Kitchen Design: The Work Triangle

The main working functions in a kitchen are carried out between the cook top, sink and the refrigerator. These three points, and the imaginary lines between them, make up what kitchen experts call the “work triangle”. The idea is that when these three elements are in close (but not too close) proximity to one other, the kitchen will run more efficiently.
There are exceptions to this rule: in single wall kitchens, it’s geometrically impossible to achieve a true triangle – but efficiency can still be achieved through the configuration and distance of the three items.

The kitchen work triangle is a way of combining the three main functional areas of the kitchen into ergonomic design, helping to create three ‘work zones’:

1. Food Storage & Preparation (Fridge)

This area will include your fridge/freezer, and will require ample worktop space for food preparation. Storage cupboards in this area will allow you to have easy access to food items, utensils, chopping boards, etc.

2. Cooking (Cooktop)

Try to ensure that there is enough space around the cooktop and oven to place hot pans or trays on the work surface. This will help prevent the many accidents that typically happen due to having to walk around the kitchen with hot pans/trays.

3. Washing (Sink)

The washing area should be located near to where the pots, pans, plates and cutlery are stored. There should be sufficient space around the sink area to allow for draining. It is also important that this area be located away from food preparation, as this is the most likely place to store cleaning products and other potentially harmful chemicals.

The kitchen work triangle is a model that was developed in the 1940s, to address the efficiency of the kitchen space between the major work centres: cooking (range), preparation (sink/dishwasher) and food storage (refrigerator). It was designed to maximize the efficiency of a one-cook kitchen and the principles that had to do with time-motion studies.

Basic rules:

No leg of the triangle should be less than 1200mm or more than 2700mm.
The sum of all three sides of the triangle should be between 4000mm and 8000mm.
Cabinets or other obstacles should not intersect any leg of the triangle by more than 300mm.
If possible, there should be no major traffic flow through the triangle.
A full-height obstacle such as a tall cabinet, should not come between any two points of the triangle.

The original functions described with the kitchen triangle still exist within the modern day kitchen. However, technology (like microwaves and other appliances) and the way the kitchens fit into the modern lifestyle have changed.