CLOTH SINK
CONTAINER BY. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, 2015
The design concept regarding this sink was to use both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ materials to create a dynamic, off-grid system in response to the context in which it was installed. As a prototype, the build attempted to question whether a simple system using cloth, wood and plants could be set up and work successfully in a public arena.
It was created during a participatory public workshop at Container By, an experimental art/architecture land project in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen where there was no running water on site. There were several large rainwater collection systems installed on the land, and the water gathered was used to sustain the garden, wash hands, dishes and for other general purposes.
This sink utilises some of the collected rainwater, enabling people to wash their hands, after which the water drips through the cloth and on to the plants below. The cloth and a thin layer of leca stones act as a simple filter. The plants drink the water and transpire it into the air, returning the water to the hydrologic cycle.
The design allows the long rods of wood holding the cloth sinks in place to be removed, in order to wash the fabric when needed.
