For the amount of use they get in our every day lives, sinks have evolved far beyond a faucet, drain and a basin.  They’ve been hacked to include garbage disposals, dish sprayers, water purifiers and more.  Beyond the functional elements, however, there have been great advancements in the aesthetic quality of the modern sink.  To celebrate this, here are 10 designs that are truly on the cutting edge of sinks, whether in the kitchen, bathroom or beyond.

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Handles are regarded as a necessary evil in home sinks. They’re not as convenient as the automatic faucets found in airports and fancy restaurants, but they allow for control over hot and cold. Aleksander Mukomelov’s Water Symphony concept combines the best of both worlds, activating by motion and setting temperature with a microphone. As the user approaches the sink, he or she pronounces the desired temperature, and the tap adjusts accordingly. Modifications to water pressure can be made by waving the hand to either side of the sink, and these settings are saved for the next time around. All the heating and pressure changes are performed directly underneath the sink, so there’s no need to mess with the home’s water heater. Germs everywhere hope this doesn’t become a real product. [via Behance]

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Jin-woog Koo and Jae-han Song from NOTHING Design Group took creativity to a whole new level and created one of the most unique wash basins we could possibly imagine. Drawing inspiration from the water stream that flows into the sea, The Origin is an allegorical design that uses a stone as its tap. All you have to do is “plug” the cobblestone in the water source and the tap is closed. A prime example of fashionable, modern aesthetics, it’s the easiest way of having your own river flowing through your home …  [via Mocoloco]

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The SmartChef isn’t an appliance, it’s a food prep partner. A concept by Kaiju Studios, and a finalist in Microsoft’s Next-Gen PC competition, the computerized cutting board helps chefs cook and create by plugging kitchens into a real-time network of food information. Local ingredients and producers are tracked by SmartChef, which makes recipe suggestions and offers diet guidance. The device has a kitchen-safe, touch-screen tablet that docks with a bamboo cutting board and interfaces with on-board food scanning hardware. And if chefs get a blue screen while preparing blueberries, at least a knife is handy. [via yankodesign]

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The Flower Glass Bathroom Faucet is a fresh-cut fixture concept created by David Vercelli for Italian design firm Hego Waterdesign. When the handle is turned, water fills the vase and cascades down a wide, stainless steel waterfall spout. When sink users lean forward to wash their hands or face, they can bury their nose in whatever fragrant flower blossoms in the bathroom. Though not specifically mentioned on the designer’s Web site, one could conceivably fill the faucet vase with other interesting items — maybe river rocks, citrus fruits or flower petals to scent the sink stream. [via trendir]