Bathroom furniture is becoming a lot more than the white porcelain fixtures and wood cabinetry of the past. There are sinks with sexy legs like the Muse 100 by Matteo Thun, or sinks that recall natural topography like the Erosion Sink by Gore Design. The Luminist sink can light up before your eyes or if you prefer to go stealth, there is the black-as-pitch sink by Ora-Ito.

All these innovations and more are possible through the vehicle of the hand washing machine. The sink is a functional object with a simple purpose that allows for a healthy amount of creativity in both shape and material. The material make-up of a sink requires durability, sculptability and hygiene. The architecture and design group Minarc, based in Santa Monica, is pushing the boundaries of materiality while solving a prevalent waste problem. A winner of the R+D Awards bath division, the RUBBish sink is an attractive, sustainable sink made from recycled rubber.

To create a suitable sink material, “the rubber from the tires is melted down and cleansed of debris, and the tiny inherent metal fibers that give a tire its road resistance are then formed into a sheet.” (Architect Magazine) The sheet is 1/8” thick, which is stretched over a frame that can be made from anything normal bathroom furniture is made from. The molded sheet is then anchored with the drain collar, resulting in a slim profile that is extremely light weight compared to typical sink surfaces. According to the manufacturer, the sink uses less than one pound of rubber. Minarc is developing two standard sizes to be commercially produced, allowing for their sustainable, innovative design to be enjoyed by the masses.

via Architect Magazine