Keittokäytävät

Keittokäytävät, a Finnish term, translates directly to "kitchen corridors" or "cooking passageways." In the context of traditional Finnish architecture, particularly in older rural homes and farmsteads, a keittokäytävä refers to a narrow, often unheated space located between the main living areas and the kitchen. This functional corridor served multiple purposes, primarily as a buffer zone and a transitional space.

The keittokäytävä could be used for storing various kitchen and household items, such as firewood, tools, and food supplies like root vegetables or preserves. Its placement was strategic; it helped to insulate the living quarters from the heat and odors generated by cooking, and also provided a convenient access route for carrying ingredients and prepared food. In some instances, the keittokäytävä might have also housed a simple sink or water source. The construction was typically basic, often with wooden floors and walls, and its primary focus was utility rather than aesthetics. The concept of the keittokäytävä reflects a practical approach to domestic organization in historical Finnish homes, emphasizing efficiency and the separation of functional spaces.