“I wanted to capture that initial sense of wonder you have when doing something for the first time,” said the London-based, Canadian-born designer, Yorgo Lykouria, of the most recent washbasin he has designed for Alape. In an interview conducted by Simon Cowell of Architonic, the two discussed the Tangens Washbasin and its unusual flat surface.

The Tangens Washbasin. Designed by Yorgo Lykouria. Manufactured by Alape.

Minimalist Form with Functional Integrity, Designer Yorgo Lykouria Describes his Tangens Washbasin for Alape.

Described as a “resolutely graphic” basin for the high-end German brand, Alape, the Tangens is also the subject matter for deeper discussions. Back in 1999, Lykouria worked with Alape to discover the flat wash basin. He has continued to push the idea in different directions with the support of Alape. With the one-piece Tangens made from a white-glazed steel fabricated body, the water hits the remarkably flat surface and slides across it without a hitch (or a splash). Pair the Tangens  washbasin with carrier boards, lower cabinets, and other accessories as its minimalist features complement every design attitude.

“Most of design, as you know, is derivative of expectations. For instance, the basin needs to be a bowl, or have a certain depth, and there’s a plug at the bottom and so on,” remarked Lykouria of the role that the rectangular 70″ x 38.5″ Tangens sink played as inspiration for Alape’s objective. “Obviously, I have my own formal preferences, but it’s not about ‘I want to do something that looks like this.’ The starting point is always ‘What can it be that it’s not already.'”

About the Company: Alape has been synonymous with quality solutions in the sanitary area since 1896. Such classics as the sink basin, the world’s first built-in basin, and the first bathroom cabinet-wash table combination were invented by this tradition-steeped company.

About the Designer: Yorgo Lykouria is a designer who received his Masters in Architecture from Daltech University in Canada in 1991 before working for a decade in Chicago’s Helmut Jahn office. After founding Lykoruia Ltd. in 2005 – where he continues to collaborate with Helmut Jahn among other clients like Alape, Moroso, Sony, FSB, and Vitra – Yorgo Lykouria’s design resume is both impressive and prolific.