An ultramodern men's washroom, showing a row of sinks embedded into a large marble slab on the right. Stainless steel uprights support the slab, and allow barrier-free access. Lighting is done indirectly, from behind the walls, with fluorescent lamps behind the glass brick windows in the walls. Such light mimics natural light in this underground parking garage. An open-concept glass labyrinth entrance is combined with partial architectural dividers supported on stainless steel columns.

A washroom is a room for washing one's hands (such as a lavatory), but the term also is used to denote a public toilet, comfort room, toilet room, bathroom, or restroom (see above). Some washrooms also include full-body bathing facilities such as shower. Public Toilet is a 2002 movie by Hong Kong director Fruit Chan. ... Download high resolution version (1232x816, 94 KB)Mens washroom/changeroom at public urbeach I took this picture of the Dundas Square urbeach washroom/changeroom facility to show the modern architectural design, using cement, stainless steel, marble, and glass brick. ... Download high resolution version (1232x816, 94 KB)Mens washroom/changeroom at public urbeach I took this picture of the Dundas Square urbeach washroom/changeroom facility to show the modern architectural design, using cement, stainless steel, marble, and glass brick. ... Architectural glass brick provides an ideal combination of passage of light, and visual obscuration (visual distortion) to provide privacy. ... For other uses, see Toilet (disambiguation). ... A typical American bathroom A bathroom is a room that may have different functions depending on the cultural context. ... Children bathing in a small metal bathtub Bathing is the immersion of the body in fluid, usually water, or an aqueous solution. ... It has been suggested that Steam shower be merged into this article or section. ...

Washroom architecture refers to the architectural design and layout of washroom facilities, usually of a public commercial, or industrial facility.

Terminology

Usually the term "washroom" is used to denote a public, commercial, or industrial personal hygiene facility designed for high throughput, whereas a similar term "bathroom" is used to denote a smaller, often residential facility for lesser throughput (i.e., often for only one person at a time to use). The word originated in the United States and is currently the preferred term in Canada; in American English, "bathroom" or "restroom" are now more common. In Britain, Australia, Hong Kong (as toilets) and New Zealand, the terms in use are "public toilets" and (more informally) "public loos". In the rest of the world (usually Africa, Middle East, and Southeast Asia) the term "Comfort room" is used. Furthermore many European washroom doors are simply marked "WC", for water closet, which may be confusing for non-Europeans. One reason some Americans prefer "restroom" over "bathroom" is that restrooms do not have bathtubs. The word "washroom" is also sometimes used in the United States to denote a "laundry room". For other uses, see American English (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Categories: Pages needing attention | Stub ...

Gender and public washrooms

US DOT pictogram for public toilets

Separation by sex is so characteristic of public toilets that pictograms of a man or a woman are used to indicate where the respective toilets are. These pictograms are sometimes enclosed within standard geometric forms to reinforce this information, with a circle representing a women's toilet and a triangle representing a men's facility. Symbols such as the DOT pictograms have been criticized for perpetuating gender stereotypes; however, there may be no practical alternatives. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Sex segregation is the separation, or segregation, of people according to sex or gender. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The DOT pictograms are a set of fifty pictograms used to convey information useful to travelers without using words. ...

Sex-separated public washrooms are a source of difficulty for some people, such as those with children of the opposite sex, or men caring for babies when only the women's washroom has been fitted with a change table.

Sex-separated public washrooms are often difficult to negotiate for transgendered or androgynous people, who are often subject to embarrassment, harassment, or even assault or arrest by others offended by the presence of a person they interpret as being of the other gender. Transgendered people have been arrested for using not only bathrooms that correspond to their gender of identification, but also ones that correspond to the gender they believe themselves to have been assigned at birth. A transgender person in New York Citys Gay Pride Parade Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at... For other uses, see Androgyny (disambiguation). ...

Many existing public washrooms are gender-neutral. Additionally, some public places (such as facilities targeted to the transgendered or homosexual communities, and a few universities and offices) provide individual washrooms that are not gender-specified, specifically in order to respond to the concerns of gender-variant people; but this remains very rare and often controversial. ^[1] Various courts have ruled on whether transgendered people have the right to use the washroom of their gender of identification. ^[2]

A significant number of facilities have additional gender-neutral public washrooms to accommodate disabled or elderly persons who may require assistance from a spouse or a caregiver of the other gender.

Modern designs typically use electronic controls to minimize moving parts, save water, improve hygiene, and deter vandalism.

Toilets in private homes are practically never separated by sex, except in the Middle East. Download high resolution version (1091x1024, 92 KB)Lightvector painting entitled Seen Through the Glass, Darkly This is a lightvector painting that I made of one of the plumbing fixtures thats in the mens room about halfway down MITs infinite corridor (third longest corridor in the world), which... Download high resolution version (1091x1024, 92 KB)Lightvector painting entitled Seen Through the Glass, Darkly This is a lightvector painting that I made of one of the plumbing fixtures thats in the mens room about halfway down MITs infinite corridor (third longest corridor in the world), which... Vandalism is the conspicuous defacement or destruction of a structure, a symbol or anything else that goes against the will of the owner/governing body. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...

Fixtures

Washrooms usually contain the following fixtures (the urinals generally being only present on the men's side):

• Toilets
• Bidets
• Urinals
• Handwash faucets (i.e taps);
• Soap dispensers;
• Hand dryers or towel dispensers which can either contain paper or reusable cloth;
• Sometimes showers are also present, sometimes with soap, shampoo, or similar dispensers.
• antiseptic handwash
• garbage can, waste can
• mirrors

For other uses, see Toilet (disambiguation). ... A toilet (left) and a bidet (right). ... A urinal is a specialized toilet designed to be used only for urination by men and boys. ... Categories: Stub ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... We dont have an article called Hand dryer Start this article Search for Hand dryer in. ... A paper towel dispenser is a device that dispenses paper towels in a public restroom when in use. ... It has been suggested that Steam shower be merged into this article or section. ...

