The Kitchen, John Ota
The Kitchen, John Ota
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The Kitchen
A journey through history in search of the perfect design

Author: John Ota

Narrator: John Ota

Unabridged: 9 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/25/2020

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

One man's quest to seek out--and be inspired by--the great historic kitchens of Canada and the USA.

John Ota was a man on a mission--to put together the perfect kitchen. He and his wife had been making do with a room that was frankly no great advertisement for John's architectural expertise. It just about did the job but for a room that's supposed to be the beating heart of a home and a joy to cook in, the Otas' left a lot to be desired. And so John set out on a quest across North America, exploring examples of excellent designs throughout history, to learn from them and apply their lessons to his own restoration. Along the way, he learned about the origins and evolution of the kitchen, its architecture and its appliances. He cooked, with expert instruction. And he learned too about the homes and their occupants, who range from pilgrims to President Thomas Jefferson, from turn of the century tenement dwellers to 21st century Vancouver idealists, from Julia Child to Georgia O'Keeffe, and from Elvis Presley to Louis Armstrong.

John Ota has a refreshingly upbeat approach and a hunger for knowledge (and indeed for food). His energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and his insights of lasting value. Illustrated throughout, with photographs and also with drawings by the author, this is a book for homeowners, home makers, interior designers, cooks, armchair historians, and for anyone who--like John Ota before them--is looking for inspiration for a renovation.

About The Author

John Ota has been involved with architecture and design since 1978. He has written freelance articles for the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, Azure Magazine, Canadian House and Home and Canadian Architect. He has worked in architecture offices in Toronto, New York and Vancouver and has degrees from the School of Architecture at Columbia University and the University of British Columbia.John has chaired the awards commitee of the Ontario Association of Architects. He has served as a Board Member on the Toronto Historical Board and has worked at the Ontario Ministry of Culture as the government lead on the Renaissance ROM project, the AGO Transformation project and the Revitalization of Ontario Place. In 2004, he was the lead curator on an exhibition called "Living Spaces, 21 contemporary Canadian houses" that toured Canada. John has acted as a guest critic at the Ryerson University School of Architecture and as an advisor to the Architecture Gallery at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Eileen

I stumbled upon this book at the Toronto Public Library and I’m so glad I did. I read it slowly and sporadically, but always closed it feeling a creative spark. My favourite chapter was Georgia O’Keeffe - I want a couch in my kitchen.......more

Goodreads review by Timothy

Yes, I enjoyed The Kitchen so much that I devoured it over the course of a week. And could easily do so again. Author and guide Jonathan Ota introduces us to kitchens in noteworthy homes in search of elements that make up the perfect kitchen. We learn how the architecture of individual homes fits in......more

Goodreads review by John

In this vastly informative and wide-ranging fun read, the author is on a quest to find the perfect kitchen via an assortment of road trips to historical homes throughout North America. With an enthusiastic attention to detail as well as a delightfully personal, intimate style - such as letters to hi......more

Goodreads review by Abena

This was an incredible read. It’s the perfect blend of history , food writing, and the letters at the end of each chapter are just the most adorable. It was incredible to join John Ota on a historical journey filled with elements of design, architecture, and culinary arts. The kitchen is the most im......more


Quotes

“In The Kitchen, John Ota celebrates the room that is the heart of every home. As a designer dedicated to minimalism, Ota’s journey challenges him to rethink what’s important. From the warm memories of his mother’s lovingly chaotic cooking space to the premeditated clutter of Julia Child’s iconic kitchen, he digs deep to explore how our idea of the room has evolved; what it has been and what it will become. Impeccably researched and beautifully written, there is no other book I know of that is quite like it.” Bonnie Stern