UNFOLDING THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC TOILET IN TRANSFORMING URBAN SCENARIO

UNFOLDING THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC TOIET IN TRANSFORMING URBAN SCENARIO

Dissertation submitted for the award of the degree of

Bachelors of Architecture

Hitkarini College of Architecture and Town Planning, Jabalpur

Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh December, 2020

Submitted By:

Swatantra Bose 0233 AR 171013

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DECLARATION

I Swatantra Bose hereby declare that this Dissertation entitled “UPCYCLING THE PUBLIC TOILETS(RECREATING PUBLIC TOILETS TO IMPROVE URBAN SANITATION)” submitted to Hitkarini College of Architecture and Town Planning, is a record of original work carried out by me for the degree of Bachelors of Architecture under the guidance and supervision of Ar. Dushyant Ludhekar.

The interpretations put forth are based on my reading and understanding of the original texts and are not published anywhere in the form of books, monographs or articles. The main sources of help including books, articles, journals and websites have been given due acknowledgement at the end of the report.

The work reported herein does not form a part of any other dissertation of this institution or any other university.

----------------------Swatantra Bose 0233 AR 171013

December 2020

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CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Dissertation entitled UPCYCLING THE PUBLIC TOILETS (RECREATING PUBLIC TOILETS TO IMPROVE URBAN SANITATION), submitted by Swatantra Bose to Hitkarini College of Architecture and Town Planning, for the award of the degree of Bachelors of Architecture, is a bonafide record of the research work which has been carried out by her under my supervision and guidance. This B.Arch. Dissertation is true to the best of my knowledge and that she has worked an entire semester for preparing this research report.

------------------------------Ar. Dushyant Ludhekar Dissertation Guide

------------------------------Ar. Dhananjay Deshpande Director

Date:

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to sincerely acknowledge, with gratitude my debt of thanks to all those who have been an important part of this Dissertation and have given their contribution to the successful completion of this project.

Words can only inadequately express my deep gratitude to my guide, Ar. Dushyant Ludhekar, for his meticulous assistance, kindness and generosity. His fruitful comments and insightful suggestions have been a crucial influence on the present study. He has been a constant support since the very beginning of my research and without his guidance and encouragement, my research would have never come out in the present form.

Grateful acknowledgments are also due to Ar. Ashima C. Grover for their incessant inspiration, expert guidance, and invaluable suggestions.

I take this opportunity to thank Shweta Tiwari and Arya Ludhekar for the help provided at every stage of this course. I also wish to express heartfelt love and appreciation to my seniors and friends, for their inspiration, encouragement, critique, and faith during the entire period of completion of this Dissertation.

Special thanks to my family for being so encouraging, supportive, and for being as involved in the project as I am.

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AIM This study's primary purpose is to examine every aspect of public toilet design to reveal a design strategy path for future directions and to understand the characteristic features of public toilets in different spaces and their influence on the environment.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are•

To conceptualize the problem of public toilets

•

To study the architectural design typologies of public toilets & to enhance the cost efficiency in materials used in public toilets.

•

To study the importance of public toilet use in a slum. Furthermore, how it plays a vital role in developing urban areas.

NEED FOR THE STUDY Everybody needs to go to the public toilets at some point in time should be seen as an integral component in urban regeneration and city planning, and not as a money-wasting add-on provided with little consideration of the spatial, social, or design aspects of the city the need for a strategic spatial planning approach to public toilet provision in India.

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SCOPE To Identifying the urban tissues of use of the public toilets and the decline of public realm with taking into consideration of discarded materials which provides an understanding of how the current design of public toilet affects the society and also considering the universal design principles to observe the means of public toilet design to reach a different solution for the futuristic approach for the COVID-19 pandemic.

LIMITATION 1.

The limitation of this study focuses on the transition of public toilet designs and their

evolution over the ages.

2.

It will show the design function of the public toilets only and its cost efficiency w.r.t

upcycled materials.

3.

It will also show the analysis of an individual's functions in a toilet based upon their

culture, age, location, and user type.

4.

It will be focusing on the planning of unit-level study of the public toilets only, not on

the macro-level of the urban area.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 ........................................................................................................................... 9 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................

▪ DEFINATION OF THE PROBLEM .................................................................................... 9 ▪ DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES ON THE PROBLEM........................................................ 10 ▪ METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. 12

CHAPTER 2 ......................................................................................................................... 13 -THE BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................

▪ TIMELINE OF TOILETS, TRANSITION AND CHANGE OVER TIME ....................... 13

▪ TYPES OF PUBLIC TOILET: MACRO- LEVEL STUDY............................................... 15 ▪ DISCARDED URBAN WASTES…………………………………………………………20 CHAPTER 3 ......................................................................................................................... 21 ▪

IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC TOILET DESIGN IN URBAN REGENERATION AND URBAN DESIGN………………………………………………………………………21

▪

MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND NEEDS OF ITS MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND FINANCE CONCERNING COST-EFFICIENCY………....22

▪

UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND BODY FUNCTIONS, UNDERSTANDING THE SPECTRUM OF HUMAN ABILITIES. ………………………………………………25

▪

ANTHROPOMETRICS OF THE PUBLIC TOILET………………………………….30

▪

UNDERSTANDING THE BIS AND NBC STANDARDS OF THE PUBLIC TOILETS……………………………………………………………………………….35

▪

UNDERSTANDING UPCYCLED MATERIALS…………………………………….37

CHAPTER 4 CASE STUDY .........................................................................................................................

▪

THE LIGHT BOX, INDIA ............................................................................................ 39

▪

THE TI TOILET FOR HER…………………………………………………………..45

▪

INFERENCES……………………….

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CHAPTER 5 – DESIGN AND POLICY CHANGE STRATEGIES .............................................................

▪ DISABILITY OR DIS-ENABLEMENT……………………………………………….47 ▪ UNIVERSAL URBAN DESIGN: A DISTRICT LEVEL………………………………48 ▪ TOILET DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS: MICRO-LEVEL……………………………55 ▪ CREATING CHANGE: USER AND PROVIDER GROUPS………………………….57 ▪ BRINGING THE IMPORTANCE OF 'UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES' IN TOILET DESIGN………………………………………………………………………………….58 ▪ NEED FOR PUBLIC TOILETS IN SLUMS AND THE ROLE OF INFORMATIONAL AND SUPPLY-SIDE CONSTRAINTS IN URBAN AREAS…………………………..61

CHAPTER 6 - CONCLUSION........................................................................................... 62 ▪ CONCLUSION – A ROUTE MAP .................................................................................... 62

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES .......................................................................................

REFERENCES .........................................................................................................................

BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................

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CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION 1.1 PROBLEM DEFINITION

A

public toilet is a room or small building containing one or more

toilets and possibly also urinals which is available for use by the general public, or in a broader meaning of "public", by customers of other services.

Public toilets are commonly separated by gender into male and female facilities, although some can be unisex, particularly the smaller or single occupancy types. It is a critical link. The problem of body waste disposal is a public area subject that has FIG 1. A Victorian style public toilet in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne.(Getty: Prisma By Dukas)

always necessarily been the prime concern

for humans living in society. Considering the evolution of the public toilet it is essential for comprehending public toilet designs today and justifying especially the deficiency of it.

The idea of a public toilet is distinctly connected with the concept of cleanliness and easy accessibility.

The theory of bacteria and the rise of scientific thought gave rise to the concept of 'hygiene' and its appearance in daily life, which in turn altered the inside view of dwellings.

Public Toilets provides both design guidance and policy direction for the provision and design of those, covering city-wide, district-level, and site-specific principles and also highlighting the role of an architect and urban specialist in reversing the trend of inadequate toilet (a toilet is a composition of WC and Wash Basin) provision.

Upcycling: A process that can be repeated in perpetuity of returning materials to a pliable, usable form without degradation to their latent value—moving resources back up the supply chain.

The upcycling of the public toilets consider those which are not in use and which need to be regenerated or redesign the existing ones with the discarded building materials or the existing fixtures and materials in those(public toilets) which are not in working condition can be utilized to maintain the cost-efficiency.

This research intends to acknowledge the design recommendation for the development of public toilets with low-tech intervention tools and community participation turning low maintenance public toilet into a social catalyst. The vast decline of the public realm is the result of failed industries and modern

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movement which neglected the idea of organic space creation leaving a lot of negative and ill-defined impact on the development of public toilets.

1.2 DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES ON THE PROBLEM The practice of treating human excreta deals primarily with the technology and degradation processes.

