Inglenook

Image from en.wikipedia.org on 2020-09-17 at 10.38.44 PM.jpeg

An inglenook, or chimney corner, is a recess that adjoins a fireplace. The inglenook originated as a partially enclosed hearth area, appended to a larger room. The hearth was used for cooking, and its enclosing alcove became a natural place for people seeking warmth to gather. With changes in building design, kitchens became separate rooms, while inglenooks were retained in the living space as intimate warming places, subsidiary spaces within larger rooms.

  1. ​Thermal Delight in Architecture​
  2. ​Thermal aediculae​

Like the four-poster bed, an inglenook creates the image of a special warm enclave, for its function is intuitively clear: with seats built in along the walls, it is just large enough for a few people to gather close to the fire's radiant warmth and be shielded from drafts.

— Lisa Heschong, Thermal Delight in Architecture