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INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION

Shh…It Matters 2023 Public Toilet Design

RESULTS!

The Winners!

Shh…It Matters 2023 Public Toilet Design

Arya Vasa, Josephine Siyu Wu

Australia

Yixin Yin, Sijing Li & Wenfang Xu

China

Hemant Nimje, Shruti Singh & Dhruv Bhalotia

India

First Prize Winners

Arya Vasa, Josephine Siyu Wu

Australia

Arya Vasa and Josephine Siyu Wu are first-year students studying architecture and construction at the University of Melbourne, originally from Auckland, New Zealand. Both are keen to delve deeper into public architecture. As part of exploring this interest, they are participating in public design competitions. Eager to enter the architecture industry in the near future, they are actively working on developing their creative and technical skills.

Congratulations on winning the "Shh.. It Matters" Public Toilet Design Architecture Competition! Could you share with us your initial inspiration behind your winning design?

There were two main issues that served as inspiration for our design.

First, Australian public bathrooms are notoriously unsafe. They’re often settings for sexual assaults and violent crimes, partially because they’re badly located, dimly lit, and have poor sightlines. So, we have tried to create a model of public bathrooms that would directly address these design flaws.

Secondly, we have tried to position our design within Australia’s larger push to appreciate contextual issues more while developing architecture. For us, this means not only to be environmentally responsible, but to also adopt an indigenous design perspective, acknowledging the significance of all land as Indigenous land in Australia.

One of the key objectives of the competition is to create safe, hygienic, and inclusive facilities. How did you address these aspects in your design, and what were the most significant challenges you encountered in achieving these goals?

Since safety was our largest design focus, one of our main challenges was creating a new ‘model’ for public bathrooms. Our idea was to integrate public bathroom architecture and pavilion architecture, to create communal spaces which ended up addressing some of these initial design flaws. The design’s courtyard creates a ‘heart’, a central area of protection, where people will have full uninterrupted sightlines on all bathroom entrances on the periphery. It functions similar to a panopticon, where all actions can be monitored from the central area, and a parent can safely watch over their children while sitting in the courtyard. This eliminates the weird semi-private part of current public bathrooms that are often the most dangerous. Also, the central oculus lights the interior, allowing the entrances to be illuminated naturally throughout the day, removing issues of poor lighting.

Sustainability is a crucial aspect of modern architecture. How did you integrate sustainability principles into your design, both in terms of materials used and the operational aspects of the facility?

In this design, we had three main ideas for sustainability. The first is this underground blackwater treatment system, which takes the untreated wastewater from sinks and toilets, naturally filters it, and redistributes it to vegetation on site. Also, our use of courtyard architecture helps to provide strong natural lighting and ventilation throughout both our building blocks. Lastly, we have used primarily indigenous materials, especially all the timber products, which means that it can all mostly be locally sourced.

Accessibility is another important consideration in public infrastructure. How did you ensure that your design is accessible to all users, including people with disabilities and elderly individuals?

In terms of accessibility, we kept it pretty simple. The site has almost no level changes, which gives equitable access across all spaces and utilities. Also, walkways are much wider, and the disabled bathroom includes features like a larger doorway, support rails, and buttoned electronic doors.

The competition emphasizes enhancing the user experience. Could you walk us through some of the user-centric features incorporated into your design that aim to improve the overall experience for visitors?

If our goal is to create a communal pavilion area amongst a series of public bathrooms, we had to make the space as inviting and occupiable as possible. In order to achieve this, we oriented the main bathroom block to frame a view of Whitford’s beach. Also, the zen garden courtyard includes a lot of communal seating, flower gardens, and water features, to make the space as nice as possible.

Aesthetics play a significant role in shaping public spaces. How did you approach the aesthetic aspects of your
design, and what were your main considerations in creating visually appealing public toilet facilities?

Our attempt to use indigenous design perspectives has influenced the aesthetics in a few ways. Our main building forms are based on local aboriginal dot artwork, especially in plan, and we have also included aboriginal art motifs in a few places, such as the door handles on the stalls. Also, our timber selection was heavily inspired by indigenous materiality.

Some of our other choices were also informed by the local environment. One of the design precedents that we looked at was Toyo Ito’s Flowing Canopy, which inspired the flowy roof and pillars. This design element references the rhythmic motion of the nearby waves, harmonising our structure with its coastal setting.

