Multi-Functionalization of Toilet in JapanYoshihiko Kawauchi, Independent, Architect, Access Project, Japan What is the Multi Functional Toilet?Multi Functional Toilet is not a special rare toilet in Japan. It means regular public toilet. Sometimes, this term is used for wheelchair accessible stall. If it is improved, it may be good for wheelchair users. But how about for others? So we believe that entire toilet need to be improved for everyone. The direction in Japan is synthetic multi functional toilet that means holistic design not only accessible stall but also entire toilet to be acceptable various users. Traditionally the accessible stall in Japan is designed unisex so that wheelchair users with personal assistants with different sex can use it. However, the needs of wheelchair users to use sexually separated toilet is strong. So we decided to provide wheelchair accessible stall not only for unisex setting but also sexually separated setting. The user who can do the business independently can use the stall in sexually separated setting that is designed bigger than regular stall but smaller than unisex stall. This stall is also pleased by people with baby strollers and blind people with guide dogs. Current Toilet in JapanIn 2000, we established the Transportation Barrier Free Act. And through the process of public hearing of this act, we found that people with ostomy (in Japan, we call them Ostomate) have serious problems in toilet. So we developed a new equipment for Ostomate to wash their pouches and sometimes their bodies and clothes. Traditionally, our toilet way was squatting. However, because Japan is aging rapidly, many senior people have troubles to squat. So, the sitting toilet is going to be common now. We provide grab bars into regular toilet stall. Some people can not keep their sitting position. So far, they were doing their business lying on the dirty toilet floor. It was a miserable situation. So, many toilets in Japan have started to install collapsible beds. It is also usable for grownup people who are using diapers. It is also useful wheelchair users to put on and off clothes. Many public toilets in Japan have already had small beds for diaper changing not only in women's room but also in men's room and in accessible stall. Also, many stalls have small chairs for baby to sit during business of grownup people. Efforts in the Chubu International AirportIn the Chubu International Airport that is going to open in 2005, they hired the organization of people with disabilities as a professional access consultant. They formed task forces for some designated issues including toilet. They had a lot of meetings with users, designers and manufacturers through the process of discussion; design, mock up, evaluation and at last, the final design. This is an airport, where many people are moving around with big baggage. So we thought that if each stall is bigger, it will be benefit all passengers and wheelchair users. This stall needs not to be too big because people with assistant who need big room can use unisex stall. Through the careful designing process, we finally developed a design of a little bigger stall. Through the designing process, we found that people with hearing impairment are nervous in the toilet. They can't notice the emergency situation when they are in stalls because they can't hear audio announcement. So we decided to install flashlights in toilet. We also paid careful attention to make toilet plan understandable easily for blind people. Basically, in men's room, there are 2 major plans. The one is to provide bank of stalls across the bank of urinals and the other is to provide the area of stalls back of the area of urinals. The problem for blind people is mingled situation of those 2 different plans. So we tried to unite into one style. ConclusionThe efforts to find out hidden needs of various users and put them into design through open discussion and careful substantiate process is a good example of Universal Design. |