Ekateryna Sokolova’s Iris: Where’s the Water to Go?
Iris. Designed by Ekateryna Sokolova.
I’m not quite sure what to make of it - because I’m not quite sure how it works. Don’t get me wrong, the idea is simple. Ekateryna Sokolova’s concept washbasin “Iris” is manufactured from a single sheet of material (corian or metal), bent into a sinuous form. As a result of the materiality, the washbasin is lightweight and elegant, while retaining its strength. So wherein lies the problem? The pragmatic concept of drainage.
The bends and folds expose the underside of the material, revealing a secondary color - and the resemblance of a flower. Simultaneously, a functional shelf is created for storage of towels, accessories and cosmetics. This form folds inwards such that the water funnels into the naturally formed crevice (or hole). But where does it go from here? According to the images - it hits the floor. The wall-mounted basin reveals no drainage technology, and no means of integrating any that would simultaneously manage to maintain the integrity of the design. I understand that it’s a concept - but it doesn’t seem capable of becoming a reality. The addition of a drainage pipe would visually destroy the design - yet its elimination prevents the design from serving as an actual sink. While we could store our towels, we couldn’t wash our hands.
The designer, Ekateryna Sokolova from Kiev, Ukraine, is also responsible for another basin concept Aqua Vita. This is a free-standing sink that functions more or less per usual: the base serves as the means of connecting the sink to the pipes within a building. It seems to better capitalize on the woven-sheet concept, creating a piece that is both beautiful and functional. As the saying goes: design is in the details. Iris is in need of a drainage detail to propel it from concept to reality. Any ideas?
Comments
Bury the drain and trap assembly in the wall…
Not that hard. Simply design the bathroom like a big shower room, but gently slope the floor toward the wall with the sink and put a subtle trough on that side to a drain. Then hire someone to clean the soap scum off the wall & floor daily.
it is obviously NOT impossble to link to a water evacuation system & adequate volume that is embedded in the wall. It just takes some thinking ahead.
couldn’t there be some kind of hole in the wall at the lowest point in the sink so that it drains into pipes that cannot be seen because they are behind the wall? does that make sense at all?
I really like the concept, and in my view there are several solutions for the drainage issue. Just some ideas: If you see the resemblance of a flower, you can simply create a drainage pipe as a resemablance of the flower’s stem. I understand this will undermine the fragility of the basin but practically this can be a solution. Also, if you have a water resistant wall-covering (which is highly recommended in a bathroom..), you can let the water flow along the wall and catch it on the floor with aan linear horizontal drainage along the wall (like the ones you use for the shower). Here the cleaning of the wall is a point of attention. Finally, there’s the possibility for a built-in drainage in the wall. The water will flow horizontally into the wall and will be transproted vertically from there… I think with a little more effort the design could be a succes!
I would propose that using the ‘flower’ as the base for a simple clear glass receptacle with the standard plumbing would solve the function issue…. oh, and the wall will need a water-proof treatment also, n’est pas?
It is very unique. Is it available on the market , if it is where is it distributed?
Evelyn
Thanks for all the awesome ideas!
MaxHedrm - Yes, I think a floor drain would be a really cool solution - albeit more complicated than your standard sink. Definitely requires thinking ahead… but a nice aesthetic nonetheless.
Kevin, Vicarious and Brack - I agree that it’s not impossible - but wouldn’t this system still be visible since the drainage hole is aimed downwards?
Jaimar - Yes, further development could make it successful (I think!) - but it definitely requires more finessing. The linear horizontal drainage along the wall could be a really good option. It seems to me that having the built-in drainage within the wall would take away from the concept. I’m still not sure how this could be entirely hidden…
Robbin - That would definitely work - but I fear it would really compromise the integrity of the design.
Evelyn - Still a concept, but you can contact the designer directly via Behance (http://www.behance.net/Sokolova)
This is simply a design study not yet ready for prime time. No big deal. While everyone’s working on the design of the drain (what a pain, the drain, not worthy of time in the designer’s brain), they should also consider the design of the faucet, which really doesn’t work with the sink, and the profit-sharing agreement they want to have with the designer. Russians are such uppity designers!
[…] perhaps in an environment with similar shaped elements- in order to create a light atmosphere. -via 3rings Author: Lavinia 0 Comments » Please Share : | Share See more amazing related […]
[…] Ekateryna Sokolova is a young designer from Kiev, Ukraine, with works in the field of furniture and industrial design. Today we would like to present an unusual washbasin, a project called “Iris”, due to its shape correspondence with the elegant flower. Here is what Ekateryna stated about this design: “The idea is that the wash-basin is manufactured from sheet material, corian or metal. Thanks to these materials the basin becomes visually light weight and elegant and resembles a flower, at the same time retaining its strength. The sheet is bent in such manner that a functional shelf is created, where towels, accessories, and cosmetics are kept.” It would sure be interesting to have one of these around the house- perhaps in an environment with similar shaped elements- in order to create a light atmosphere. -via 3rings […]
While the basin still seems more art than function as it is too flat to hold much water… What if a transparent insert that is waterproof and sealed were placed in the area that appears to be a hole now. Then for the drainage, this could be at the lowest area along the wall that would drain into plumping installed in the wall and not visible unless one were standing over the bowl. As the outside dimensions appear to be one thing, the interior could be constructed quite differently to make a sink bowl possible and still have the visual beauty of the outside bowl. I’m still not sure it would be very functional but might work for a powder room where the only thing it would be used for is washing hands.