The subject of public toilets is not directly connected with social science. E.g. Cultural anthropology, human culture, religion and demography, gender concerns, and behavioral and psychological aspects. This is an out of ordinary aspect when one considers that the success of treatment of a system depends on the system components working together: device, process, nature, and society.

1.2.1Cultural constraints The conceptual background to the problem of toilets by looking at the cultural factors that characterize policy-making and investigating fundamental attitudes. The chances of adequate public toilet provision are hindered by the subcultural values and attitudes held by professional

and

governmental

decision-

makers. Public provisions are either seen as a joke or ‘dirty scenes’ such as crime, sex, perversion, FIG 2.. Realms concerned with toilets.

and

vandalism.

A

range

of

historical, philosophical, geographical, and

sociological perspectives needs to be drawn upon which helps to explain such attitudes. To get the subject taken seriously it is essential to take the joke out of the toilets.

1.2.2Psychological IssuesThe aspects of treating human excreta publicly are not well known.

Although there is a universal agreement that the body waste is sordid and our elimination behavior and our feelings about it are all learned from our experience, evolve and change over time, except for public toilet training, the core of psychological training is limited primarily to public attitude about human waste. Technically “attitude” includes three elements of behavior: cognition, perception, and tendency to act.

FIG 3.. 3 components of attitude

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1.2.3Religious Issues – Attitudes toward human waste are somewhat akin to attitude towards diet. The mental disposition towards both physical necessities is the result of cultural norms. And one of the dominant universal influences of social behavior is religion. Religious doctrine both restricts diet and promotes diet. Although the influence of religion on waste behavior appears less obvious, it does exist. concepts of clean and dirty, pure and polluting, are well developed in the major world of religion. Although most religious doctrines lack modern medical explanations of disease, they have a ritual and spiritual significance. Aside from the major religious constraints, countless others influencing waste treatment behavior. In some areas, religion is not a separate element of society, rather an integral focal point. It is, therefore, difficult to determine if a particular behavior is the result of religious doctrine or merely a learned behavior. For example, the burying of feces is widely practiced to ward off evil spirits; separate facilities are sometimes provided for particular social groups, and contact with fecal matter is often unacceptable to certain individuals in society. The influence of theocracy on the design of both public and private toilets could be a reality if, for example, the religious doctrine was interpreted to prohibit women from the workplace, restrict public toilets to men only, or mandate that men and women use separate toilets -- even in the privacy of home.

1.2.4Gender issues – If one considers demographics alone, worldwide the majority of toilet users are women. Gender issues are primarily a concern when toilet facilities are multi-family or public. And although compost toilets are associated with private households, they have been used for public facilities. For example, the Republic of Palau installed seven compost toilet comfort stations for tourists. Gender problems stem from several causes. But a principle explanation is that decision-making, regarding public toilet provision, has been dominated by men. The worlds of plumbing, services engineering, and building technology are particularly male-dominated,

especially

at

the

senior

level.

Consequently, most public toilets and associated codes fail to recognize the needs of women. Another gender issue is sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A recent survey showed that teenagers' knowledge about STDs was very low and that a large number thought one can contract HIV/AIDS by sharing a toilet seat. This belief, which is held by many worldwide, might influence attitude and modify behavior regarding public toilets. That is, non-contact toilet facilities would begender preferred over FIG 4..

Vector of female and male 11

traditional sitting-type toilets. These implications appear to weigh heavier on women than men, simply because men do not sit down in public toilets as frequently as women do.

1.3 METHODOLOGY The primary idea of research is to identify a recommendation that will explore the public toilet's potential and its reactivation. To identify the key themes, problems contacts concepts, questions, and potential means of change to help understand and make sense of the situation. Literature review and case studies are the evaluation are the main tools of the research as it provides an understanding of the context and relevant theories. Reading and reviewing books, journals, and online resources will help to define

the

problems

and

methods for dealing with them.

Analyzing reactivate

statistics and

to

to

identify

governmental strategies for the public toilet and its waste management,

as

well

as

creating a scope for the use of the discarded and available materials. Analysis of different case studies

will

help

to

provide an understanding and evaluate

what

public

toilet

methods

of

reactivation

approach work in practice and what can be learned from them.

FIG 5.. flowchart of methodology

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CHAPTER 2 – THE BACKGROUND 2.1 TIMELINE OF TOILETS: TRANSITION, AND CHANGE OVER TIME The evolution of the public toilet as a basic need of existence is the most important chapter in the history of human civilization. This basic sanitary system is a link between life and health, society, and the environment. In India, the journey of toilets began from the Indus Valley Civilization and has been continuing till date. The history of toilets in India is as old as the Indus Valley Civilization, which had grown in and around Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. The archaeological remains of the Indus Valley Civilization bear evidence of the use of water-borne toilets by the Harappan people living at Lothal, which is only 62 km from Ahmedabad. Each house in Harappa had a private toilet with a link to the covered drains outside. The architects of the Indus Valley were in the know of sanitary engineering science, which got buried in the grave of the Indus Valley Civilization, thereby leading to the practice of open defecation.

FIG 6.. timeline of toilets

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In the absence of proper toilet facilities, people perforce had to defecate and urinate wherever they could.

Defecating on the road, open spaces, or just easing themselves in the river was very common.

While the authorities were educating people to have private places for defecating, and getting it cleaned, in actual practice, there was total disorder. Squalor and filth abounded in cities. The social reformers advised people where to defecate, how to defecate in privacy, and the need to control themselves when in the company. Children were taught not to touch the human waste. At the same time, there was no hesitation in letting loose pigs to eat human excreta.

In each society from time to time, the government felt the need to provide public toilet facilities to those who could not afford to have individual toilets. The public toilets have a long history in several countries and most of which were constructed and managed by municipalities. But there was all around disgust with their poor maintenance, vandalism, and lack of basic facilities. The Mughal King Jehangir built a public toilet at Alwar, 120 km away from Delhi for use of 100 families at a time in 1556 AD. Not much documentary evidence exists on the quality of its maintenance but one can well visualize that with rudimentary technology and with the government to manage the O&M functions, it like others must be in very unsatisfactory condition. As hygienic conditions in public toilets were bad, people preferred to do open defecation. This was true in most countries. It was in 1872 that the municipalities in France asked the private companies to manage public toilets for a lease period of 20 years. The private companies were also offering even amounts to the government as they felt confident to recover the same through user charges. Ground floor owners were also being requested to construct latrines for use of the passers-by.

Previously known as Palais Royal Hotel in Paris, the owners started charging monthly fees from diners.

Incidentally, condoms were also sold there as part of the facilities.

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FIG 7.. sketch of public toilet 1556 AD

2.2 TYPES OF PUBLIC TOILET: MACRO- LEVEL STUDY The sanitation and infrastructure in our cities and villages are always imagined as architectural systems.

This unit teaches that public toilets should be seen as an integral component of city planning, and not as an add-on provided with little consideration of the spatial, social, or design aspects of the city. It describes the typologies of the public toilet in society. There are a total of 10 types of the public toilet which are given as follows : 1) THE PORTABLE TOILET: Portable toilets are designed as an infrastructure for large-scale public gatherings, events, and festivals, or in case of extreme emergencies such as natural calamities, etc.

These toilets are designed as a kit of parts that can be easily assembled within ten minutes. Each toilet block is modular in nature and can multiply to form various configurations for a large number of visitors. The toilets are self-sufficient in nature and can be recharged by a plug-in-van. The plug-invan can empty the sludge, recharge the water, and wash the wall fabric. The toilet can be dismantled into a small compact space. This compact stacking will allow a greater number of toilets to be accommodated within a truck, making it easier for transportation to the event site.

FIG 8 .. the portable toilet

2) BUS STOP TOILET: This is a typology for bus stops that accommodate toilet facilities for the commuters. The bus stop is designed in the form of a sweeping ferrocement roof that cantilevers from the ferrocement core block. The roof lifts itself in the direction of the bus arrival and also houses seating underneath. The toilet is housed in the ferrocement core. The bus stop toilet is an automated toilet or E-toilet. This E-toilet is a self-monitored facility that works by inserting a one rupee coin.

The toilet also has automatic flushing and a deep cleansing mechanism that does not require monitoring. The bus stop also houses a drinking water fountain and a food vending machine. The sloping roof collects the rainwater in an underground tank that can be reused for the operation of the toilet.

