| Primary value | 7.5 m² |
| Applies to | Open-plan kitchen-dining · Eat-in kitchens |
| Exceptions | Minimum width → 2.1 m |
| Measured as | Combined carpet area of cooking + eating zones — without dividing walls. |
| Source | NBC 2016 — Part 4, Clause 5.4.3 ✓ Verified |
Open-plan kitchen-dining is the dominant pattern in modern Indian apartments. The 7.5 m² minimum ensures both functions fit without one cannibalizing the other.
Most contemporary 2/3BHK units provide 9-14 m² for the combined space. Below 8 m², the dining table starts blocking kitchen circulation.