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Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Home Zones: Service Areas
By Arch’t. Karl A.E.F. Cabilao, uap
A house is definitely more than just shelter from sun and rain. It is where its owners live. And living means to undertake activities necessary for survival, such as taking in food for nourishment and maintaining bodily hygiene and cleanliness of the abode.
And the house’s service spaces, often perceived as the less-glamorous crannies of the home, serve as venue for such vital pursuits.
Source of goodies for foodies. The kitchen is the service core of the house, even though it may be infamous for being the dirtiest part of the house. The trusty refrigerator is in here; the stove or gas range, an important contraption for cooking meals, has its address in this area. And yes, the microwave oven, toaster and the pantry are also in here. For those who list “eating” as their top hobby, the kitchen is paradise. But food junkie or not, the kitchen is an important element of the house. It is even quite funny for many Filipino homes to have two kitchens – one inside the house as a “showcase” kitchen and there’s the “dirty kitchen” outside. More often than not, the kitchen inside live up to its moniker as just a mere piece for exhibit, thus it is seldom used. The “dirty kitchen” (although I would rather call it “auxiliary kitchen”) is where all the heavy cooking and, at times, dishwashing takes place. This is also where all the bulky pots, pans and other kitchen wares are stored. And yes, we have one at home.
Of course, a kitchen should be designed not just to be conducive for work but also in a manner that it makes work easier. For instance, the refrigerator, the range and the kitchen sink are ideally arranged in a triangular formation (known as the kitchen triangle) to ensure accessibility for the cook.
The rest room or toilet. Yup, that’s the way it should be called, and not “CR” (“comfort room). Since this is where the family’s personal hygiene is furthered (through bathing or showering, washing and cleansing the body of its wastes), these rooms should be, first of all, clean. A clean toilet almost always reflects the cleanliness of its users.
Other service joints. The area near or where the “dirty kitchen” is often the laundry area, another important spot for an equally important activity - washing ones clothes. Another service space is the carport or garage, which is the family transport’s shelter from the elements. For the last part of this feature, we enter the home’s private spaces.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 1, 2006 issue)
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