FIG 9.. the bus stop toilet

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3) THE RAILWAY TOILET: The public toilets at a railway station are always located abruptly along with the platform, where they obstruct the commuter’s movement. The project looks at the structural system of the staircase that leads people to the crossover bridges as a potential site for accommodating toilets. The structure of the staircase currently is in the form of multiple columns that makes the underneath space residual and unusable. The project introduces a new structural system for the staircases in the form of a high spanning steel arch, that, within itself houses the toilets for the commuters. The space of the steel arch is designed like a steel skeleton with infill panels of stained glass to enable good ventilation and privacy at the same time. The skeleton also incorporates drinking water and food vending dispensers to facilitate the commuters.

FIG 10.. the railway toilet

4) THE PAVEMENT TOILET: This typology of a public toilet is designed for pedestrian travelers that are not included within the radius of toilets built in the amenities, railway and bus stop toilet plots. They are a street toilet typology for the floating population and do not require a special plot reservation. The typology is a simple section, where the toilet is placed under the pavement, while the public program of the toilet is placed above the pavement as a street furniture pavilion. A pavilion with seating and a tessellated roof, together, behaves as a marker for the pedestrians using the pavement. Two flights of stairs descend into a sunken courtyard with a tree, . Each toilet block too has a small sunken court that brings sufficient natural light and ventilation inside the toilet. Each toilet cubicle opens up to a line of vegetation at the back.

FIG 11.. the pavement toilet

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5) THE HIGHWAY TOILET: The project attempts to develop a typology of public toilets for highways. In order to facilitate the travellers, the project is designed as a refreshing facility with amenities such as an ATM machine, free WIFI, bathing, changing rooms, mobile charging station, changing station for mothers with infants and a sanitary napkin dispenser. The project scoops out a central void within the toilet block to form an arrival and waiting plaza. The key issue concerning toilet is the odour, which is a result of poor maintenance and lack of natural light and ventilation. This project develops a modular skin which, through its geometry, enables continuous natural light and ventilation within the toilet block. The skin is made up of triangular prefabricated modules that can be mass produced and put together through dry construction.

FIG 12.. the highway toilet

6) THE URBAN TOILET : This project attempts to address public toilets that are built on plots reserved for amenities. This typology will be the main toilet block for public spaces and cater to a large volume of people. The project releases half of its plot as a triangular plaza, as a spill out field for a large number of people visiting the toilet. The rest of the triangle is designed as a large concrete roof that forms a column free space beneath. An independent concrete skin wraps around the triangular space, to enable privacy, natural light and ventilation. The thick roof also houses a series of skylights that illuminate the toilet through the day. The roof integrates solar system that generates electricity for the toilets. The toilet uses pyrolysis to convert the solid waste into electricity, manure and recycled water. It offers other facilities such as a refreshing room, gender neutral toilets and a changing station for infants.

FIG 13.. the urban toilet

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7) THE COMMUNITY TOILET: This project attempts to imagine sanitation infrastructure within informal settlements as community spaces. Generally, the toilets are designed as utilitarian spaces where human waste is disposed, hence, they are always in a state of neglect and poor hygiene.

This project proposes a hybrid typology of the public toilet, where, the mundane infrastructure is merged with a space for children to play, for women to gather and a space for festivals. The hybrid section houses an amphitheatre above and toilet block underneath. Through the amphitheatre and vachanalaya, the building marries itself with the city and community. Informal settlements have limited resources for construction of public toilets. This project adopts low cost brick construction techniques that can involve the locals. The building is designed as a brick screen, that allows the toilet to breathe.

FIG 14.. the community toilet

8) THE ANGANWADI TOILET: Anganwadi is a mother and child health care centre that takes care of their health, nourishment and immunization. Their everyday activities include contraceptive counselling, supply, nutrition education and supplementation, and pre-school activities. The public toilets for Anganwadi are part of this complex. This rammed earth building is organised around a central courtyard, which becomes a vibrant meeting space for women, mothers and children visiting this complex. All the programs are housed within the cascading levels under a large bamboo roof. The square enveloping the building houses a vegetable garden, waste segregation, manure making cell and two wheeler parking. The building uses locally available rammed earth for construction with steel support members.

FIG 15.. the anganwadi toilet

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9) THE PARK TOILET: This toilet typology rethinks the public toilet model for open spaces, parks, gardens,playgrounds and maidans. In parks and open spaces, the toilets are generally located along the edge of the park and behave like a wall in between the park and the city. This toilet is designed to behave as an interface between the open space and the city. The section, in the form of a wooden skeleton, morphs along the edge of the open space to release a stepped seating plaza, entrance gate and a bicycle stand. The toilet is articulated beneath this morphing plane, at the entrance gate to allow movement from inside as well as outside of the park. The solid waste is recycled through the assembly of an anaerobic tank and reed bed, through the process of bio degradation. The process produces bio gas and recycled water that could be used for gardening and flushing within the toilet.

FIG 16.. the park toilet

10) THE WOMEN’S TOILET: This project addresses the sanitation model for women in the rural parts of the country. It is a holistic model, which accommodates public toilets, bathing units, water collection spaces, washing platforms and a drying yard. Along with sanitation programs the project introduces a gathering and work space for women’s cooperative that can run the facility and develop welfare programs for local women. The project develops around a water harvesting tank that collects, purifies and circulates the water to different parts of the building. The building takes the form of a step well that cascades down towards the water tank. A stone arcade envelopes the water bodies at different levels to house all the functions. RCC construction is expensive in the rural setups, hence, loadbearing stone construction is adopted to utilise locally available materials and craftsmanship.

FIG 17.. the women’s toilet

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2.3 DISCARDED URBAN WASTE Differently from nature city as a living organism do not reuse everything it produces. Materials enter the city on daily basis as products and leave as a waste in the landfill. The issue of waste is especially arising in the consumption driven societies and will increase with a growing population in later years. With rapid urbanisation, the country is facing massive waste management challenge. Over 377 million urban people live in 7,935 towns and cities and generate 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste per annum. Only 43 million tonnes (MT) of the waste is collected, 11.9 MT is treated and 31 MT is dumped in landfill sites. Solid Waste Management (SWM) is one among the basic essential services provided by municipal authorities in the country to keep urban centres clean. However, almost all municipal authorities deposit solid waste at a dump yard within or outside the city haphazardly. Experts believe that India is following a flawed system of waste disposal and management.

FIG.18.. most recyclable waste ends up in a dump yad due to the lack of proper waste management (picture of a dump yard)

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CHAPTER 3 3.2 IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC TOILET DESIGN IN URBAN REGENERATION AND URBAN DESIGN Researchers has demonstrated that public toilet provision constitutes the vital, missing link that would enable the creation of sustainable, accessible, inclusive cities. If the government wants people to leave their cars at home and travel by public transport, cycle or walk, then the provision of public toilets is essential, especially at transport terminal. Public transport passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists cannot speed to the nearest motorway service station to use the toilet when they find the local public toilets have been closed. It should not be assumed that only a minority will need on-street public toilets, because alternative off-street toilet options are readily available. Members of the public are not automatically entitled or able to use the toilets in public houses, bars, and fast food restaurants. Access may be restricted to customers only and children may be barred from licensed premises. Women are particularly in need of public toilets as they are the ones who are out and about in the day time, travelling on public transport more than men, and often accompanied by children or by elderly and disabled relatives. Surveys have shown that 1 in 4 of Indian women between 35 and 70 years of age suffer some degree of urinary stress incontinence which restricts their willingness to travel, but only a third have sought medical help. Yet, there is less public provision for women than men

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FIG.19.. poster illustrating the provision of clean toilets to everyone

in many cities. Ordinary toilets may prove inaccessible for women with pushchairs, those with luggage, the pregnant and the elderly, because of narrow entrances, small cubicles, turnstiles and step access. .3.3

MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND NEEDS OF ITS

MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND FINANCE CONCERNING COST-EFFICIENCY. MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONSToilet owners and operators should first determine their toilet renovation cycle before deciding on the type of materials used. For example, a toilet to be renovated every five years should have materials which are durable to last for at least 10 years and resistant to vandalism. Materials used should be durable, easy to maintain and resistant to vandalism and neglect. Applied finishes such as paint should be avoided. For all wall finishes, it shall be of materials which are impervious, durable such as ceramic tiles and phenolic panels etc which can facilitate cleaning and resource conservation (such as minimising the use of water and cleaning agents). This also applies to floors, which shall be constructed of waterproof non slip surfaces like ceramic tiles, natural stone, homogeneous tiles, terrazzo or other impervious materials, so as to facilitate cleaning and resource conservation.

