'Barbican' hand rinse basin (model 14008) thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

'Barbican' hand rinse basin (model 14008)

Wash Basin
ca.1967 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Twyfords (manufacturer)
Chamberlin, Powell & Bon (designers)
Michael Hohmann (designer)
Place of origin
Stoke-on-Trent (manufactured)

The 'Barbican' hand rinse basin (model 14008) was designed by Michael Hohmann in conjunction with architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bonn, for the residential flats in the Barbican. It won the Design Centre Award in 1966. The minimum-projection basin was designed for the Barbican because no square basin to fit with the wall tiles was available. Hohmann worked for Chamberlin, Powell and Bonn architects from 1961 to 1969, and was in charge of detail design for the Barbican's residential buildings.

Manufactured by Twyfords from Ceramant vitreous ceramic with a square form, the 'Barbican' hand rinse basin was designed to be recessed into the wall. It featured concealed supply pipes, a soap dish with large dimples, and a toilet roll holder underneath the soap dish. Water was discharged as a fine spray through a hot and cold mixer fitting. The 'Barbican' hand rinse basin was available with fittings on the left or right, and in white or Twyfords' five standard colours.

Object details

Categories
Ceramics
Design Council Award Winner
Interiors
Household Objects
Shekou
Values of Design
Design Society
Object type
Wash basin
Title'Barbican' hand rinse basin (model 14008) (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Ceramant vitreous ceramic
Ceramic
Brief description
'Barbican' hand rinse basin, 'Ceramant' vitreous ceramic, manufactured by Twyfords, designed by Michael Hohmann and Chamberlin, Powell and Bon architects, ca.1967.
Physical description
'Barbican' hand rinse basin (model 14008), made from white 'Ceramant' vitreous ceramic with metal taps and hot and cold mixer fitting. Below the taps, a dimpled soap dish is integrated into the square form of the basin.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16in
  • Width: 20in
  • Depth: 8 ¾in
  • Height: 406mm
  • Width: 508mm
  • Depth: 203mm
Production typeMass produced
Gallery label
(2021)
Compact space-savers

As compact living has become more common, designers have created smart, multifunctional and small-scale solutions for furniture, storage and technology. The Kubus glass boxes fit together interchangeably and are heat resistant, making them useful for storing and heating foods. The compact sink and wall-mounted CD player were both designed for smaller homes with less space, while the Boby trolley offers flexible storage on wheels suitable for any room of the house.

Stackable glass containers
Kubus, about 1938
Designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld
Manufactured by Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke, Germany
Press-moulded glass
Museum no. C.154&A, B, D to J, L, N, O P-1980

Flexible storage trolley
Boby, 1970
Designed by Joe Colombo
Manufactured by Bieffeplast, Italy
Injection-moulded ABS plastic
Given by Valerie Mendes
Museum no. W.5:1 to 4-1992

Small sink for the Barbican Estate, London
1966
Designed by L Michael Hohmann and Chamberlin, Powell and Bon
Manufactured by Twyfords, UK
‘Ceramant’ vitreous ceramic
Museum no. CIRC.395-1967

Wall-mounted CD player with pull-string switch
1999
Designed by Naoto Fukasawa
Manufactured by Muji, Japan
ABS plastic and electronic components
Museum no. CD.80:1, 6-2016

The object sits in the 'Housing and Living' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.
Summary
The 'Barbican' hand rinse basin (model 14008) was designed by Michael Hohmann in conjunction with architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bonn, for the residential flats in the Barbican. It won the Design Centre Award in 1966. The minimum-projection basin was designed for the Barbican because no square basin to fit with the wall tiles was available. Hohmann worked for Chamberlin, Powell and Bonn architects from 1961 to 1969, and was in charge of detail design for the Barbican's residential buildings.

Manufactured by Twyfords from Ceramant vitreous ceramic with a square form, the 'Barbican' hand rinse basin was designed to be recessed into the wall. It featured concealed supply pipes, a soap dish with large dimples, and a toilet roll holder underneath the soap dish. Water was discharged as a fine spray through a hot and cold mixer fitting. The 'Barbican' hand rinse basin was available with fittings on the left or right, and in white or Twyfords' five standard colours.
Bibliographic reference
British design 1948-2012: innovation in the modern age (London: V&A, 2012). Catalogue to accompany the exhibition held 31 March-12 August 2012 at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
CIRC.395-1967

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O308003/barbican-hand-rinse-basin-model-wash-basin-michael-hohmann/
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