The History Hour The birth of the modern fitted kitchen and the creation of Cluedo
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Jan 17, 2026 Kristina Zwingl, an architect and expert on Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, discusses the groundbreaking Frankfurt Kitchen from the 1920s, emphasizing its design and social impact. Marcia Lewis shares fascinating insights into her parents’ creation of the board game Cluedo, stemming from murder mysteries at country house parties and its evolution into a global sensation. Chris Dinnage reminisces about Ayrton Senna's thrilling first Formula 1 victory in 1985, blending technical expertise and personal anecdotes from the pit lane.
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Origins Of The Modern Fitted Kitchen
- Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky designed the Frankfurt Kitchen as a compact, highly efficient fitted workspace for ordinary people in the 1920s.
- Its fitted cabinetry, step-saving layout and adjustable features became the blueprint for modern kitchens worldwide.
Kitchen Design Changed Social Roles
- The Frankfurt Kitchen shifted kitchens from servant spaces to central domestic showpieces over decades.
- Many practical original features (adjustability, ceiling-to-floor units) were later lost in favour of aspirational design.
Cluedo Born In Wartime Front Room
- Anthony and Elva Pratt invented Cluedo during wartime evenings playing murder-mystery games and testing rules with friends.
- Elva drew the board while Anthony patented the detective-style rules that became the game's core.