Examples of good materials: (a) Floor - Non-slip ceramic tiles, natural stone, homogeneous tiles, terrazzo. (b) Wall - Ceramic tiles, natural stone, homogeneous tiles, stainless steel, enamelled steel panels, glass block, aluminium panels, phenolic cladding. (c) Ceiling - Mineral fibre board, fibrous plaster board, Aluminium panels or strips.

Carefully selected and durable materials reduce the need for maintenance and prevent misuse.

It is highly desirable that painted finishes are avoided, together with any materials, which are affected by moisture or corrosion (e.g. woodchip products and ferrous metals).

22 FIG.20..typical layout of a toilet with material consideration

MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENTOwners and operators are advised to keep their toilets clean and to ensure that adequate toilet facilities are provided at all times. This will help encourage proper use and promote good public health. Preventive servicing such as checking that sanitary fixtures, sensors and mechanical systems are in working condition, oiling of hinges, etc. should be conducted regularly. Toilet owners and operators should also consider having contracts for repair works on standby such that they can be activated on short notice, and preferably to have the requirement for a quick turnaround of 3 working days upon notification. Proper covers for unserviceable sinks/WCs/urinals whilst awaiting repairs should be provided.

The general cleaning should be divided into spot and thorough cleaning. Spot cleaning refers to the process whereby only specific elements of the washroom are cleaned (i.e. those that are soiled). Thorough cleaning refers to the cleaning of the entire washroom and is usually carried out at least once a day. The sequence of thorough cleaning should follow the following sequence summarised below – (a) Display safety signage before starting work and check for defects (b) Replenish all consumables (c) Clean the interior and exterior of toilet bowls and urinals (d) Clean walls and partitions of cubicles, vanity-top, mirrors, wash-hand basins, soap dispensers and hand-dryers (e) Empty waste bins and sweep the floor (f) Mop the floor with damp mop (g) Conduct final inspection and update work records FINANCE CONCERNING COST-EFFICIENCY – Unlike the interest of users– public toilet operators or managers are seriously concerned with the investment and operating costs. Managers would like to minimize costs with cost recovery in mind. Inputs in cost minimization include cheaper but durable materials, simple design and lower operating costs. The users of the public toilets services get accessibility to the toilets after payment of a certain amount of user fees or charges, being directed or having followed certain signals towards the toilets. Upon satisfaction that the toilets are usable in the sense that the facility functions well, the user needs a sense of comfortability and privacy including feelings of security of his/her personal and belongings. An important factor in cost-recovery is the setting of adequate standards of service. And have shown that users of public toilets are willing to pay for good quality services and are prepared to pay increased costs for improved services 23

in terms of quality service delivery and supply continuity. However, where public toilet delivery services are poor, the collection of revenue is difficult and costs are rarely recovered. In some situations, users may be unwilling to use public toilets from a toilet whose service quality is poor and whose costs are high. In turn, they resort to other unacceptable options such as the use of unimproved pit latrines. Under these conditions, it is worth investigating in the best management approaches that are aligned in favour of cost recovery and user satisfaction. The management approaches that favour both user satisfaction and cost recovery are considered in this study as cost-effective. The cost-effective component of any public toilet management approach has to reflect an element of sensitivity to full cost recovery of service supply costs while guaranteeing users an adequate amount of user satisfaction. Cost is measured as the amount of money spent, whereas effectiveness is measured as changes in users' behaviours, thoughts, or feelings. Cost-effectiveness of public toilets may be enhanced by the use of more effective and less expensive items while decreasing the use of less effective and more expensive items. However, cost-effectiveness indicators vary over time, and public toilets' users because of many factors.

FIG.21.. flowchart for cost efficient management

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3.4

UNIVERSAL

DESIGN

AND

BODY

FUNCTIONS,

UNDERSTANDING THE SPECTRUM OF HUMAN ABILITIES. Each of us is unique in age, size, abilities, talents, and preferences. Any human characteristic that can be measured spans a broad range in any population. An understanding of human diversity is critical to designing effectively. Successful application of universal design principles requires an understanding of how abilities vary with age, disability, the environment, or the circumstances. Human abilities can be grouped into the following categories: cognition, vision, hearing and speech, body function, arm function, hand function, and mobility. The following sections describe how variations in each of these areas may affect design usability, the types of people who may use a design, and ways to test a product or environment to assess its broad usability.

Universal Design and Cognition Imagine if your telephone’s keypad were arranged as shown at right: Roman numerals are foreign to the keypad design, as is the jumbled layout. Most people could probably still place a call, but it would put more demand on their thought processes. Everyone would require more time to use this keypad, and probably make more mistakes because of the cognitive “mapping” each of us has internalized from making countless phone calls with conventional keypads.

Using this design is even more difficult for individuals who do not understand Roman numerals, or who have cognitive limitations and difficulty doing things in a non-standard way.

Universal design for cognition means considering the variety of human abilities in receiving, comprehending, interpreting, remembering, or acting on the information. This includes: • self-starting; initiating tasks without prompting • reacting to stimuli; response time • paying attention; concentration • comprehending visual information • comprehending auditory information • understanding or expressing language • sequencing; doing things in proper order • keeping things organized • remembering things, either short- or long-term 25

• problem-solving; decision-making • creative thinking; doing things in a new way • learning new things Assess the effectiveness of a design for cognition by answering the following questions. Is the design still as usable and safe if you•are using it for the first time without help or instructions?

•cannot read?

•perform steps out of order?

•try to use it much faster or slower than intended?

•make a mistake and want to correct it or start over?

•are distracted or interrupted while using it?

Universal Design and Vision If you do not have a vision impairment, consider the following circumstances. Try reading a book at the beach without sunglasses, finding your way after walking out of a movie theater into bright daylight, or driving toward the sun. You will experience the limiting effects of glare.

Try getting a key into your front door in the dark, reading a detailed road map in your car at night, or finding the light switch in a dark room. You will appreciate the limitations caused by inadequate light. When you’re lost and struggling to find a specific road sign, all signs may seem small and hard to locate. How much more difficult would this be if your glasses or windshield were badly smudged? How difficult would it be to find the sign if you could not move your neck, used only one eye, or viewed the world through a cardboard tube? The scenarios described above may cause anyone to make mistakes, slow down, get help, or avoid even simple tasks because the demand for visual capabilities is too great, whether temporarily or permanently.

Universal design for vision means considering the variety of human abilities in perceiving visual stimuli. This includes: •perceiving visual detail clearly •focusing on objects up close and far away •separating objects from a background •perceiving objects in the center, as well as at the edges of the field of vision •perceiving contrasts in color and brightness •adapting to high and low lighting levels •tracking moving objects 26

•judging distances Assess the effectiveness of a design for vision by answering the following questions. Is the design still usable and safe if you?

•view it in very low light?

•view it in a very bright light?

•view it much closer or further away than intended?

•could see it only in black and white?

•view it through a tube?

•view it with one eye closed?

•view it using only peripheral vision?

Universal Design and Hearing and Speech If you do not have a hearing impairment, consider the following circumstances. Have you ever struggled to determine where a siren was coming from while driving with the radio on? Has the congestion from a head cold, especially if you did any airline traveling, ever left you temporarily impaired in hearing, speech, or even balance? Try giving directions to someone across a busy street. Try following verbal instructions while listening to music through headphones. Much of the message may get lost or confused in the ambient sound. If you have ever used a cordless or cellular phone in a car, a shopping mall, or the airport, you have had the experience of trying to hold a conversation amid background noise and other distractions. In addition, the variable quality of transmission often causes lapses in communication or even interference from other conversations. The situations described above can cause anyone to miss important information, repeat messages, rely on other sensory input, or just give up because the demands on auditory capabilities are too great, whether temporarily or permanently.

Universal design for hearing and speech means considering the variety of human abilities in perceiving auditory stimuli. This includes: •localizing the source of sound •separating auditory information from background sound •perceiving both high- and low-pitched sounds •carrying on a conversation Assess the effectiveness of a design for hearing by answering the following questions. Is the design still as usable and safe if you...

•use it in a noisy environment?

•use it with one ear plugged?

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•use it with both ears plugged?

•eliminate the sounds of the letters c, ch, s, sh, f, and z?

Universal Design and Mobility If your body is non-disabled, consider the following circumstances. Imagine working in a chair with one missing caster. With every change in posture, you might lose your balance. This would affect your concentration and productivity and might cause you to avoid changing body position. Try doing your job from a straight-back chair with your spine firmly against the seat back and your feet on the floor. Retain that position without twisting or bending as you try to retrieve materials from your desk, use the telephone, and perform other simple everyday tasks.

