Bronze Street Furniture Design · 2019
Pithos Public Trash Can
- A' Design Award 2019 Bronze Winner in Street Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2019
- CLIENT: Nikolaos Ikaros Baskozos
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 16,390
- Verification code 8DBB44CBE3 · Verify this award
About Pithos Public Trash Can
This litter bin design subtly refers to the form of an ancient Greek jar. The design approach is abstract and simple. Fiber reinforced concrete and stainless steel are the two materials used for the construction of this object. To replace the bin bag, at first, one has to open the stainless steel lid. A shutter of the waste hole prevents rainwater from entering the bin.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This litter bin design is based on the form of an ancient Greek terracotta jar. By attributing to the ancient form appropriate and contemporary functionality, the new object becomes vivid, while it triggers memory recollection. The design approach is minimalist. Few interventions were made to the original form. A single casting material is used as the main material which is ideal for enhanced replication.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 660mmx660mmx931mm, stainless steel, fiber reinforced concrete
- Tags
- Trash can, litter bin, terracotta jar, ancient, Greek, fiber reinforced mortar, cement, public furniture, street furniture, pithos
- Production Technology
- The use of a high-durability casting material was necessary for the construction of this form. Fiber reinforced cementitious mortar was chosen as the main material, which provides high mechanical and aesthetic performance in small thicknesses. The manufacturing process requires the use of a mold which makes this material ideal for enhanced replication. The opening lid is made from stainless steel.
- Design Challenge
- The biggest challenge was the research itself, to find an appropriate vernacular form for a contemporary bin. Another challenge, concerning the design process, was to reference the original form only to the point of triggering a memory recollection and not literally replicate it in an obvious way.
- Project Duration
- This design is part of an ongoing project that started in accordance with a Pan-Hellenic Street Furniture Competition for the Dodecanese
islands(2018), but carried on and became a series of street furniture designs. - Operation Flow
- The bin bag is attached to an iron ring. To replace it, at first, one has to open the stainless steel lid. A second shutter seals the waste hole and prevents rainwater from entering the bin.
- Research
- Vernacular forms from Dodecanese islands, but also forms from a broader spectrum of Greek history were looked into before concluding to the ancient jar as an appropriate form for a contemporary bin.
- Inspiration
- What inspired this project is a desire to explore a traditional form, an ancient Greek terracotta jar in this case, and to reuse it in accordance with its properties. An ancient terracotta jar was used for storing food or other things, while a trash can is also a temporary storage space for litter. Drawing analogies between an ancient form and a new use for it could result as such to expressive and historically vibrant objects.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Architect Nikolaos Ikaros Baskozos, Pithos, 2019.
Image #2: Architect Nikolaos Ikaros Baskozos, Pithos, 2019.
Image #3: Architect Nikolaos Ikaros Baskozos, Pithos, 2019.
Image #4: Architect Nikolaos Ikaros Baskozos, Pithos, 2019.
Image #5: Architect Nikolaos Ikaros Baskozos, Pithos, 2019.
Colors of Pithos Public Trash Can
Design Interview about Pithos Public Trash Can
This concept is part of a design series that consist an ongoing work in progress regarding street furniture with abstract, primitive forms. This particular design refers to the form of a pithos, an ancient Greek terracotta jar.
To publicize it and ideally sell or lease the rights to a company that will eventually produce it.
It was a pursuit of inspiration. It is a part of an ongoing project which made its first entry for the Pan-Hellenic Street Furniture Competition for the Dodecanese Islands (2018). It’s evolution led to a series of street furniture designs.
This design is not being produced or used by another company. My intension and ambition is to collaborate with a company to produce it.
A desire to explore a traditional form, and to reuse it with an analogy to it’s initial properties. An ancient terracotta jar was used for storing food or other things, while a trash can is also a temporary storage space for litter.
The Spanish company “Escofet” has a great collection of works fabricated with the same material, so I would say that their collection is a loose inspiration.
Companies that could fit this design in their collection.
“Pithos” (/ˈpɪθɒs/,[1] Greek: πίθος, plural: pithoi πίθοι) is is the Greek name of a large ceramic storage container which is the main inspiration behind this design.
Hand drawing for initial sketches of the idea, 3d software for working on the idea and presenting it.
The reference to the historic form of a pithos is fairly apparent, though it is not a copy of it. It feels as something familiar, but at the same time it is not. It generates and intrigues a memory.
Fiber reinforced cementitious mortar makes the realization of designs like this possible because it has a ceramic quality. It provides high mechanical and aesthetic performance in small thicknesses.
I was mostly influenced by ancient Greek vernacular forms, while looking for an appropriate form for a contemporary bin.
The biggest challenge was to find an appropriate vernacular form for a contemporary bin and to achieve with it a triggering of a memory recollection and not a mere replication.
Having technical and financial obstacles for its fabrication, I considered submitting “Pithos” as an opportunity to communicate it and publicize it as a 3d visualization. Hopefully that would lead to a collaboration with a company that has the means to produce it.
My interest in furniture design grew even further because I realized that I could materialize ideas in an abstract manner, without having to worry so much about the technical and legal aspects of architecture.