By Neil Turner, Director, Howarth Litchfield.
When I design a house or a large extension, one of the most consistent conundrums for many clients, has been the iconic AGA. Some people love them and would sell their soul before getting rid of this large cast iron cooking device.
They were invented in 1922 in Sweden and the letters stand for Aktiebolaget Gas Accumulator. Invented by Dr Dalen and designed as a heat storage cooker for his wife, the product was first sold in the UK in 1929. Originally cream in colour, then paler colours (classic pale blue and green), it is now available in lots of trendy colour combinations.
There used to be a waiting list for this ‘must have’ domestic item, seen like the ultimate prize in your kitchen, but is it still relevant?
When the prices range from £7,650 to over £23,035, they are not cheap to purchase, install and then run. In fact, there is a healthy market for second hand models.
They were great when installed in an old farmhouse which could be leaky and cold, where the continuous heat was welcome in a busy kitchen for cooking and heating. But nowadays, the cost of fuel to run them is becoming a real problem for everyone with the rising cost of energy.
They used to be powered by coal, then oil and gas and now they can be wired-up to the electricity supply – but whichever it is, they still gobble energy at a hungry rate. If you have an old one, you should expect large – in fact very large – energy bills.
So, after a hundred years of being the hallmark of the middle class will they last or will they need to change? The company no longer makes the ‘always on ‘ model, moving production to the electric version, which can run alongside solar panels. They have a strong brand identity, a high level of desirability and do last for decades – new versions are certainly more energy efficient.
Personally, I have never seen the attraction of having one. To me, their size, expense and running costs reflect a lifestyle which very few of us now adopt, when someone was working over the stove, all day.
I would rather invest in a property to make it more energy efficient, draught free and warmer by addressing any issues with the fabric of the building rather than simply installing a large heater to compensate for the draughts and coldness – an approach which seems completely at odds with today’s thinking.
In my opinion, range cookers and induction technology are far better to cook with. Most professional chefs are moving from gas to induction. Our cooking and eating habits are also changing.
I hope the AGA survives and changes or I fear they will become like the Jensen cars of the 1970s – the beautiful Interceptor model with its 7.2 litre engine was launched just as the energy crisis hit in 1973. Bad timing or not looking ahead? Cars started to become more energy efficient from that point onwards and the housing sector is now asking the same questions.
I see fewer clients wanting an AGA in their homes and I can see a point when existing ones remain in a kitchen unused, like an ornament or old-fashioned cast-iron fireplace.
So, the AGA is a classic piece of design, without a doubt. Beautiful and well made, yes, but with an uncertain future. I hope the manufacturer manages to develop and change, introducing new energy efficient models and avoids becoming a Jensen car.
Neil Turner, Director, Howarth Litchfield can be contacted on 0191 384 9470 or email n.turner@hlpuk.com
www.howarthlitchfield.com