Limitations to your reach, field of vision, and mobility make simple tasks more difficult and eventually cause fatigue and pain from the lack of range of motion. Perhaps you have carried a bulky object up or down a flight of stairs. The added weight made balance more difficult and the object may have prevented you from using the railings for support or even seeing the steps in front of you. Remember the last time you had the flu. Even the simplest tasks were exhausting, and it was difficult to concentrate on anything for very long. Getting up from the bed or a chair required a few extra seconds for you to clear your head and keep your balance.

If you took any medication, these effects may have been more pronounced and prevented you from even attempting other tasks, such as driving. Consider the difficulty of strenuous exercise on a very hot summer day. In each of the situations described above, the demands of the tasks may exceed human capabilities to some extent, making the task inconvenient, frustrating, exhausting, dangerous, or impossible.

Universal design for body function means considering the variety of human abilities in performing common tasks. These tasks include cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and central nervous system functions such as: •physical exertion •achieving, maintaining, and changing posture •maintaining equilibrium •breathing Assess the effectiveness of a design for body function by answering the following questions.

Is the design still as usable and safe if you...

•have shortness of breath?

•stop frequently to rest?

•need to lean on something for support while using it?

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•cannot bend, stoop, or twist at the waist?

•use it only in a seated position?

•cannot turn your head?

•are sensitive to dust, fumes, smoke, or chemicals?

Universal Design and Arm Function If your arms are unimpaired, consider the following circumstances. Think of objects you regularly reach for, lift, and carry. Some ordinary household products weigh more than you might guess. A six-pack of 12-oz. cans and a ream of paper each weigh over 5 lbs. One-gallon containers of milk or juice weigh about 8 lbs. each, and cartons of detergent up to 20 lbs. each.

Could you move these products using only one arm? How would you reach them if you could not straighten your arms to reach forward, up, or down? What about other ordinary tasks like driving, cooking, eating, drinking a cup of coffee, or opening a window? Think about the last time you experienced pain in a shoulder or elbow. How did it affect the way you performed these everyday tasks? How would your strength and movements be limited if you constantly wore a 3-lb. weight on each wrist? In each of the situations described above, the demands of the tasks may exceed human capabilities to some extent, making the task inconvenient, frustrating, exhausting, dangerous, or impossible.

Universal design for arm function means considering the variety of human abilities in upper extremity range of motion, coordination, and strength. This includes: •reaching up, down, forward, or behind •pushing •pulling •lifting •lowering •carrying Assess the effectiveness of a design for arm function by answering the following questions.

Is the design as usable and safe if you.

•wear 3-lb. weights on each wrist?

•hold your elbows against your body?

•use only your non-dominant arm?

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3.5 ANTHROPOMETRICS OF PUBLIC TOILET.

FIG.22.. typical layout of toilet

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FIG.23.. typical layout of water closet with arrangement

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32 FIG.24.. hand wash basin typical layout

–

FIG.25.. typical urinal layout and arrangement

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Table 1 : space requirements for bathrooms and wc units

Table 2 : space clearance required for wash basins and w units

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3.6 UNDERSTANDING THE BIS AND NBC STANDARDS OF THE PUBLIC TOILETS. Toilet consists of minimum three fixtures such as shower stall/bath tub, wash basin and water closets. It is common practice to provide four fixtures, like tub and shower stall, wash basin/dressing counter and water closets. Luxurious type toilet consists of five fixtures name bath tub, shower stall, water closet, bidet and counter fitted with wash basin, with full length of mirror.

The arrangement of these fixtures are made with due consideration to clearances and piping system.

Water Closets Generally squatting type W.C. seats/pans are very common in rural and urban areas. However, the provision of western type i.e. down flash type of W.C. seats in toilet is popular in metropolitan towns among the users suffering from arthritis, or piles etc. Water closet space should accommodate not only the pan but also a provision for water tap, tumbler, wall pegs, toilet paper holder, flushing valves, cistern high or low and storage for cleansing agents etc. Sometimes water closets seat is used as a reading space also by few users, needs more than minimum floor area. The design of W.C. shall include planing for optimum convenience and privacy for all the members of the family.

Arrangements of W.C W.C. shall be conveniently arranged with special attention to clearances, flushing system and floor trap. The outlet traps (‘p’/‘s’) is preferred at the central axis of the W.C. or at right angle in the plan. The location of water tap arrangement shall permit more than one function. In case of western type the position of W.C. and the toilet paper holder shall be made within the convenient reach of users.

Lighting and Ventilation in toilets Good lighting and ventilation shall be essential to illuminate the space and to reduce/dispel odours.

Care should be exercised in its selection and placement of window in relation to cistern. The design, shape and size as well as colour of the W.C. shall vary according to taste of the user, however, the minimum dimensions shall be followed.

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Hand Wash Basin The provision of hand wash basin in housing or in public toilet has become a necessity for personal care. It is generally used in standing posture for washing hands, face, hairs, shaving and also for makeup. The design, shape, size and colour of wash basins are available in varying degrees. The installation of wash basin may be mounted on pedestal or fixed on wall with/without brackets. In case of corner location special type shall be used. Since wash basin forms the part of wet area in the building, careful planning of space as well as proper selection of appliance and convenient arrangement is needed.

Arrangements of wash basins It will be necessary to provide multi use of spaces in a toilet. Due consideration shall be given to the possibilities of more than one person using wash basin at certain time of a day in a house. It will be desirable to provide minimum 500 mm distance from the adjacent obstruction wall to the central axis of wash basin and width; 600 mm from front edge to the opposite/obstruction point to perform various activities. The spacing shall be measured from the central axis of the wash basin irrespective of size and shape. Due care shall be given for fixing outlets for hot and cold water supply taps, stop valves. It shall be proper to follow manufacturer’s instructions before wash basin is fixed.

Mirror It is a common practice to install mirror/medicine cabinet with mirror above wash basin.

Occasionally small shelf is also provided for keeping daily use items. The minimum size of mirror shall not be less than 0.20 m and each side not less than 450 mm. The bottom line of mirror shall not be less than 1200 mm from the finished floor level.

Urinals Privacy ‘from and within’ is important criteria for the design of installations in public urinals. The concept of privacy in all culture of society has played a role in the design of fixture and fittings, employed in personal hygiene. The design and installation of fixtures such as stall type urinals (without partition) and wall hanging urinals with partition often lack the privacy ‘within’ and arrangement of installation similarly lack privacy ‘from’ for the users. Therefore, it shall be imperative for the designer to pay attention while planning public conveniences. The concept of squatting type urinals may also be considered particularly for females.

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Arrangement of urinals It shall be important to provide basic elbow space and consideration shall be given to privacy. The arrangement shall vary according to the size and shape of the available space. But proper circulation, movement space, functional use of fixtures and fittings shall not be ignored. Avoid installation of series of wash basins with mirror at right angle or opposite to the urinals. A suitable storage space for brooms, cleaning agents etc, should be made. The location of flushing cistern, screen height, constant water supply should also be taken into account.

3.7 UNDERSTANDING UPCYCLED MATERIALS Up- cycling refers to an action where wasted material is given a new use or function of higher quality. It is a method of recycling which does not degrade the initial composition of material but re-invents it. The idea became especially popular now with the concepts of sustainable and 'green' living pursuing anti-consumerist approach. However, this phenomenon is not new and was practiced as long as discarded materials exist. It was especially significant with "counter- culture" movement of Hippies in late 1960s. The main focus of movement was how to sustain free living out of formal society leftovers.59 It can be well illustrated with one of the most influential hippie commune Drop City where homes were made out of waste, mainly scrap metal and wasted car roofs. Such phenomenon proves that one can live out of waste of the abundant consumerist society.

Level of creativity expressed by Hippie strategy towards re-using discarded materials can inform designers about possible future function of product to serve user after the primary function is completed. This idea was tested with Alfred Heineken in collaboration with architect John Habraken to design a beer bottle which could serve as a brick afterwards. Even though discarded materials can be re-invented in creative ways, products should be designed with greater consideration for possible future use without need of being recycled. That refers to the concept of cradle to cradle. Up- cycling is also favoured by many artists not only because it is cheap way of sourcing art but also it is greatly about pursuing ideas and concepts with available materials. These artworks rise awareness of consumerist society as well as delivers interesting and aesthetically pleasant results. Building with available materials is documented in "Garbage Warrior" were architect Mike Reynolds shares an idea of Earthship design.60 He has developed a method of building off- grid house using discarded materials wherever possible such as drink cans, glass bottles and scrap metal. Earthship design proves the value of wasted material through re-use action.

