IN HARMONY WITH THE SURROUNDINGS

s.lab architektura

• Architects

Reduction of the outdoor toilet to the necessary minimum. This type of toilet is used in the spring and summer season, hence the idea of getting rid of the floor and roof. What is left is a wall... an undulating, thick wall demarcating toilet cubicles in space. The thickness of this wall houses the technical infrastructure serving the sanitary facilities: pipes, clean water tanks, sewage tanks and accessories such as soap or toilet paper dispensers. The project explores the idea of serviced space (toilets) and servicing space (wall with structure and services inside).

The undulations of the wall ensure its stability, for safety the wall is anchored to the ground. The wall can be placed directly on the existing substratum (grass / asphalt / paving stones), which is the floor of the toilet. The entrance to the fold-cabin is closed by a taut vertical roller shutter unrolled from a cassette attached to the wall at the structural node.

photo_credit s.lab architektura — s.lab architektura

mobility:

The temporary toilet system consists of flexible and rigid modules. Flexible modules for transportation can be compressed to 12% of their size when unfolded.

adaptability to different locations:

The system makes it possible to build temporary toilets in different sizes depending on the needs: from a single cubicle to entire toilet islands serving large outdoor events.

technological and material solutions:

The wall is built from a combination of two types of modules: a flexible module and a rigid module - with built-in equipment (toilet bowl with rack, sink with rack, etc.). The wall is a layered structure. The structural spine of the wall is made up of plywood lattice elements (to allow the passage of plumbing pipes), connected by hinges to allow mobility. The structure is covered on two sides with a pleated membrane of impregnated fiberglass-reinforced fabric.

information on installations in the designed facility:

Plumbing systems are distributed in the wall with flexible pipes. It is possible to connect the system to existing plumbing and electrical networks. Behind the sinks are placed tanks for grey water used for flushing toilets. On the sides of the toilet bowls, tanks for sewage are provided.

equipment:

Dispensers for paper towels, soap, toilet paper and holder for toilet bowl cleaning brush and trash can are built into the wall. On the wall surface are visible only recesses with stainless steel or aluminium rims.

Jury’s opinion on the project:

"The idea for the toilet captivated the jury with its simplicity and unquestionable aesthetic qualities. The project was one of the few to fit perfectly into the park landscape of the Zamoyski Palace, cleverly passing the existing trees and creating a very elegant, undulating screen. Hidden within the meanders are toilets with different programmes, more and less spacious. They can form a sequence or form closed loops. The plan impresses with its organic shape, reminiscent of an amoeba, moving with the help of extendable nibs.

Due to reducing the toilet's function to a minimum, it can be quickly placed in a town square, garden or local festival, creating a completely different aesthetic quality for portable toilets. The cleverly conceived wavy wall creates a very stable structural system. The solutions used in the design are technologically simple and economical.

(...) the toilet is a concept worth refining and developing, which we sincerely wish the author(s). The idea could work in the real world, but a lot of details need to be worked out. In awarding the prize, the jury wanted to recognise courage, ingenuity and an innovative approach to the subject."