A kitchen that runs well is one where nobody has to walk backwards. That sounds trivial and it is the whole of good kitchen planning.
The one-way principle
Material should move in one direction: goods in, storage, preparation, cooking, plating, service. Dirty items return on a separate route to wash-up, and waste leaves without re-entering production.
Where a kitchen forces staff to backtrack, you get collisions, contamination risk and lost time on every single cover.
Clearances that actually work
These are working minimums, not ideals.
| Aisle type | Minimum | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Single-person working aisle | 900 mm | 1,050 mm |
| Two-person passing aisle | 1,200 mm | 1,500 mm |
| Trolley route | 1,200 mm | 1,500 mm |
| In front of an opening oven door | 1,050 mm | 1,200 mm |
| Behind a working chef | 900 mm | 1,100 mm |
Utilities before finishes
Gas, water, drainage and electrical positions must be fixed before floors are laid and walls are tiled. Retrofitting a drain into a finished floor costs many times what it costs to place it correctly at first pour.
- Gas points: position and connected load per appliance
- Electrical: rating, phase and whether the point is switched locally
- Water: hot and cold, with the pressure the appliance actually requires
- Drainage: trapped gullies with a stated fall, positioned under wash-up equipment
- Exhaust: duct route, size and the make-up air path
Ventilation is not optional
Extraction removes heat, grease and steam. Make-up air replaces what is extracted. A kitchen with extraction and no make-up air goes negative, doors become hard to open, and extraction efficiency collapses.
Size the hood to overhang the equipment on all open sides, and size the fan against the heat load rather than against the hood area alone.
Plan for cleaning
Equipment on adjustable feet with a clear floor gap can be cleaned under. Equipment sitting on the floor cannot. Coved corners can be wiped out; square welded corners collect residue. These details decide whether a kitchen stays hygienic under pressure.
