Cooking as Power: The Open Kitchen as a Space of Empowerment

Gwyneth Bozentka // Advisor: Jeffrey Fama

The Open Kitchen as a Space of Empowerment

Cooking is more than preparation, it is a form of connection, care, and confidence. My thesis argues that when cooking becomes visible, rather than hidden in the back of house, it turns into a shared experience that builds trust and brings people together. The open kitchen challenges the long-standing separation between those who cook and those who observe, revealing the skill, creativity, and warmth that have often been overlooked.

By placing the kitchen at the center, we invite new forms of interaction, learning, and emotional connection. This project reimagines the kitchen as a stage where community and nourishment meet. Through materials, circulation, and sensory design, the project shows how openness can cultivate comfort, inclusion, and care ultimately revealing the heart of the place and the people who were always there.