Tradition and Modernity in the Domestic Urban Kitchen Design in Uganda

Tradition and Modernity in the Domestic Urban Kitchen Design in Uganda A case of Kampala Salome Kweyunga Licentiate Thesis in Building Function Analysis KTH, Stockholm, December 2013 TRITA 2013-17 ISSN 1653-6126 ISNR KTH/SoM/13-17/SE ISBN 978-91-7501-985-7 Abstract This thesis studies the design of modern domestic urban kitchens in Uganda. The research took place in Kampala, which is the capital city of Uganda. The cultural make up of Kampala residents is diverse; people come from all over the country of Uganda, as well as beyond. The fieldwork involved investigating daily practices taking place in the domestic urban kitchens of the middle income group. This has been done in order to find out the problems found in using the kitchens so that better designs may be suggested. The thesis addresses mostly, professionals such as architects, who are involved with planning and designing housing, specifically kitchens within them. This work can as well be useful to another country with a similar context to Uganda. It is worth mentioning that kitchen studies started to take place in developed countries about one hundred years ago, yet, they have never been initiated in Uganda, until this moment. The thesis indicates that a kitchen is an important part in a home, which is a busy area, thus demanding a lot of attention in order to be able to get the needed design requirements. While the findings of the thesis are based on the contemporary urban life in Uganda, it is not known what the future will hold; so suggestions are made to benefit contemporary needs. Practices in the urban kitchen have been investigated within the conceptual framework of tradition, modernity, culture and identity in connection with the kitchen designs in place. The research has been motivated by contradictions appearing to take place between modern kitchen designs and the actual practices taking place in them. Generally, the evolution of the kitchen design in some of the developed nations followed the trend parallel to developments in lifestyles, industrialization or women’s emancipation. Kitchen studies made in developing nations have investigated the particular contexts within those nations. So this thesis fills the knowledge gap which exists, as such studies are nonexistent within the Ugandan context. The study is qualitative by engaging the case study methodology. Here, the case is the interaction between the household, the kitchen design, the activities in the kitchen and the house type in place. Interviews have been conducted with household members in the studied cases, as well as with key informants. The main areas of study have been the way food is prepared, cooked and stored in an urban kitchen, and how these activities take place in a mixed situation of tradition and modernity. Seven cases in total have been investigated. The results indicate disharmony between the designs in place and the activities that take place in them. People have to negotiate and reinterpret spaces in their kitchens and around them in order to meet their needs. Some of the most important outcomes from this research is not to let modernity be disruptive but rather to allow the change from tradition be gradual. The thesis endeavors to blend the two phenomena of tradition and modernity so as to create a balance in design and end with better functioning kitchens. One example of such is shown for a one family house on a plot. Key words: tradition, modernity, culture, identity, domestic urban kitchen design Preface This thesis has brought to light one of the areas in our homes in Uganda, which is often neglected in research and design. The kitchen has been an interesting place to investigate, because it touches on many vital issues which seem to have been taken for granted. This study has initiated kitchen studies in Uganda, bringing to attention the actual everyday practices which take place in a household’s kitchen. Concepts of tradition, modernity and culture have provided the theoretical background for this thesis. Discussions on culture and identity seem to be complex as their definitions tend to vary, depending on which perspective is taken. It is my hope that through this thesis the concerned professionals, especially architects will reconsider the principles of planning and design for urban kitchens in Uganda. I wish to acknowledge, with thanks, everyone who has contributed in one way or another to the success of this thesis. It may be impossible to mention all by name, nevertheless, let me mention but a few individuals who have brought this work to this point. I would like to, specially, thank my supervisors, Professor Inga Britt Werner and Associate Professor Barnabas Nawangwe for the supervision of this thesis, for the time spent in guiding me along to its completion. I thank Professor Inga Britt Werner for providing the encouragement I so much needed. I am also grateful to Associate Barnabas Nawangwe, who has directed me in many ways during the course of this study. I am grateful to Associate professor Tigran Haas for his constructive criticism to this work. I equally wish to pass a vote of thanks to Professor Emeritus Dick Urban Vestbro, who has contributed to this thesis. I acknowledge Professor Rolf Johansson for his earlier supervision of my work at KTH. I am also grateful to Dr Moa Tunstrom for providing constructive comments to my work. My appreciation also goes to Dr Steven Mukiibi, the Head of the Department of Architecture and Physical Planning, at CEDAT, Makerere University, who has been very supportive. I equally thank Associate Professor Henry Alineitwe, the Acting Principal of CEDAT, for his help along the way. Special thanks go to the members of the households in various homes in Kampala, who welcomed me in their homes, sparing their times with me as I took note of the practices of cooking in their kitchens. I thank the four professionals and academicians who provided me with key information for this thesis. I thank everyone who has supported me in prayer, everywhere. I appreciate you all. I am grateful for the support I have received from sida/SAREC for the funding of this thesis. I am grateful to the leadership of the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training at Makerere University and the coordinators of this programme, Professor Inga Britt Werner and Associate Professor Mackay Okure. To my family and friends, I thank you all for support in various ways, especially in prayer, love and encouragement. Last but greatest, let Praise and Honor go to God Almighty, through Jesus Christ, who has brought me this far. All Glory to You, Lord! Salome Kweyunga Stockholm, December, 2013 i Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 The research problem ......................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Research objectives ............................................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Research questions.............................................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Relevance of the research ................................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Delimitations ....................................................................................................................................... 7 1.7 The thesis structure ............................................................................................................................. 7 1.8 Concluding remarks ............................................................................................................................. 7 2. The context of the study ........................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Urbanization of Uganda ...................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Urbanization of Kampala, the study area ............................................................................................ 8 2.3 Housing conditions in Kampala ......................................................................................................... 10 2.4 The Ugandan context—History and Culture ..................................................................................... 12 2.5 Summarizing Remarks ....................................................................................................................... 14 3. Kitchen Studies ........................................................................................................................................ 16 3.1 Kitchen Design Development in developed countries ...................................................................... 16 3.1.1 Sociological research in housing................................................................................................. 16 3.1.2 Evolution of the kitchen design .................................................................................................. 17 3.1.3 The Kitchen size and Location ...................................................................................................

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