Core77

The fall of the Roman Empire, the rise of flat sinks

By Rain Noe - September 15, 2008

in Object Culture

Julius Caesar might have held the title "Dictator in Perpetuity," but his actual mark on history is a bit of a mixed bag.

The man whose conquests turned Rome into an empire is now remembered chiefly for a salad and a type of haircut popular in the West Village of the 1990s. Obviously, neither of those "legacies" last very long, either in our 'fridges or on our heads.

But the man is finally getting some more permanent love with CaesarStone, a quartz stone material used for countertops; Australian bathroom design company Omvivo is now using it in their Geo Washplane sink.

Sinks like these and others we've seen lately are flat, finally taking into account that nobody fills a sink up with water and splashes that on their face like some kind of savage. Put another way,

Behavioral changes over the years indicate that we are now using a continuous flow of clean water, inspiring Omvivo to change the whole design approach to a 'washing vessel'. Without the need to hold water, a basin could be slim, elegant and sculptural, and at the same time use considerably less water through the utilisation of a restricted water outlet.

Lastly, contrary to popular belief, the Orange Julius is not named for Caesar. Don't say you never learned anything by reading Core77!

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D. W.

16 years ago

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Don't get it - how does it prevent water splashing, unless the tap runs only by drips and drops...
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Barton

16 years ago

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Sold by reece bathrooms. Look great in the flesh. Nearly got one until I saw the price. I don't see why we need deep basins anymore. I guess we are all trying to save water over here so the tap doesn't get used much and drainage isn't a problem.

Arasmus - whats the alternative? A face bath?

http://www.reece.com.au/bathrooms/products/basins/omvivo
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Nick Gogerty

16 years ago

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Actually the name ceasar lives on as a strong title. The role or title of "Czar" is a derivative of Ceaser.
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Arasmus

16 years ago

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I hate to release the belligerent hippie from the cabbage patch but it is rather ironic that an Australian company, given that country's recurring problems with drought, is advocating the equivalent of a face shower, with all the extra water that that requires. Morons. Don't they know that in the future we will all form daily lines at the city gates for fresh water, broadband and deodorant!
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Dmacd

16 years ago

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Neither is the salad.

I'd just like to put out my vote into cyberspace to say that I use my sink all the time. Mostly for handwashing. I'd like to see someone wash their bras in these attractive, but impractical sinks.
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ah-doy

16 years ago

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A mexican restaurateur Caesar Cardini created the salad. The anchovy hinted dressing dressed romaine lettuce salad has nothing to do with Julius.
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Ian

16 years ago

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The salad wasn't named after him either!
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dustin

16 years ago

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Not sure if you were being facetious, but the caesar salad is actually named after Caesar Cardini, its 'inventor,' in the 1920's.

Also, I hope everybody who buys a flat sink doesn't have any drain issues ;-)
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shiv

16 years ago

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Also contrary to popular belief, the Caesar Salad is not named for Caesar. Don't say you ever learned anything by reading Core77!
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niti bhan

16 years ago

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try brushing neatly or washing your face without splashing water all over hte surfaces, getting everything you keep around the sink wet (the designer might be male and keeps one glass there or some such)
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