Community engagement and feedback can be invaluable in shaping public projects. Did you involve any
stakeholders or potential users in the design process, and if so, how did their input influence your final design?

Although we did not directly engage with local stakeholders during the design phase, much of our site's safety-oriented design was informed by informal feedback from individuals familiar with the area. Their experiences and complaints about the existing Whitfords’ beach bathrooms influenced many aspects of our design approach.

Thinking about the broader impact of your design, how do you envision it contributing to positive changes in
public hygiene and urban environments, both locally and globally?

We feel that there’s a real issue with public bathrooms in Australia, in the sense that the design intention never extends beyond just being a basic necessity. The architecture is often bland, generic, and repetitive, and this partially explains why these spaces are never respected. Because of this, they end up being vandalised and extremely unsanitary, creating this social expectation for public bathrooms to always be filthy and messy.

We think that by creating public spaces that are well-designed, foster a sense of community, and provide social benefit, it’ll shift public perception. If public bathrooms are viewed as more than just utilities, and are actually a respected part of urban fabrics, maybe people will take more responsibility to keep them clean and safe.

Second Prize Winners

Yixin Yin, Sijing Li & Wenfang Xu

China

Yixin Yin is currently studying for a master's degree in Architecture at SCUT(South China University of Technology).

Sijing Li is currently studying for a master's degree in Architecture at XMU(Xiamen University).

Wenfang Xu, graduated from Fuzhou University with a major in Architecture.

Congratulations on winning the "Shh.. It Matters" Public Toilet Design Architecture Competition! Could you share with us your initial inspiration behind your winning design?

The initial inspiration came from problems we found in our lives that we would want to solve.
There are four main issues that we as students find in the course of our daily lives on campus.
First, public toilets are unevenly distributed in and around universities, causing inconvenience.
Second, the openness of public toilets is insufficient, most places will use indoor public toilets to meet the demand, most of them are distributed in the sports venues or inside the teaching buildings, so there will be public toilets can not be used because the venues are not open on holidays and so on.
Third, the existing public toilets are hidden, with poor accessibility and single function.
Fourthly, the sustainability of public toilets is not high.

One of the key objectives of the competition is to create safe, hygienic, and inclusive facilities. How did you address these aspects in your design, and what were the most significant challenges you encountered in achieving these goals?

The most important feature of the public toilets we designed is that they are made of small aggregated volumes. By breaking down the public toilets from a general one-piece space into a number of relatively independent combinations of small spaces, in order to reduce the density of people entering the toilets, so that people can have a quieter and more leisurely personalized feeling, and to ensure the privacy of the interior of the toilets. Toilet and sanitation systems that work in harmony with the ecosystem are also established.
The biggest challenge in realizing these goals is the need to integrate the needs of the population and then translate them into each individual space, thus integrating them with sustainable ecology.

Sustainability is a crucial aspect of modern architecture. How did you integrate sustainability principles into your design, both in terms of materials used and the operational aspects of the facility?

Our sustainable design is centered around the four main areas of energy, land, water and material conservation. In the design of the public toilet units, active energy saving is achieved by means of side windows, skylights, ventilated roofs, etc., and green planting is added. In terms of detail design, pressure sensing devices are used to ensure privacy. Structural materials chosen are mainly bamboo and wood materials, prefabricated assembled bamboo and wood structures, variable grille windows, and LOW-E energy-saving glass. As for the green energy-saving system, wind-pressure ventilation and heat-pressure ventilation are used to achieve heat insulation, rainwater collection system realizes water reuse, and biogas digester system converts human excreta into fertilizer.

Accessibility is another important consideration in public infrastructure. How did you ensure that your design is accessible to all users, including people with disabilities and elderly individuals?

Firstly, design an accessible bathroom with an internal space greater than 1.5m * 1.5m, which is conducive to wheelchair rotation. In terms of details, specialized sanitary ware, safety handrails that match the sanitary ware, as well as facilities related to daily life such as restroom seats, sound prompts, and shower benches, provide convenience for disabled individuals, elderly people, or women and children to use the toilet.
Secondly, this design adopts a decentralized layout, providing convenient transportation and accessibility for the disabled and elderly.
Thirdly, in response to the height difference of the venue, wheelchair ramps should be added to eliminate obstacles caused by layers of steps. By reducing the slope and height difference, wheelchair users can easily pass through.

