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Saturday, November 12, 2011

Generic Western Public Toilet: Caitlyn Lyle

The Generic Western Public Toilet is just that – a generic public toilet and it’s what we, as westerners living in the United States see on a daily basis. A classic ceramic toilet with stalls for privacy. These types of toilets give you the option and make it very possible for you to use it without touching any surfaces (theoretically) and give you your own secluded space where you can do your business in peace. When people go into public stalls like these, they will open doors with their body weight, not their hands, flush the toilet with their foot, and open the door back up with a paper towel and throw it away before their hands could even think about coming in contact with any surfaces. The stalls are standard in the United States and allow for you to have your own personal space, even though it is confined to a tight area. These bathrooms try to make the public as private as possible, unlike many other restrooms around the world. However, it’s not necessarily an interesting experience in these bathrooms and they are usually composed of a sterile color palette. People either get in and get out, or use these spaces as conversational area because it can provide for a more private area of the building than what is beyond the doors. The atmosphere provides for a more private feel than what may or may not be outside the doors…which depending on the situation, can either intimidate people or allow people to relax and have a place to themselves and get away from reality for a second. Although these spaces are generic and somewhat bland, the context in which they are placed makes for a dynamic atmosphere that is more than meets the eye.

Artifact Blurb for Ashley Bennett and the "Don't miss a sec" toilet

“Don’t Miss A Sec” toilet

Exploring the construction of sexual identity through architecture, Monica Bonvicini focuses on the gendered nature of the building environment. In using her research to create large scale sculptural art, she provokes modernism. Evidence of her approach and design success in seen in the “Don’t miss a sec” toilet. Placed in Messeplatz in Basal, Switzerland in an exhibition center, this toilet is definitely the “Loo with a view”. Placed inside of a transparent glass, the toilet can be used without losing sight of what is happening around you. From the outside, the toilet room looks like a structure of mirrors, but from the inside one can look through a fully transparent 360 degree window of the chaos and world around them. The toilet inside the structure is made of stainless steel and is usable today. However, this piece is more than a public restroom facility but a work of art as well. Though this is a very creative design, it does pose some flaws. During the daytime the transparency mechanism works fine; no one is able to see inside the “toilet room”. But, at night if someone were to peek into the mirror they would have clear sight as to what is happening on the inside of the structure.

This toilet appropriately fits into our exhibit as an artifact because it represents the “journey of the john”. It shows how far the toilet has come over the years. From outhouses, to a creative piece of usable toilet art, the toilet has made huge improvements over the years. This is just one example of this concept in looking at more modern times in design and innovation of public restroom facilities. Using the toilet is no longer only considered being a dark, smelly, dungy experience apart from the world, but perhaps becoming a part of your everyday life by placing it on the outside city grounds. This new relationship being a joint experience; one can continue to be a part of the atmosphere around them without having to leave it for the restroom. It no longer is just a place to “get the job done”, but will challenge ones curiosity and bravery. It also plays with peoples comfort levels and how comfortable they are using the bathroom in specific environment change. For some this may be a cool experience and for others it may be ones worst nightmare. What do you think?

Exhibit Floor Plan and Key

Blurb: Urilift System

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/19/urilift-the-disappearing-public-urinal-and-we-do-mean-public/

The Urilift system is just one example of contemporary outdoor public latrines which have reached heightened popularity in Europe during recent years. This system in particular has been designed particularly for its function rather than its form, but that does not mean it was created without aesthetics that are also ergonomically encompassing. For example, the theme of curved forms and rounded edges appeal to the human form and comfort which is necessary for the Urilift’s users.

The Urilift system was created for patrons of local bars in Europe to have a proper place to relieve themselves whilst traveling home at night. This leads to the systems most unique and functional aspect which is its hydraulic system. The Urilift remains hidden during the day and normal traffic hours, but every night an attendant lifts it out of the ground by remote to present them to the streets. This open design remains in slight controversy, but the users who would otherwise use the street are probably not inclined to complain.

Some other hidden systems that reveal themselves at nighttime have doors, which have caused more problems than solutions. Such criminal activities like prostitution and drug dealing have occurred around those less exposed systems. This lends another unexpected achievement to the open design of the Urilift system, security of equipment.

The main material of Urilifts is stainless steel which lends easy maintenance and durability to the system and hinders attempts at vandalism. Coloring and decoration is sure to change with each location, but the general form is stainless steel which is a simple yet not unbearable way to have a widespread contemporary appeal. Another functional design element is the systems top covering which is changed from location to location to mimic the street/sidewalk treatment in order to camouflage it.

According to Urilift BV, the inventors of the Urilift, the system saves money (from prevention of damage to entertainment districts by unruly patrons), conserves water (can function from rainwater), is non-disruptive to local residents and retailers, can function during winter months (from heated pipes), and is easy and quick to install. Due to the first systems popularity and effectiveness Urilift BV has developed several other systems including one suited for female and male use. As the Urilift becomes more widespread it is expected to be common sight in many major cities including those in the US and Canada.