In the bourgeois architecture of the turn of the 20th century, small handwashing basins in the entrance area or hallway served to mark hygienic boundaries and signal hospitality.

Protection from urban grime: In times of coal heating, dusty cobblestone streets, and horse-drawn carriages, homeowners and guests could wash off soot and dust immediately after removing their coats, before entering the clean living space or touching the furniture.

Protection of privacy: The family bathroom was part of the home’s private sphere, where personal belongings and underwear were kept. The handwashing basin in the hallway or cloakroom allowed guests to freshen up or adjust their hair without having to enter the hosts’ private space.

Pre-dinner ritual: In many bourgeois households, the handwashing basin was located in the transitional area between the hallway and the dining room. This allowed everyone to quickly wash their hands before sitting down at the table, preventing congestion in the main bathroom.

Epidemic awareness: The hygiene revolution of the late 19th and early 20th centuries (particularly during the tuberculosis and Spanish flu pandemics) heightened awareness of the importance of immediate handwashing. Architects adopted the principle of the airlock system: diseases were to be kept out at the entrance.

This concept has been revived in modern interior design in the form of a separate guest toilet and a handwashing basin in the entrance area, thus acknowledging the practical considerations of earlier designers.