Durable stainless steel sinktops, made to measure by GEC Anderson, have earned a place in history as part of the major facilities upgrade recently completed at the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, London. The sinktops, in domestic grade satin finish stainless steel and with integrated bowls, are installed at three sites in the modernised basement, the art room, the learning centre community workshop and classroom, and the baby change room, where they will complement the museum’s new look for many years.
The V&A Museum of Childhood recently reopened after more than a year during which its Victorian building was extensively refurbished and extended in the second phase of a major redevelopment. The Heritage Lottery funded project was part of the museum’s masterplan for transformation into a first-class destination. Priorities included essential repairs to the 130-year-old structure and restoring it to its former glory, while also modernising the galleries and displays, ensuring accessibility, expanding the learning centre and gallery space, and upgrading visitor facilities.
Project architects Caruso St John specified stainless steel sinktops for the three ‘wet rooms’. The art room has a 1,664mm x 665mm sinktop with 21mm edges all round. The integral 600mm x 450mm bowl is 250mm deep. A 200mm high splashback is mounted at the rear. The learning centre community workshop and classroom has a split level sinktop supplied in two pieces.
The upper level is a 2,750mm x 840mm sinktop with 21mm edges all round and a 600mm x 450mm bowl, 250mm deep. The lower level has a 1,370mm x 840mm sinktop, similarly edged, and with the same bowl, but only 150mm deep. The sinktops have splashbacks, 300mm and 460mm high respectively. In the baby change room, the 2,960mm x 875mm sinktop with integral 600mm x 450mm x 250mm bowl has 30mm water retaining edge details all round, and a 200mm high splashback.
GEC Anderson managing director Martin Tye says the stainless steel sinktops should serve the museum for many years. “Stainless steel is extremely hard-wearing and it requires very little maintenance to ensure a clean and hygienic surface,” he says. “And stainless steel sinktops have a timeless quality, which makes them both aesthetically and practically appropriate for modern facilities within a building of architectural interest, such as the Museum of Childhood.”