The competition emphasizes enhancing the user experience. Could you walk us through some of the user-centric features incorporated into your design that aim to improve the overall experience for visitors?

Before proceeding with the design, we conducted thorough research on the needs of the population, starting from the needs of toileting, cleaning, rest, energy, and lighting, and improving the user experience in terms of appearance design, functional layout, and green technology enhancement.
Firstly, privacy is one of the key improvements in the design of this public toilet. Our concept is to "break down the whole into parts" and enhance the privacy of public toilet units. In terms of details, the outer enclosure of the public toilet unit adopts a variable grille window design, which can create a private environment during use.
Secondly, it serves the target audience by placing functions such as resting tea rooms and retail stores, serving surrounding sports students, cleaning personnel, etc.
Thirdly, utilizing green and energy-saving technologies, both buildings and individual buildings have considered user centeredness from multiple perspectives such as sensory temperature and visual experience, in order to improve environmental quality. Here are a few examples. Firstly, the environmental temperature, the setting of individual sunlight rooms, wind pressure ventilation, and thermal pressure ventilation ensure thermal insulation in summer and warmth in winter. The second is lighting, which combines side window lighting with skylight lighting, and the western plant wall ensures good natural lighting when the lights are not turned on during the day. Thirdly, the usage details include adding a solar hot water system to the individual unit to ensure the supply of hot water.
Fourthly, vertical greening and planting plants in the inner courtyard are beneficial for purifying the air environment in public toilets. The combination of ecological tree ponds and site plant design greatly increases the greening rate of the site.

Aesthetics play a significant role in shaping public spaces. How did you approach the aesthetic aspects of your design, and what were your main considerations in creating visually appealing public toilet facilities?

Firstly, enhance the attractiveness of the appearance design of public toilets, bringing visual and artistic beauty to people. Additionally, setting up relevant signage can attract attention and create an overall lively atmosphere. In this design, through the displacement of individual units and the layering between different levels of ceilings, the distant mountains are echoed, while enhancing openness and improving the attractiveness of this public toilet.
Next is the diversification of functions, considering the experience, fun, and behavioral needs of different users when using the toilet. We also consider other activities and humanized facilities besides basic hand washing. For example, the public toilet designed in this project is located near the basketball court. People who come here to exercise need a semi outdoor space that can provide shade, rest, and is close to the class point. Therefore, we are considering designing a diversified functional service area that integrates rest areas, tea rooms, retail stores, and public toilets.
Thirdly, we should attach importance to the integration of the overall and natural environment, supplement ecological greening, and create a comfortable microclimate. In this design, multiple vertical greening and diversified green plants are installed in the inner courtyard.

Community engagement and feedback can be invaluable in shaping public projects. Did you involve any stakeholders or potential users in the design process, and if so, how did their input influence your final design?

This public toilet design is located near the urban college sports ground. We are the designers but also potential users. The students, teachers and surrounding residents around us are also potential users. We conducted some interviews and research. During the interviews, it was found that in addition to basic toilet needs, the users of these sports fields also have many other special needs for public toilets, such as showers and shade. We found that as part of the public space of the sports field, the public toilet is also an important node in the space. Therefore, we designed it as a small public space that meets the needs of toileting, and innovatively thought about people's activity needs and climate characteristics. Ultimately, Forming an open, interesting, natural and humane modern public toilet design. Here, the public toilet is no longer an accessory space, but an important node space that carries the activities of teachers, students, and residents.

Thinking about the broader impact of your design, how do you envision it contributing to positive changes in public hygiene and urban environments, both locally and globally?

As an indispensable part of the urban environment, public toilets’ comfort and humane design cannot be ignored. At the same time, as a building, we also hope that it can bring a positive impact to the urban environment, rather than the stinky building that people generally recognize. Therefore, measures such as ventilation, water saving, lighting, and solar energy utilization were considered in the design to form a green and ecological building. The distributed public toilet units incorporate natural elements to improve the public toilet environment and make it a clean and comfortable city. Public health facilities are also urban public spaces where people can stop and stay temporarily. Taking into account the special needs of urban sports fields, our design incorporates other functional facilities and forms a semi-outdoor space through the combination of single public toilets. The public toilets are integrated into the sports fields, which not only improves the toilet environment, but also makes it a place that people are happy to use and enjoy. A dynamic space that is actively used. Importantly, this design can also enhance the user experience of urban sports fields and thereby enhance urban vitality through public toilets.

