ABSTRACT
Throughout human history, house and food have been inseparable. Not only did fire occupy the symbolic and physical center of the hut, but it also fulfilled a practical function: cooking food. The space and social context in which this activity took place has, however, evolved. This research will explore this evolution of the cooking space—the transformations in its architectural position and configuration, but also their underlying social, cultural and technological motives—focusing on the Western urban context, particularly the houses of the upper and middle classes, crossing historical data from different sources, to fully grasp and characterize its paradigmatic models, from the Middle Ages till today. This article will show how the position of the cooking space reflects the social hierarchy of its occupants, while a close connection can be found between technological advances in the control of fire and culinary preparations, which either trigger, or derive from them.
