The international rationalisation of the kitchen in the interwar period gave rise to current modern kitchen designs and these rational interwar kitchens are still present in contemporary Belgian houses.

Nevertheless, their interior heritage value remains undervalued. This ignorance causes them to be badly maintained and often replaced … so they slowly disappear. The research therefore aims to provide design strategies for correct preservation and integration of the rational interwar kitchens in the 21st-century, and will in doing so raise awareness of their important heritage value.

The main research question comprises three principal research objectives: defining the concepts, construction and conservation of the Belgian interwar kitchens. By firstly acquiring knowledge on their conceptual development and characteristic construction features, the research aims to create an unprecedented and much-needed guideline for the correct conservation and integration of these rational kitchens. Thereby, the research is linked to the Strategic foresights of Flanders 2025 by providing sustainable alternatives to re-use this historical furniture and limit material waste. This guide addresses architects, heritage researchers, craftsmen, etc. As a result, the research’s outcome will not only be bound to learning historical architecture, but also to examine the integration and preservation of this interior architecture in contemporary (and future) society for the very first
time.