Even more, it emphasizes the idea of DIY using available and usually free of charge materials creating a high end results.

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There is good evidence that discarded materials have a potential to be up-cycled in art or architectural interventions. To pursuit these interventions there is a need to understand waste flow and their availability. Recycle city initiated by 2012 Architects use a term of harvest map to reflect available waste materials in the area of project.61 This tool helps to maximize ecoefficiency of project by reducing transportation cost and carbon footprint. It is also a method towards eco-design which should be applied in up-cycling space interventions.

38 FIG.26.. upcyling of materials

CHAPTER 4 4.1 The Light Box / Rohan Chavan

FIG.27.. front elevation of the light box

‘Restroom’ is not just a polished word for toilet at Agasti, a social enterprise working in urban sanitation in Mumbai. Here a Restroom is a public toilet that is unique in terms of both form and function. Beyond the obvious toilet blocks, the Restrooms aim to provide women an exclusive social space, something that is a typical of urban landscape in India. The design of the restroom has been conceptualized around a tree for two reasons. One to express the idea of integrating nature and context in the built form and using its characteristics to protect from climate. Secondly the shade of the tree protects the garden below from the sun allowing filtered light, and then it only needs a transparent cover to protect from rain. This intervention helped to maintain the light quality, as exactly it was when the site was empty. This was a crucial factor from a designer’s point of view. As a result of this intervention during the day the natural light lits up the box filtering through the trees and at night the box lights the surroundings.

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The Restroom for women measure 10’ x 30’ is built around an existing tree. It has four blocks at two ends. At one end there are two toilets with a common washbasin and at the other end there is a nursing room and a toilet for handicapped and senior citizens. The center of the restroom is a garden measuring 15’ x 10’ that is used for FIG.28.. site of the light box before construction

various activities like a place to rest, a free gallery to display art for amateur artists, a place for lectures and awareness campaigns, celebrating festivals, seasonal activities and events. The central garden is a metaphor to spaces where people can sit and relax under a tree in shade and socialize.

40 FIG.29.. plan and section of the light box

41 FIG.30.. plans at different levels

The structural components of the restroom are split as below: The Roof The roof of the Restroom is made up of polycarbonate sheets which allow natural sunlight to come in. Natural lighting reduces the production of harmful bacteria and organisms and is recognized as a natural disinfectant.

FIG.31.. view of the light box

The Floor The flooring for the restroom has been conceived in polyurethane. It is not only an economical option but the industrial usage of the material makes it a good fit for a public toilet. The seamless nature of the floor eases mopping and sweeping and eliminate any dirt saturation that is common in tiled flooring.

FIG.32.. interior view of the light box and its flooring

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Inner Walls The walls are either made of aluminium composite panels or of stainless steel sheets. High durability, water resistance and ease of cleaning make it fit for public toilets. While the ease of changing single panels help keep the maintenance economical.

Outer Walls These walls are also made of stainless steel with perforation. The perforated walls help in cross ventilation of air while letting sunlight in. The perforated sheets also allow creepers to grow on them providing a fresh dose of oxygen in the day.

FIG.33.. jaali walls on the façade of the liht box

The Structure and Security Vandalism is a threat we recognised early on and have secured the Restroom with CCTV cameras and have security guard on duty. We have concealed the plumbing and electrical by interlacing it with the steel structure and visually hiding it from vandals to keep the structure safe.

The Waste Management Non availability of water is one of the top reasons why public toilets are not clean. We are reducing the reliance on fresh water supply and recycling water to be used for gardening and 43

in the flush tanks. We do it through installing Bio digester tanks are used in almost all toilets.

It also means there is no downtime with the need to clean septic tanks.

Bathroom Fittings Restrooms are equipped with ceramic pots with attached cisterns. Care has been taken to source pots which do not leave a gap between the‘s’ trap and the wall. This eases the cleaning process greatly.

FIG.34.. views of the jaali walls of the shipping container of the light box

Overall the Restrooms for women try to express a cohesive plan that interacts with the city and vice versa. A 70% of the total area of the restroom is open to the citizens for various activities and events.

A great advantage of this is participation of people with public properties and vice versa, this encourages a cohesive dialogue between people and buildings and sets a great example for planners and urban designers to look into issues of planning cities as one cohesive plan than in bits and parts.

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4.1 THE TI TOILET FOR HER The Pune Municipal Corporation, 3S, and Indus collaborated and conceptualized the “TI” toilets to overcome two problems-unhygienic public washrooms for women and the disposal of old buses that unnecessarily adds to the volume of landfills when they could be used for much longer.

Old public buses were stripped of corroded and damaged parts and completely refurbished, thus increasing the lifespan of the vehicle by about 10 years. These buses were accommodated with extremely sanitary and hygienic toilets for women which include features such as a digital feedback panel, sanitary napkin vending machines and disposal bins, diaper changing stations, and essential toiletries. There is a full-time attendant available who ensures the cleanliness of this one-of-a-kind space. .For a relatively affordable five-rupee-fee (seven US cents), any woman can board the toilet to use the facilities, breastfeed babies or purchase sanitary napkins and disappeared.

FIG.35.. the ti toilets

Even as India went on a building spree constructing millions of toilets as part of PM Narendra Modi's flagship "Clean India" programme, experts said the lack of water or electricity meant many remain unused.

State governments have struggled to maintain public toilets, which are often poorly lit, unmanned, and reek of urine and faeces.

FIG.36.. inside the ti toilets

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These too are mostly used by men, with women -- fearing for their safety -- going long hours without using such facilities.

Launched in 2016 by entrepreneurs Ulka Sadalkar and Rajeev Kher, the "Ti Toilet" project -"ti" means "her" in the local Marathi language -- has 12 mobile washrooms, on average used by more 200 women daily. The buses are powered by solar panels mounted on top of the vehicle.

FIG.37.. area near the wash basin in the ti toilets

FIG.38.. area near the wc in the ti toilets

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CHAPTER 5

5.1 DISABILITY OR DIS-ENABLEMENT This topic continues the theme of developing spatial policy and design guidance in respect of toilet provision in order to create more accessible and healthy cities for everyone, with reference particularly to the needs of people with disabilities. It is argued that a universalist approach is needed to remove the disenabling barriers of urban design and planning, as this benefits everyone as part of mainstream planning policy, rather than treating the registered dis Nowadays the demand for disabled toilets has developed as a result of changing attitudes to the rights and capabilities of disabled people, and this should be seen as a triumph compared with the attitudes that existed in the past, as set out in the description which follows of the changing models of disability. However, there is a downside in that the current agenda has led to its own forms of compartmentalised thinking for, as explained earlier, the disabled/abled division has become so strong that many people do not fit into either category and therefore their needs do not have the same weight given to the abled person as a separate entity.

The emphasis is shifted towards seeing society’s attitudes, and thus the design of the built environment, as disabling and ‘making’ people disabled. According to this model, architects, town planners and urban designers have a major role to play. In line with the social model, disability groups argue that people should be able to gain access to buildings, with no fuss, no assistance, on their own, as normal, and that they should have a right to enter buildings as workers, shoppers, theatre goers, toilet users, students, or simply have the right to ‘hang out’ and pass the time of day in public spaces without ‘special’ arrangements having to be made, and without them having to be on their best behaviour as ‘deserving cases’.

47 FIG.39..importance of universal design strategies in public toilets

5.2 UNIVERSAL URBAN DESIGN: A DISTRICT LEVEL Good urban designers are not only concerned with ‘what’ is designed but with ‘how’ it is done and with the needs and views of the general public as users of cities. In recent years there has been a renewal of interest in the field of urban design owing to increasing dissatisfaction with town planning across society. Urban design may be defined as ‘everything that town planning is not’ In the past, urban design was somewhat peopleless, overconcerned with aesthetic issues, as the great designer looked ‘down’ (like God) on the blueprint on the drawing board. Yet traditional urban design, which created grand squares and splendid public buildings, is to be valued as it embodied a spirit of civic pride. Nowadays the urban design agenda is more concerned with user needs, with the realities of moving around the streets and planning for everyday life. The concerns of disability and access groups, women and planning, crime and design, environmentalism and community development are all found within the new urban design agenda. An individual toilet provider’s knowledge of the overall toilet situation in an area is often patchy. In our research one local authority, for example, was just concerned with ‘its’ toilets and appeared ignorant as to whether there were toilets in bus stations, car parks and other off-street locations making the provision of a proper survey very difficult. Good toilet plan-making would include a survey of all sorts of public toilets in the area to build up a realistic strategy which takes into account gaps, toilet clusters and toilet deserts – that is, a total picture of the distribution of facilities, regardless of which organisation happened to provide them.

