Application of Ergonomics in kitchen Designing - Indian Perspective: Use of Anthropometric measurements, environmental factors and comfort features for efficient and pleasant cooking

Kitchen is the focal point of a woman's family life and is the area in which the most needed task of homemaking related to feeding the family is performed. The traditional kitchen has undergone many changes. Kitchen is an asset to any house and a truly worthwhile investment, as it makes cooking and related tasks a pleasure. A well planned, well equipped and good kitchen design must cater to a family's lifestyle, their eating habits and entertainment patterns and should make cooking and related tasks a pleasure. A Kitchen which is comfortable to work in, easy to maintain, beautiful to see and time and energy saving is the dream of every homemaker.A kitchen designed with ergonomic concepts can offer comfortable and efficient work areas. A kitchen is the symbol of the culture of the family. It is the center of multi various activities and the heart of any house. Every kitchen is unique in itself. But there is scope for enhancing the work environment of the homemaker by incorporating ergonomic concepts to make kitchen more functional, efficient,comfortable and pleasant offering an instant welcome and cheer.

Dr.RYMALA MATHEN-M.SC,M.Phil,Ph.D(Resource Mgt.&Int.Design)Asst.Prof.and chief coordinator,EntrepreneurshipDevelopment Cell(EDC),Engineering,AvinashilingamDeemed University for women,Coimbatore,India. Life membership inmany professional associations.Has attended and presented papersin many national and International conferences and seminars.