1960 was probably the most significant year for household construction.
This is because 1960 saw the election of John F. Kennedy as president- and more importantly, the rise of the "whiz kids" he brought with him into the office. For every "whiz kid" working in the White House, there were likely a thousand out there in industry, waiting to make their mark. "Can Do" was their motto, and technology their icon.
America's exploding population saw the first real standardisation of housing components. For example, window dimensions were standardised- no longer ned every single window be custom manufactured.
Along with this was a very real explosion in household apliances. No longer was the refrigerator in the kitchen an 'afterthought.' Clever designers tried to create 'modules' of common home components, but with very limited success.
One reason seems to have been that, dreams of designers aside, everyone wants something a bit different when it comes to their home. Another factor was the continuing changes in the appliances we demand.
For example, the module shown is missing at least one appliance that no kitchen today is without- the micro-wave oven!
A kitchen I recently saw had, as installed apliances, a fridge at least three times the volume of the unit shown, with triple the freezer space. The stove had six burners. There was a 'normal' oven, a convection oven, and a microwave. There were two dishwashers, and a wine cooler. Oh- and don't forget the garbage disposal, and the under-cabinet lighting!
Portable appliances? Gone are the days of the hand-held mixer and toaster being alone in the cupboard. Add the heavy-duty dough mixer, the small electric grill, the bread machine, the blender, and the pizza heater. Each of these can have significant current demand. They also need working space.
Contrast this to my "ahead of it's time" 1940 kitchen. It has exactly ONE plug -for the fridge- and a switch for the exhause fan, with a single light in the ceiling. It measures a generous 5ft wide by 8ft long, with the fridge set in a pocked added to the end of the 8ft. dimension. Take away the stove and sink, add the top of the water heater, and I have a total of 6ft counter space, broken into three segments. Sort of like out module- but shorter!
