Unless you're stranded in the middle of the desert, you probably don't think of water as a precious elemental substance — something not just to be drunk, but admired, treasured, and savored. The ring faucet, designed by Lim Sun Liang, is made to bring back a little reverence for the life-giving liquid. Water streams down from all points on the circular opening, which has an open top to let light shine down and illuminate the flow. The resulting effect is more waterfall than sink.

Liang's hot bathroom concept earned her a Red Dot design award, which we think is well-deserved. Even though her design is pretty much incompatible with a Brita filter, we'd much rather wash up at the ring than a faucet with a gimmicky LED. — Peter Pachal

Lim Sun Liang, via Oh Gizmo!