Analysis from google forms: The aim of present study is to find out the “solution for effective public toilets in cities sync different technologies.” We have collected data from 24 respondents randomly from different cities. The collected data are arranged properly, analysed systematically and interpreted precisely.

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5.3 TOILET DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS: MICRO-LEVEL It is important to consider, ‘who are the users?’ as there is no one average, standard that is suitable for everyone. It is not true to say ‘one size fits all’. Of course it is important to have a minimum standard that is more or less OK for everyone, but there is also a need to produce different toilet types for women and men. Furthermore, in larger toilet blocks a wider range of alternatives should be provided, to meet the needs of small children, babies, the elderly and those with disabilities. Cultural and religious factors are also important and in multi-ethnic areas, and tourist locations where there are many international people it is important to provide squat toilets as well as sit toilets. As a basic design principle when 'testing' new designs it is important to ask all relevant users, women as well as men. An APC (Automatic Public Convenience) toilet manufacturer produced a new type of disabled toilet, and they only asked a severely disabled man to try it out. They did not ask a disabled woman as well, because they imagined that 'if it was good enough for him, then "anyone" ought be able to use it'. But women have different needs from men, which cannot be subsumed under the needs of the 'worst' male case.

FIG.40.. flowchart of showing the relation between thedifferently abled persons and abled persons

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Three levels of ‘inclusion’ have therefore been more generally adopted by the proponents of inclusive design. They are: 1) Mainstream products for everyone, including people with disabilities; 2) Mainstream products that can be ‘customised’ for use by people with disabilities; and 3) Specially-designed products ‘tailored’ to the requirements of people with severe disabilities.

This allows for customised and tailored products to meet a need in situations where it is particularly difficult to extend the design parameters of mainstream provision to include everyone. Clearly, this approach can be extended to the design of the built environment in general and public toilets in particular.

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FIG.41.. section and plan of a typical public toilet layout with changing facilities

5.4

CREATING CHANGE: USER AND PROVIDER GROUPS •

Wherever possible the views and participation of likely user groups should be welcomed into the design process in order to establish acceptable principles. Both women and men should be consulted when asking both the abled and the disabled.

•

Space standards in abled toilets should at least accommodate modern pushchairs and be as generous as is possible both for manoeuvres inside the toilet block and for access to and around the building.

•

Emphasis should be given to greater unimpeded access, which in turn contributes to attracting a wider range of users and thus more natural surveillance.

•

Very careful thought should be given to the organisation of male and female toilet areas to enable separation but also unisex access to facilities for carers.

•

APCs should not be used as a substitute for existing toilets, but may be considered for additional provision in peripheral, 24-hour, and specific localised sites. If they have to be used, they should be large enough to accommodate a carer and pushchair, and the toilet bowl should have a seat.

•

Attended toilets should be provided where possible, and space for them and for a diverse range of other uses as indicated above should be allowed for. Therefore flexible space for future extensions to the toilet block should be included in the design.

•

There should be a 250 mm minimum between the toilet seat and the san pro waste bin.

Ideally san pro disposal should be ducted into the wall, or the bin should be set behind the toilet bowl, a possibility in wider cubicles.

•

Ideally, adjustable seats should be provided but since this is likely to be too expensive in the present situation, before deciding on the exact height of the toilet pans used, consultation should be undertaken among users. As a minimum, provision of different (slightly lower) toilet pan heights in women’s toilets should be allowed for, rather than basing everything on the average height male (especially since men use pan toilets less than women).

•

If a toilet provider is considering an alternative to sit toilets in the Ladies, squat toilets should be considered rather than female urinals.

•

All toilets should have moveable seats without lids.

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5.5 BRINGING THE IMPORTANCE OF 'UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES' IN TOILET DESIGN. Typically, when building owners, designers, and architects plan for ADA requirements, they think about guests in wheelchairs. Universal design asks you to think beyond that and consider creating a space that is functional for the greatest variety of users no matter their physical circumstances or stage of life. Universal design is about creating an atmosphere of inclusivity. A restroom that does not adhere to Universal Design principals can leave many who use it feeling as though their needs are not important to the building owner.

Across the many conversations the following examples of how different needs are often not addressed or considered in public toilet design and provision were shared.

Wheelchair users shared frustration of not being able to close a toilet door, turn around in toilets or take their children to the toilet Trans and gender diverse people can experience fear of choosing a gendered toilet. One person stated, it is the choice of “having to choose between being a ‘poof’ or a ‘pervert’.”

Women complained about queues but also the sense of solidarity that they can experience with other women waiting in a queue. Women are more frequent users and can take longer due to caring responsibilities, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and clothing Homeless or unhoused people shared examples of being refused access to customer toilets when no other toilets were readily available and highlighted the need for storage for their belongings as well as showering and laundry facilities Migrant and refugee women in emergency situations are at higher risk of physical and sexual assault. Emergency situations create additional challenges for menstruation, pregnancy and caring responsibilities People with physical or intellectual disability have different needs that may be met by additional space and assistance provisions. Support animals also have toilet requirements to be catered for.

Accessible toilets are often clinical spaces without the aesthetic considerations of standard toilets People with invisible disability may require quick access and are often shamed or ridiculed when using specified accessible toilets. “Those with invisible impairments spoke about the

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suspicion and harassment that they had faced when using an accessible toilet” even when they had a RADAR key to facilitate access.

Parents and carers require changing tables suitable for the person they are caring for. They might also be a different gender to the person caring for. Rarely are baby changing tables provided in male toilets People of size shared the challenges when a cubical is not adequately designed for their needs, and the ‘ick-factor’ of when a body part touches a sanitary bin or toilet roll holder placed next to the toilet bowl Parents told me stories of small children picking up the urinal puck in public toilets or of children afraid of the hand dryer noise. When toilets are not provided in parks that children like to play in, the bushes are often the only option Needing to pay to access public toilets or have the correct change can be a barrier, especially if you need frequent or urgent access, have a group that needs to go (such as group of school children) or have limited money People who exercise or walk dogs indicated having public toilets locked after dark was a hindrance and could create significant inconveniences Safety and perceptions of vulnerability were raised by multiple individuals as were questionable hygiene and unclean toilets Men using continence pads or menstruating identified the lack of rubbish bins in male toilets These are not exhaustive or universal examples, however they demonstrate the diversity of needs to be addressed in the provision of public toilets. If these needs are not addressed, they impact on an individual’s or group of people’s mobility, participation in employment, access to education, and inclusion in social and community activities.

Public Toilet Design Principles Public Life of a City - Acknowledge that access to toilets support inclusion and participation, in addition to facilitating positive benefits and values including physical activity, economic development and tourism

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Public Health & Hygiene - Individual and public health can be achieved through the provision and maintenance of public toilets, including hand washing facilities Safety & Privacy - All users want to feel safe, and have both audible and visual privacy, when using a toilet as it is private and vulnerable human function Functionality - Toilets need to be designed to facilitate a range of uses including eliminating bodily waste, people use toilets to administer essential medication, menstrual management, caring for young children, supporting others to use the facilities, finding a quiet place to rest, breastfeeding, accessing drinking water and hand washing.

Accessibility - Design must meet the specific user needs including minimal standards for physical accessibility. This also includes circulation spaces, handles and height of fixtures and features Inclusion - Design to meet the needs of all populations, including minority groups. This includes a preference to single stall physical designs, signage that reflects all bodies and the review and enforcement of anti-discrimination policies Location & Availability - Toilets need to be easily locatable and provided in the appropriate number to respond to the number of users. This includes how far people need to travel to access them Attractiveness - Aesthetics are important to make people feel comfortable. The design of the toilets should be a continuation of the place it is located in.

Ease of Maintenance & Hygiene - Materials used in the construction need to allow for easy cleaning, resistance to vandalism and durable while still being functional and welcoming Sustainable - Design and maintenance needs to consider the use of resources such as water and electricity Communication - Toilets need to be easy to find via signage or apps, include relevant information about operating hours and maintenance requests as well to be able to determine if a stall is available or occupied from a distance Consultation - Ensure community input into public toilet location and design to ensure public toilets are meeting identified community needs, including those of minority groups.

