Let’s bring this Party to the Kitchen: A Preferred Environment

Let’s bring this Party to the Kitchen: A Preferred Environment

Have you ever noticed that every time someone hosts a party, whether it be with friends or with family, the chattering mass of people always seems to find their way into the kitchen? Placed at the heart of your home, the kitchen is a hub of activity.   All kitchen consists of the same basic elements; counters, a sink, a fridge, an oven, a stove, storage, utensils, and most importantly, food.  To many it would seem odd that we are drawn away from a space specifically designed for socializing to a space designed for cooking but it is no coincidence, it is preference. We are not drawn to the kitchen solely on the fact that it’s a space many of us find familiar, it’s a result of distinct features and designs that makes it so attractive. 

Preference is different than you preferring something.  Preference in the context of this class is immediate, innate and universal, it is evolutionary not developed overtime.  It is dependent on both high exploration and high understanding.  For something to be a preferred environment it must satisfy present and future understanding and exploration.  This is made possible when an environment is equally high in coherence, legibility, mystery and complexity. 

Coherence takes in to consideration your present understanding of the space while legibility takes into effect one’s ability to navigate a space without getting lost. Because kitchens are a space designated for cooking and preparing food, the materials found within the space will all hang together and make sense next to each other.  You will find the basic necessity to prepare a meal; cook books, utensils, ovens, stoves, fridges, food, ect.. Since kitchens are not vast spaces, you will not physically get lost within it.  Additionally, as a result of our well developed mental models of kitchens, our familiarity will provide us with the basic understanding of the layout. Landmarks such as a stove or a fridge or a garbage can will allow us to have a simplified outline of the space before even exploring.  We will have a basic idea of where silverware is stored, where to find the garbage can, where to find other staple objects based off the ones visible to us.  Be aware that this familiarity only enhances your ability to navigate an already easily understood place.  This is a good example of how preferred environments can have some overlap with familiar environments and provided us with a sense of comfort that encourages us to expand our mental models without being on edge, or uncomfortable.

An example of how various kitchens have different layouts but still foster similar navigational patterns. 

Another aspect that is important to a spaces preferability is its complexity and mystery; whether there is enough elements and diversity to make the space worth exploring as well as the promise of more information in the future.  The purpose of a preferred environment is to be the most effective place to learn and expand your mental models.  This is where the kitchen thrives.  All of your appliances and endless drawers and containers provide a great promise of information for you to explore and discover.  Every time you open a cabinet, an abundance of new knowledge is revealed, every time you turn a page in a cookbook, the possibility to learn a new baking technique or a new recipe arises.  The amount of information in a kitchen that you can explore and build models of is huge, yet it is not overwhelming because it is so well organized. You can open cabinet by cabinet, ensuring you will not overwhelm yourself.

            In class we discussed that if two places with equal complexity are presented to an individual they will innately prefer the more natural one over the more man made one.  The typical design of kitchen draws on this observation by placing a window directly in front of the sink.  This integrates natural objects such as trees and lighting into the kitchen, making you feel more in touch with the outdoors while also appealing to the prospect refugee theory.  The theory states that one of preferences is a place where we can see without being seen, and a window is a perfect way to do that.  You can watch and learn without placing yourself in danger and/or in an unfamiliar environment.

            So the next time you plan for a party, don’t even bother attempting to corral everyone into your living room because inevitably they will find their way back to your kitchen.  Not as a result of your “amazing” cooking but because we are simply programed to.