman De Koninck and is undeniably part of Belgium's interior heritage, though it’s preservation is often neglected. Although already present in the design of the Frankfurter Küche (1926) by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, thus anticipating a more modern way of life, Cubex really offered an alternative and efficient way of kitchen design aimed at the optimal alleviation of the housewife's tasks. This contribution focusses on the technical building blocks of a historical standardised Cubex kitchen, the characteristics of the manufacturing process and the materials used. The uniqueness of the Cubex kitchen lies in its modularity: separate elements that could be stacked, arranged and combined according to the floor plan of each kitchen. There are still a significant number of Cubex kitchens in Belgian households today. Unfortunately, few owners are aware of the historical value of these kitchens. As a result, they are often poorly maintained or integrated because they no longer meet today's requirements of modern comfort and kitchen appliances. As a consequence, these kitchens are disappearing and are somewhat neglected in Belgium’s Heritage. In order to proactively contribute to a greater awareness and respect for these pioneering kitchens, we elaborated on the future of the Cubex kitchen. Based on the methodology generally applied to Belgian heritage, proposals are formulated for both the proper restoration of historical Cubex kitchens and the production of new 21st century Cubex kitchen designs. In doing so, it is possible to appeal to companies that are currently specialised in either the restoration and integration of Cubex kitchens or the design of new Cubex furniture. As an example, two Belgian case studies and their main characteristic features are discussed in this article: the Buscher-Declercq house in Roeselare and the Bertaux house in Ukkel. Both houses have a preserved authentic Cubex kitchen that has been restored and complemented with new 21st century Cubex furniture. |