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5.6 NEED FOR PUBLIC TOILETS IN SLUMS AND THE ROLE OF INFORMATIONAL AND SUPPLY-SIDE CONSTRAINTS IN URBAN AREAS. While urbanization can bring benefits for economic, cultural and societal development, the rapid pace of urbanization that is experienced is creating enormous challenges. Especially cities in developing countries are struggling to keep pace with necessary infrastructure investment. One consequence is a phenomena referred to as “urbanization of poverty”. United Nations Water (2013) estimates that 40% of the world’s urban expansion is taking place in slums.

Particularly the water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure is stressed beyond current capacity.

The link between inadequate sanitary conditions, fecal contamination and (child) mortality, stunting and other outcomes is already well established. Given that recent evidence suggests that poor sanitation is particularly threatening to early life health when coupled with high population density, efforts to improve sanitary conditions in slums is therefore of direct policy relevance.

It is generally accepted that shared community toilets will, for the foreseeable future, continue to be an important solution to improve sanitary conditions in slums, given numerous constraints to increasing access to private toilets and sewerage. However, even where public toilets are available, open defecation remains common behaviour among slum dwellers.

The study will take place among slum dwellers in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh, India), where we will implement two complementary interventions. On one side, the supply of information about hygiene practices and about the risks associated with bad sanitation. On the other side, the improvement of the quality and hygiene of community toilets. We seek funding for the second.

These interventions aim at reducing open defecation by promoting the use of CTs. The study aims at understanding the effectiveness of interventions in improving slum dweller’s willingness to pay for community toilet access. This research will not only contribute to the understanding of drivers of poor sanitation, but will also inform on the financial viability of the different interventions. It will provide policy guidance on the design of public-private partnerships in provision of CTs. In particular the degree to which public financial support will – or will not - be needed in improving sanitation situations in urban areas.

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CHAPTER 6 – CONCLUSION Everyone needs to go to the toilet several times in the course of the day, not only the disabled or incontinent, but everyone from all age groups needs them when away from home. Those who do suffer incontinence and other urinary problems need toilets of necessity. Women need toilets with decent clean seats which they can sit on to prevent retention of urine and the development of incontinence. The disabled need accessible public toilets, as does everyone else as a basic human right. Everyone temporarily dis-enabled by childcare, pregnancy, baby buggies, injury, accidents, shopping and luggage is entitled to accessible public toilets.

Women, as the majority of the population, the elderly and disabled people need adequate free public toilet provision as a basic equal right. Women constitute 80% of shoppers so the provision of good toilet facilities in retail areas and town centres will increase the revenue and profitability of that area and contribute to national prosperity. Providing public toilets will encourage more people to travel by public transport, to walk and to cycle without fear of being caught short. This will contribute towards reducing pollution, creating a greener environment and sustainable cities.

Culturally, providing adequate toilets at all hours will facilitate the development of the 24-hour city, help clean up the streets and alleyways and contribute to citizen choice, freedom and the quality of life. Good toilet design will contribute to improving the urban design and architectural quality of our towns and cities, thus making our cities more attractive and raising their profile with huge beneficial social and economic spin-offs. A nation’s image is judged by its toilets as they are often the first thing that tourists see when travelling to a country. Adequate public toilets will increase tourism and benefit the whole economy. The state of public toilets is an indication of the state of the government and nation as a whole. Neglected slovenly conditions generate more crime and vandalism. As one of the few ‘public’ facilities located out in the community, they act as an emblem that is an outward and visible sign of the state of society and the government itself. Closing them because of damage condones vandalism.

It is legally indefensible to provide such discriminatory levels of services for women.It is politically important to improve public toilets because the majority of the electorate (60% are women) worry about them. It would be a sign that politicians were concerned about social inclusion and accountability, and were operating joined-up thinking. One of the conclusions is that in order to facilitate the ‘coming through’ of alternative people and values, so as to alter the nature of the policies and the professions that shape the built environment,great changes are still needed within the structures of higher education and professional practice. The study was conducted to design solution for effective public toilets in cities. The study has been able to 62

accomplish its objectives, by thoroughly analysing and identifying the usage rate and satisfaction among public toilet users and how the lack of toilets in public spaces affect. people. The outcome of the study has proved that the there is a need for more public toilets at different places like city markets, highways, tourist spots, etc. And also, the toilets should be clean and hygiene and should be placed at every 5-6 km. distance. It is concluded that the Government could initiate various steps based on the recommendations given in this report. The Government by adopting some of the recommendations should ensure that the public toilets are operating as per the guidelines.

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1- A Victorian style public toilet in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne.(Getty: Prisma

By Dukas) ......................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 2- Realms concerned with toilets. ....................................................................... 10 Figure 3- components of attitude. ................................................................................... 10 Figure 4- Vector of female and male gender .................................................................. 11 Figure 5- flowchart of methodology ............................................................................... 12 Figure 6- timeline of toilets ............................................................................................ 13 Figure 7- sketch of public toilet 1556 AD ...................................................................... 14 Figure 8- the portable toilet ............................................................................................ 15 Figure 9- the bus stop toilet ............................................................................................ 15 Figure 10- railway toilet ................................................................................................ 16 Figure 11- pavement toilet .............................................................................................. 16 Figure 12-the highway toilet. .......................................................................................... 17 Figure 13- the urban toilet .............................................................................................. 17 Figure 14- The community toilet ................................................................................... 18 Figure 15- the anganwadi toilet. ..................................................................................... 18 Figure 16- the park toilet. ............................................................................................... 19 Figure 17- the women’s toilet. ........................................................................................ 19 Figure 18- most recyclable waste ends up in a dump yad due to the lack of proper waste management (picture of a dump yard) ............................................................................ 20 Figure 19- poster illustrating the provision of clean toilets to everyone. ....................... 21 Figure 20- typical layout of a toilet with material consideration. ................................... 22 Figure 21- flowchart for cost efficient management ...................................................... 24 Figure 22- typical layout of toilet ................................................................................... 30 Figure 23- typical layout of water closet with arrangement ........................................... 31 Figure 24- typical lyout of hand basins .......................................................................... 32 Figure 25- typical urinal layout and arrangement ........................................................... 33 Figure 26- upcyling of materials. .................................................................................... 38 Figure 27- front elevation of the light box ...................................................................... 39 Figure 28- site of the light box before construction ........................................................ 40 64

Figure 29- plan and section of the light box. .................................................................. 40 Figure 30- plans at different levels ................................................................................ 41 Figure 31- view of the light box ..................................................................................... 42 Figure 32- interior view of the light box and its flooring ............................................... 42 Figure 33- jaali walls on the façade of the liht box ........................................................ 43 Figure 34- views of the jaali walls of the shipping container of the light box .............. 44 Figure 35- the ti toilets .................................................................................................... 45 Figure 36- inside the ti toilets ......................................................................................... 45 Figure 36- area near the wash basin in the ti toilets........................................................ 46 Figure 37- area near the wc in the ti toilets..................................................................... 46 Figure 38- importance of universal design strategies in public toilets ......................... 47 Figure 39- flowchart of showing the relation between thedifferently abled persons and abled persons ................................................................................................................. 55 Figure 40- section and plan of a typical public toilet layout with changing facilities ... 56

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REFERENCES

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https://www.inexhibit.com/case-studies/design-recycling-vs-upcycling-whats-thedifference/

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Warner, W. S. (1998). Cultural Influences that affect the acceptance of compost toilets: Psychology, religion and gender. International Composting Toilet News [online] September(2).

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Unicef, & Organization, W. H. (2014). Progress on sanitation and drinking water: 2014 update: World Health Organization.

[10] Adams, R. A., & Templer, D. I. (1998). Body elimination attitude and occupation.

Psychological reports, 82(2), 465-466.

[11] www.thebathroomdiaries.com (international toilets) [12] www.restrooms.org with forum Denise’s Mailbox, lots of toilet issues [13] https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/1182355/PublicationEveryone-everywhere-everyday-A-case-for-expanding-universal-design-to-publictoilets.pdf

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[14] Clara.Greed@uwe.ac.uk, ClaraGreed@aol.com [15] Webber, K. (2019). Exploring Accessibility and Inclusion in Public Toilets. The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Australia. Available at: https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/project/the-rodney-warmington-churchillfellowship-toincrease-accessibility-to-public-toilets-by-researching-taboos-designpolicy-and-legalbarriers---netherlands-germany-uk-usa-canada/ [16] https://www.gdrc.org/uem/waste/uwm-issues.html [17] https://www.yoursaywingecarribee.com.au/26652/widgets/162677/documents/58032 [18] www.towns.org.uk

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SELECTION, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SANITARY APPLIANCES - CODE OF PRACTICE

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GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY TOILETS MANAGEMENT

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