Third Prize Winners

Hemant Nimje, Shruti Singh & Dhruv Bhalotia

India

Hemant Nimje
Hemant Nimje is currently pursuing B.Arch from HITS (Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science), Chennai, India. He is a Diploma holder in Civil Engineering from D.Y. Patil University, Pune, India. As a child, captivated by the structures around him and curious about their scientific underpinnings, he delved into civil engineering. Eventually, his appreciation for the creative aspect of construction led him to architecture.

Shruti Singh
Shruti Singh is currently pursuing B.Arch from HITS (Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science), Chennai, India. She has a keen interest in the art of rendering and modelling, where she transforms imagination into digital and physical representations of architectural marvels.

Dhruv Bhalotia
Dhruv Bhalotia is currently pursuing B.Arch from HITS (Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science), Chennai, India. His existing curiosity and fascination for buildings along with fondness for minecraft eventually led him to discover the field of architecture.

Congratulations on winning the "Shh... It Matters" Public Toilet Design Architecture Competition! Could you share with us your initial inspiration behind your winning design?

As the name suggest “Bridge the Gap”, our design was inspired by the goal of blending in with the current urban environment while making use of a location that is already existing rather than creating a new footprint. This strategy guarantees a pleasant relationship with the neighbourhood and its existing infrastructure while also minimizing the negative effects on the environment.

One of the key objectives of the competition is to create safe, hygienic, and inclusive facilities. How did you address these aspects in your design, and what were the most significant challenges you encountered in achieving these goals?

Safety is paramount in our design. Situated near main road networks, our layout enables swift action by administrators in the event of potential accidents. We've segregated modules by gender to enhance security and privacy. Inclusivity is integral to our approach; tactile textures and Braille writing on handles aid navigation for the visually impaired, while dedicated spaces for individuals with physical disabilities ensure accessibility for all. Considerate amenities such as nursing rooms, designed for privacy, cater to diverse user needs. Through these features, our design fosters diversity, user comfort, and safety simultaneously.

Sustainability is a crucial aspect of modern architecture. How did you integrate sustainability principles into your design, both in terms of materials used and the operational aspects of the facility?

We considered using lightweight, transportable materials like aluminium composite panels, polyurethane flooring and compressed earth blocks, these are among the most recyclable materials, easy to maintain. One of the main features of our design is the usage of piezoelectric tiles, which produce electrical power used in the modules. It exclusively utilizes the footsteps of those who are strolling across the bridge; it doesn't take up any additional space or energy. Making it a perfect use of the site and surrounding. Together, these elements contribute to a modern solution in our design.

Accessibility is another important consideration in public infrastructure. How did you ensure that your design is accessible to all users, including people with disabilities and elderly individuals?

In terms of accessibility considerations, we ensured minimal disparities in elevation, aligning the module floor with the sidewalk level to facilitate access for disabled and elderly individuals. Additionally, various tactile features integrated throughout the module enhance user experience, providing convenience and ease of navigation.

The competition emphasizes enhancing the user experience. Could you walk us through some of the user-centric features incorporated into your design that aim to improve the overall experience for visitors?

Incorporating elements such as a jali wall to maximize natural light, seating options, electrical outlets, and a designated feeding area within the female module significantly enhance the overall user experience.

Aesthetics play a significant role in shaping public spaces. How did you approach the aesthetic aspects of your design, and what were your main considerations in creating visually appealing public toilet facilities?

Visual appeal plays a crucial role in designing public spaces such as a toilet to the target demographic. We had a clear objective of creating a visual allure that harmonizes with the chosen site’s limitations while not disturbing its surroundings. Our aim is to blend in with the environment while also offering a distinctive feature additionally we integrated components to conceal the functional features like water tanks and electrical backups, ensuring they contribute to the overall appeal, furthermore we prioritise airflow by incorporating jali walls for easy air circulation both indoor and outdoor, enhancing the experience for passersby.

Community engagement and feedback can be invaluable in shaping public projects. Did you involve any stakeholders or potential users in the design process, and if so, how did their input influence your final design?

It’s in the name “PUBLIC DESIGN” where the interaction with the potential user of the projects have been a crucial factor to mould our design, we had mixed opinions upon using the particular site as a toilet in the surrounding, but as a architects it’s our responsibility to imply a working and sustainable solutions for the crucial issues in the society.

