Standardised Kitchen Project, 1972–75

The Kitchen Program for Prefabricated Houses [Házgyári Konyhaprogram]—in short Standardised Kitchen Project—was the first large-scale, system-based design project to be undertaken in Hungary. Initiated by Mihály Pohárnok (b. 1939) in 1972 with the objective of comprehensively reforming the furniture, appliances, and cookware of prefab apartment kitchens (typically only 5–8 square metres in size), the project also represented a rethinking of design methodology, one that goes beyond making aesthetic objects in order to also improve the quality of life.
The development process was divided into three phases and involved the participation of representatives from industry and trade from the very start. It began with comprehensive research involving sociological surveys on issues of housing, nutrition, health, technology, and development, alongside market reports. In 1973, practical fieldwork was conducted in forty Budapest flats with the assistance of university students in order to ascertain the needs and habits of residents, including their eating and mealtime customs and the frequency with which they engaged in various kitchen activities.

Subsequently, the ‘entire system of needs’ was identified and, based on this, the design tasks were elaborated. The designers considered the potential of multifunctional products to reduce the number of kitchen containers and equipment, developing cookware that would be suitable for both cooking and serving (thereby saving storage space and time washing dishes). The ‘adaptable’ systems of items would allow consumers to select their own set and complement or replace items as needed. In order to attain the desired complexity and harmony, the designers also devised a colour palette and patterns for the objects, thus enabling consumers to configure the sets in accordance with their personal preferences.
The approved prototypes and available products were presented to the public in the autumn of 1975 at the Budapest International Fair, featuring almost 300 objects and three furnished kitchens. In 1976, Vasedény—a company specializing in iron and cookware—opened a dedicated store in a Budapest housing estate, offering products from the Standardised Kitchen Project. However, due to a lack of adequate manufacturing and marketing infrastructure, the project was ultimately realized only to a limited extent.