Scribd
Upload
195 views3 pages

Public Toilet Challenges & Solutions

The document discusses several studies that have examined issues with public toilet provision globally. It notes that unequal and inadequate public toilet access makes achieving sustainable, healthy, and inclusive cities difficult. Several studies have found that public toilet provision remains inadequate in many communities and developing countries. One study from the UK addressed the physical, social, and political dimensions of public toilet provision by conducting interviews and focus groups. Their results provided useful guidelines on public toilet provision from a user-oriented perspective. The document argues that questions about public toilet design and planning need to consider issues of gender, age, and ability through interdisciplinary discussions.

Uploaded by

Allen Joy Lelis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
195 views3 pages

Public Toilet Challenges & Solutions

The document discusses several studies that have examined issues with public toilet provision globally. It notes that unequal and inadequate public toilet access makes achieving sustainable, healthy, and inclusive cities difficult. Several studies have found that public toilet provision remains inadequate in many communities and developing countries. One study from the UK addressed the physical, social, and political dimensions of public toilet provision by conducting interviews and focus groups. Their results provided useful guidelines on public toilet provision from a user-oriented perspective. The document argues that questions about public toilet design and planning need to consider issues of gender, age, and ability through interdisciplinary discussions.

Uploaded by

Allen Joy Lelis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

The literature shows that unequal and inadequate toilet provision makes it difficult to

achieve sustainable, healthy, and inclusive cities (Bichard et al, 2004). According to the

World Health Organization, public toilet provision is defined as a major factor in AgeFriendly Cities (Help
the Aged, 2007; Knight and Bichard, 2011). However, toilet provision

has remained inadequate in most communities, and also in developing countries such as

Ghana, China, and India which lack even rudimentary toilet access (Gershenson and Penner,

2009; Molotch and Noren, 2010). Greed (1996) investigates the provision of public toilets

in Britain and suggests that a radical reconceptualization is needed to solve existing toilet

problems. Anthony and Dufresne (2007) examine how public restrooms pose health and

safety problems specifically for women, children, the elderly, and the disabled. Although

there has been a considerable focus on providing accessible public toilets in Europe and the

US under disability legislation and human rights acts, not everyone’s needs are met (Knight

and Bichard, 2011). Toilet limitations significantly restrict people’s mobility in cities and their

ability to take part in public life (Knight and Bichard, 2011). “The restroom thus becomes a

tool for figuring out just how a society functions—what its values are, how it separates from

one another, and the kinds of trade-offs that come to be made” (Molotch and Noren, 2010,

page 8)

he study by Hanson et al (2007) undertook a comprehensive three-year research

project (2003–06) to determine the toilet needs of 548 people in London, Manchester, and

Sheffield, England. Significantly, their study addresses the physical, social and political

dimensions of public toilet provision. Concerned about access problems, design deficiencies,

and sustainability issues, the authors held focus groups and conducted user interviews. Their

results are important in terms of providing guidelines on public toilet provision from a more

user-oriented perspective, as studies of public conveniences from the user perspective are
still comparatively rare. Other resources are helpful when considering the design, location,

and management of public toilets (eg, Approved Document M―Access to and Use of

244 Y Afacan, M O Gurel

Studies and critical analyses around public toilet provision show that access and equality

of public toilets is not just a spatial configuration and design issue, but also a political and

social issue (Greed, 2009). For this reason, questioning the architectural design and urban

planning issues of public toilets should be done through interdisciplinary discussions about

and observations of gender, age, and ability.

The study by Hanson et al (2007) undertook a comprehensive three-year research

project (2003–06) to determine the toilet needs of 548 people in London, Manchester, and

Sheffield, England. Significantly, their study addresses the physical, social and political

dimensions of public toilet provision. Concerned about access problems, design deficiencies,

and sustainability issues, the authors held focus groups and conducted user interviews. Their

results are important in terms of providing guidelines on public toilet provision from a more

user-oriented perspective, as studies of public conveniences from the user perspective are

still comparatively rare. Other resources are helpful when considering the design, location,

and management of public toilets (eg, Approved Document M―Access to and Use of

244 Y Afacan, M O Gurel

Buildings, 2004; British Standard BS8300, 2010; Goldsmith, 1997; Lacey, 2004). However,

such building codes only set out the type, height, and design of appliances, fixtures, and

stalls, and say nothing about how the social patterns relate to and affect these standards. That

aspect of public toilets provision should also be explored (Kitchin and Law, 2001; Molotch

and Noren, 2010). To fill the above described gap in the literature, in the current study we

look at ways of understanding the complex interplay between the social and physical from

the public toilet user’s perspective and contribute to existing literature by examining public
toilet provision in an understudied region (Turkey).

You might also like