Thinking about the broader impact of your design, how do you envision it contributing to positive changes in public hygiene and urban environments, both locally and globally?

The design proposal we have put forward, if implemented, will significantly influence the perception of public hygiene. Our module presents an ideal solution to the persistent issue of public sanitation. Often due to a lack of facilities or maintenance people resort to public defecation, leading to numerous community outbreaks. However, our design addresses this problem ingeniously by providing modules under the overhang bridges, typically located near main roads or crowded areas, offering a viable solution to the issue.

Special mention

Honorable mention

Sanskriti Bhagat, Divya Nikam & Sanskruti Rane

Om Sarode, Gaurav parwani, Palash Chauhan & Pratham Gemnani

Tyra Redman & Bongi Sithole

Rhea Oswal & Sanika Tambe

Sanskriti Bhagat, Divya Nikam & Sanskruti Rane

India

Divya S Nikam is a third- year architecture student at the Institute of Design Education and Architectural Studies (IDEAS), Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. She sees architecture as an unparalleled opportunity to continually learn and explore the boundless possibilities of design. She is always eager to push the boundaries of her creativity. She participates in design competitions and workshops constantly seeking new avenues to expand her knowledge and experience.

Sanskruti Rane, a III year architecture student at the IDEAS, Nagpur, isn't just passionate about design, she sees it as a way of life. For her, architecture is a reflection of ourselves and our perceptions through dreams of others. The responsibility of shaping someone's dreams into reality, fuels her ambition to experiment, explore, and create exceptional designs that leave a lasting positive impact on the built environment and the lives it touches.

Sanskriti M Bhagat, III year architecture student at the Institute of Design Education and Architectural Studies (IDEAS) in Nagpur, India. With a passion for design and creativity, she thrives on the dynamic nature of architecture, constantly exploring transitions and transformations in her daily life. She is dedicated towards honing her skills and knowledge in the field, aspiring to make meaningful contributions to the built environment.

Om Sarode, Gaurav parwani, Palash Chauhan & Pratham Gemnani

India

Om Ravindra Sarode

Gaurav Suresh Parwani

Pratham Mahesh Gemnani

Palash Virendra Sing Chauhan

Tyra Redman & Bongi Sithole

South Africa

A young candidate architectural designer with a strong academic background and diverse professional experience, Bongi Sithole holds a Master of Architecture (Professional) degree from the University of Cape Town, where she was awarded the prestigious UCT Vice-Chancellor Scholarship Prize in 2021. Following the completion of her master's degree, she decided to pursue interests in fields outside of the built environment. This includes working within the art industry and currently in museum exhibition design, where she continues to hone her skills and explore her passion in working in service to creating immersive and impactful spaces and narratives – for both the individual and collective.
Tyra Leigh Redman is a Candidate Architect known for her drive to learn and adapt, and her ability to be flexible in multiple disciplines including art and photography. She has completed her MArch Degree at Oxford Brookes University in 2020, where she got the taste for travel and international collaborative design. Tyra is currently in the process of attaining her licence as a professional architect and is working towards amplifying her knowledge and experience to become a reputable international architect/designer.
Having come from different backgrounds in South Africa, Bongi and Tyra share a dynamic and evolving partnership both on and off the field. They were brought together through their undergraduate studies at the University of Witwatersrand where their relationship was forged by their desire to create. They have successfully worked together in collaborative group projects and have since grown a passion for competitions that challenge their respective skills and push them outside of their relative scopes of work.

Rhea Oswal & Sanika Tambe

India

Rhea Oswal & Sanika Tambe studied at Sir J.J. College of Architecture and have a passion for urban wandering, traveling, and photography. In addition, they enjoy drinking iced coffees and exploring visual art.

Upon encountering this competition, they realized the dire state of public toilets in India and recognized the potential for improvement. Considering their own needs and experiences as frequent travelers and women, they understood the importance of having good, accessible public restrooms.

As architects, they have always favored simple, minimal, and thoughtful designs, elements of which are evident in their project. They aimed for the design to be realistic and economical, with a focus on aesthetic values. The modular design, primarily constructed from bamboo and concrete, adds novelty to the project.

The SimpLOO is designed to adapt to its surroundings. Its modular nature allows for adjustments in size and configuration, making it suitable for bustling city alleys, sprawling rural landscapes, or the sloping embrace of mountains.

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