Opinion
kbb Birmingham 2018 Show Special
How to… profit from the 4G kitchen market
Austrian fittings specialist Blum has taken a closer look at the needs of the various generations using today’s kitchens. It is incorporating the fruits of its research into current and future product ranges. Amanda Hughes, customer experience centre manager at Blum UK, shares some of its findings
W
hether young, middle-aged or old, each generation has its own ideas of how they want to live. While younger people may place
more importance on design and aesthetics, older users may value ergonomics and convenience more – particularly in the kitchen. It makes sense to take both aspects into account when choosing furnishings. Today’s kitchens can be in use for up to 20 years, and the needs of users
during that time will change. The term given to the emerging trend for multigenerational occupancy of households is Four Generational or 4G. Blum believes that innovative fitting solutions bring great advantages for all generations
Blum has been researching the needs of kitchen
users for many years, including those of the older generation. It uses an age simulator, known as the Age Explorer (pictured left), which every developer has tried. It realistically simulates the limitations of age extremely – with weights at the knees and elbows, a visor to inhibit sight, gloves that simulate arthritis, and tight stitching to restrict movement. The results of this work are constantly being incorporated into the development of new products. This generates a continuous stream of new fittings concepts and solutions, which offer greater convenience at every stage of life.
Ergonomics
Our tests have shown that having doors on base cabinets is not ergonomically advantageous. Older people in particular have problems bending down to look for crockery or pots in base cabinets. What can be cumbersome for younger users can present quite a challenge for older generations. The solution? Use drawers. They provide a good view of the contents from above and allow direct access to items – in the case of full extensions even in the farthest corners. Sophisticated inner dividing systems ensure the cabinet interior stays organised, and thus make it easier to locate items. And for provisions, Blum has a larder unit with drawers that can be conveniently pulled out individually, which means elderly users don’t have to move the entire weight of the cabinet’s contents, which could be as much as 150kg. To add to ease of use, ovens, refrigerators, and other appliances are also now being installed higher up.
78 kbbreview kbb Birmingham Special Edition March 2018
Simplifying kitchen workflows
• Install drawers or pull-outs, instead of doors, in base cabinets. Strenuous bending and searching for items at the back of a cupboard are now a thing of the past.
• Think about typical tasks at the planning stage, such as emptying the dishwasher or storing food, and plan where the appropriate storage should be.
• Full extensions provide optimum access and visibility into even the farthest corners.
• Inner drawer dividing systems ensure a good overview and keep things organised.
• A U-shaped pull-out also uses the space underneath the sink.
• Include a Space Tower larder unit and Space Corner corner cabinet in your plans.
• Inner drawers behind high fronts utilise more of the storage space.
• Pull-outs with closed sides create up to 55% more storage space.
• Use removable storage racks, knife racks and foil-film dispensers. These allow the user to easily remove these items.
For wall cabinets, Blum recommends lift systems instead of doors. They do not protrude into the room after opening, which means the kitchen user won’t hit their head. They can also be opened with just a brief touch on the front, supported either mechanically or electrically.
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