Outdoor Kitchens and Barbecue Areas: Planning and Materials

An outdoor kitchen becomes the second kitchen of the house in summer. Its comfort depends on the workflow, weather-resistant materials and services laid in advance.

In a hot climate, much of summer evening life moves into the garden. For a family gathering around the barbecue, preparing meat and vegetables in the indoor kitchen, carrying them out and then taking the dishes back in quickly becomes tiring. An outdoor kitchen cuts out these trips and turns the garden into a proper dining space. Unlike the kitchen indoors, though, it faces sun, rain, dust and temperature swings, which calls for a particular approach to planning and materials.

Functional zones and workflow

The logic of an indoor kitchen applies outdoors too: storage, washing, preparation, cooking and serving. These zones can be arranged in a line, an L-shape or as an island. The aim is that the cook does not walk long distances holding a knife or a hot pan.

• Preparation zone: a worktop wide enough for cutting meat and vegetables, with a bin nearby.
• Washing zone: a sink with hot and cold water and a small cabinet below.
• Cooking zone: barbecue, grill, kebab oven or gas hob, with clear worktop on both sides for plates and pans.
• Serving zone: close to the dining table, where finished food is set down.

In a small garden, a simple straight line along one wall with barbecue, worktop and sink is enough. In a larger garden, an island with a bar counter where guests can sit facing the cook creates a more sociable space.

Smoke, wind and safety

The first question when siting a barbecue is where the smoke will go. The prevailing wind should not carry smoke into the seating area, the house windows or the neighbour's garden. A barbecue under a gazebo or canopy needs a chimney or hood, and an open barbecue should not be covered by a low roof.

For fire safety, the barbecue is kept away from combustible materials, timber posts, reed and fabric canopies and dense planting. The surrounding floor must be non-combustible and resistant to sparks. Dry storage for charcoal and wood and a metal container for cooling and disposing of ash are planned. Children's play areas are kept separate from the barbecue zone.

Materials: weather resistance

Hard natural stone such as granite, ceramic slabs or specially treated concrete suit worktops. They do not fade in the sun and resist heat and moisture. Porous stones absorb grease stains and must be protected with regular sealing. Light-coloured surfaces heat up less in the sun.

Cabinet carcasses are made of stainless steel, powder-coated aluminium, marine plywood or rendered masonry. Ordinary kitchen furniture boards swell with moisture and fail quickly. Doors and drawers should close tightly to keep out insects and dust.

The floor must not become slippery when wet or greasy: textured stone, pavers or porcelain tiles rated for outdoor use are suitable. A slight fall is given so water does not stand after washing down.

Services

An outdoor kitchen's convenience is decided by services laid in advance:

• water: a cold and, if possible, hot water supply, with a way to drain it so it does not freeze in winter;
• drainage: sink waste connected via a grease trap or to the sewer, not released into ordinary garden drainage;
• electricity: moisture-resistant sockets, lighting, a separate circuit for a fridge and residual current protection;
• gas: if a gas hob or grill is planned, the line must be run and connected only by a qualified specialist in line with the relevant requirements.

All lines are laid in protective ducts before the garden paving goes down.

Cover, lighting and storage

Shade is needed over the worktop and sink: a pergola, gazebo or the house's terrace roof. Electrical appliances and a fridge last longer under a rain-proof cover. An open barbecue stays outside the cover but close to it.

Lighting is planned on two levels: clear task light on the work surface and soft, glare-free light for the seating area. Worktop lighting is angled so that the cook's own shadow does not fall across the work surface.

Sealed cabinets for crockery, spices and tools, and dry storage for cushions in winter, are useful. Winter covers for outdoor kitchen equipment should be thought about in advance too.

Zaferoğlu İnşaat designs terraces and garden areas together with the house plan for private houses and villas, and presents outdoor kitchens and relaxation spaces with computer models. If you are planning an outdoor kitchen, let's fix the positions of services together during construction.