The Difference Between Asian and Western Kitchens
Those who have seen many model homes often have the impression that villa kitchens are generally open-plan, while kitchens in residential complexes are generally enclosed, small kitchens.
Villa kitchens are more similar to Western kitchens, while those in residential complexes resemble most Asian kitchens. The simplest explanation is that villas are more expensive and spacious, so large kitchens are natural. Smaller residential areas naturally lead to smaller kitchens. While this is true, there's more to it than that. There's a deeper reason: the differences in Chinese and Western dietary habits lead to differences in kitchen design.
Functional Positioning
• Western Kitchens: Focus more on preparing Western food, baking, and salads. They are often used to prepare simple meals, desserts, and drinks, such as baking bread or making salads. Some also serve a social function, allowing people to interact while cooking.
• Chinese Kitchens: Primarily used for preparing Chinese food, using a variety of cooking methods, such as pan-frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, steaming, and boiling. These kitchens are more suited to preparing more complex, multi-step Chinese dishes. Equipment and Appliances
• Western Kitchen: Commonly found items include ovens, microwaves, coffee makers, bread machines, egg beaters, and juicers, with a focus on baking, heating, and beverage-making equipment.
• Chinese Kitchen: These kitchens are equipped with stoves, range hoods, steamers, rice cookers, woks, and casseroles. Stovetops typically have a high heat output, suitable for Chinese stir-fries and other dishes.
Layout Design
• Western Kitchen: These kitchens are often open-plan, connecting to the dining and living rooms for easy communication and food transfers. The overall space is spacious and bright, with ample countertop space for appliances.
• Chinese Kitchen: Given the high fumes associated with Chinese cooking, enclosed kitchens are often used, with separate areas to prevent fumes from spreading to other areas. The layout emphasizes a consistent workflow.
Storage Options
• Western Kitchen: These kitchens are often used to store baking tools, tableware, and various bottles and jars of seasonings and beverage ingredients. Storage cabinets and open shelving are common.
• Chinese kitchen: Mainly used to store oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, dry goods, grains, pots, pans, etc. Wall cabinets, floor cabinets, and special drawers are often used to store bowls, chopsticks and other tableware.
