Architect Bertrand Goldberg was an inquisitive fellow. In 1946, he developed a prefabricated bathroom [as well as the enterprise to make and market it—the Standard Fabrication Corporation]. A five-foot-long installation contained tub, toilet, storage and a sink-cum-baby-bath unit that swiveled into place when needed; in this illustration, the WC is under the towel to the left of the bathing baby, and the tub is to the right, behind Mom. The top of the line model cost $375. I've tried to count the number of parts to this kit; as neatly laid out for a LIFE magazine photo, I tallied a few more than 50, but I'm sure some plumbing assemblies had sub-assemblies, so my number is just a guess. bertrandgoldberg.org
Baby Boomer Bathroom
Architect Bertrand Goldberg was an inquisitive fellow. In 1946, he developed a prefabricated bathroom [as well as the enterprise to make and market it—the Standard Fabrication Corporation]. A five-foot-long installation contained tub, toilet, storage and a sink-cum-baby-bath unit that swiveled into place when needed; in this illustration, the WC is under the towel to the left of the bathing baby, and the tub is to the right, behind Mom. The top of the line model cost $375. I've tried to count the number of parts to this kit; as neatly laid out for a LIFE magazine photo, I tallied a few more than 50, but I'm sure some plumbing assemblies had sub-assemblies, so my number is just a guess. bertrandgoldberg.org