ABOUT
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
OUTLINE
THE WORKSHOP
PARTICIPANTS
SCHEDULE
OBSERVATIONS
DISCUSSION
DESIGNS
Below is a list of the key themes and concepts that came out of the discussion. While the discussion was focused around the observations each group had made the previous day we found that this led to a broader discussion on the role of public toilets generally.
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Provision of male and female public toilets
Society values. Representation of these systems. Male, female, homosexual
Public v Semi-private. Where are you allowed to pee?
Consequences of urinating in public. Pay a fine. Public decency charges.
What is the role for public toilets?
Who pays for public toilets? Tax-payers. Provision should be equal.
Free v for-pay toilets Pay for cleanliness
What is the time and money spent on maintenance?
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Abuse of public toilets
Grafitti, stealing, destruction. Mirror of society?
Paying for protection of the space
Vulnerable groups in society are exploited for unpleasant jobs such as toilet attendants
Low status. Socially and economically
Ownership of the space. Pride in their work? Or making best of bad situation?
Creating a narrative. Creating pride in their work.
Anti-hero role? Or no choice? Don't romanticise the situation.
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Basic human need. Don't pay to breathe. Why should we pay to pee?
Economic system. Toilet attendants pay to work?
Exploitation of workers and customers
Respect of toilet attendants reduced because of paying. Ideological issue. Better to pay indirectly?
Who has responsibility for toilet provision and maintenance in semi-private toilets? Should customers pay extra for this?
Pay restaurants directly to open toilets to non-customers? Might address imbalance of male / female toilet provision?
London has network of public toilets built in Victorian era. Are now closing.
In Italy toilet attendants do not exist. Public toilets paid for through taxes.
Toilet attendants paid by toilet owners. Not receiving the money they collect.
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Local knowledge. Where are the best public toilets? Which semi-private toilets can you use freely?
Having to ask to use the toilet
Food stalls on streets permitted without provision of toilets
Mobile toilet. Mobile workers. Where do they go to the loo? Obligation to provide toilets for restaurant owners.
Customers are not obliged to pay in Amsterdam.
Social pressure.
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How do people behave in public toilets compared to private bathrooms? Reading. Resting. Waiting.
Anonymity of public toilets
Recording behaviour in public toilets is socially unacceptable
Yet people choose to leave traces as grafitti. Wanting people to read and reply. Asynchronous communication
Awareness of public-ness of situation; people following you in same place.
Wouldn't write on the walls at home
Chat box
Meeting opportunity for mobile workers. Stall workers. Taxi drivers.
Types of communication
Playing with convention and socially acceptable behaviour
Toilet as destination
Toilet as tourist attraction. Famous toilets. Famous events in toilets.
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Design and services as social control
Warm water only so customers will buy bottled water to drink
Which portions of society are excluded from public toilets by design?
Social control of vandalism through prolonged presence.
Encourage presence by providing sofas.
Access to semi-private toilets restricted to paying customers. Enforced through technology.
Toilets with baby-changing facilities. Usually provided in female or disabled toilets.
Biological differences create different needs and different designs.