Modern washroom architecture

The architect Frank Lloyd Wright claimed to have "invented the hung wall for the w.c. (easier to clean under)" when he designed the Larkin Administration Building in Buffalo, New York in 1904. Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was one of the worlds most prominent and influential architects. ... The Larkin Administration Building in 1906 The Larkin Administration Building was designed in 1904 by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Larkin Soap Company of Buffalo, New York, at 680 Seneca Street. ... Nickname: Location of Buffalo in New York State County Government  - Mayor Byron Brown (D) Area  - City 52. ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ...

An eye catching architectural design used for a block of public toilets in Cambridge, England.

Modern washrooms usually have the following features: Image File history File links Download high resolution version (736x1024, 115 KB) Public toilets on Parkers Piece, Cambridge. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (736x1024, 115 KB) Public toilets on Parkers Piece, Cambridge. ... Geography Status City (1951) Region East of England Admin. ...

• Doorless entry (labyrinth entrance) prevents the spread of disease that might otherwise occur when coming in contact with a door. Doorless entry provides visual privacy while simultaneously offering a measure of security by allowing the passage of sound. Doorless entry also helps deter vandalism; fewer audible clues to another person entering discourages some vandals. Doorless entry may also be achieved simply by keeping an existing door propped open, closed only when necessary.
• Sensor operated fixtures prevent the spread of disease by allowing patrons to circumvent the need to touch common surfaces. Sensor operated fixtures also help conserve water by limiting the amount used per flush, and require less routine maintenance.

Service access and utilities passages

Glass brick is used to obscure a clear line of sight into washrooms. The brick, however, admits light, and the labyrinth design allows for the passage of air as well as barrier-free accessibility.

Modern washrooms often have a service entrance, utilities passages, and the like, that run behind all the fixtures. Wall mount toilets that bolt on from behind the wall have replaced floor mount toilets. Sensors are installed in a separate room, behind the fixtures. Usually the separate room is just a narrow corridor, or narrow passageway. Each sensor views through a small window into each fixture. Sometimes the metal plates that house the sensor windows are bolted on from behind, to prevent tampering. Additionally, all of the electrical equipment is safely behind the walls, so that there is no danger of electric shock. However, a RCCB must be (and usually is) still used for all such electrical equipment. Download high resolution version (1200x823, 93 KB)Urbeach washroom/changeroom architecture: glass-brick labyrinth I took this picture of the Dundas Square washroom/changeroom facility to show the modern architectural use of glass brick, in the design of the labyrinth, to allow an open concept design (light passage, and open... Download high resolution version (1200x823, 93 KB)Urbeach washroom/changeroom architecture: glass-brick labyrinth I took this picture of the Dundas Square washroom/changeroom facility to show the modern architectural use of glass brick, in the design of the labyrinth, to allow an open concept design (light passage, and open... A residual current device (RCD) A residual current device (RCD), or residual current circuit breaker (RCCB), is an electrical wiring device that disconnects a circuit whenever it detects that the flow of current is not balanced between the phase (hot) conductor and the neutral conductor. ...

Futuristic architecture is often achieved through a nice juxtaposition of industrial concrete, glass brick, some high quality black marble, and stainless steel structural supports, where the glass brick also serves to separate the service passage from the main washroom. The use of sensor operated sinks, toilets, urinals, and hand dryers, together with service-installed lighting often adds to the modern aesthetic and functionality.

Service lighting consisting of windows that run all the way around the outside of the washrooms uses electric lights behind the windows, to create the illusion of extensive natural light, even when the washrooms are underground or otherwise don't have access to natural light. The windows are sometimes made of glass brick, permanently cemented in place. Lighting installed in service tunnels that run around the outside of the washrooms provides optimum safety from electrical shock (keeping the lights outside the washrooms), hygiene (no cracks or openings), security (no way for vandals to access the light bulbs), and aesthetics (clean architectural lines that maintain a continuity of whatever aesthetic design is present, e.g., the raw industrial urban aesthetic that works well with glass brick). Architectural glass brick provides an ideal combination of passage of light, and visual obscuration (visual distortion) to provide privacy. ...

Multi-use facilities

Some washrooms also function, in part, as changerooms, owing to their gender-segregated nature. For example, in beach areas, a portion of each washroom is often equipped with benches so that persons can change into or out of their bathing suits. Some such washrooms also include showers and soap/shampoo dispensers. Many modern showers and soap/shampoo dispensers are sensor-operated, and time out when used excessively.^{[citation needed]} A changeroom (in Australia, Canada, and other areas, including some parts of the USA, and also known as a changing room, change room, lockerroom, or locker room in the United Kingdom or USA) is a place where people go to change their clothes. ...

Cleanliness

Toilet outside the Philadelphia City Hall

Most public washrooms around the world are generally dirty due to heavy traffic. Many stores prohibit non-patrons from using their facilities as public washrooms. Some go as far as locking the doors and providing keys to patrons only. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 1. ... Philadelphia City Hall is the seat of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

Some cities, like Philadelphia, are launching major efforts to install dozens of high-tech, self-cleaning public pay toilets in their heaviest pedestrian and tourist areas.^[3] Nickname: Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love endure Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: , Country Commonwealth County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government  - Mayor John F. Street (D) Area  - City 369. ...

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Toilet buildings

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

See also

• Toilet granny
• Sanisette

A toilet granny is a woman who works in public toilets (as a manager or operator) in Eastern bloc countries. ... A Sanisette on a street near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris Sanisette is a registered trademark for a self-contained, self-cleaning, unisex, public street toilet pioneered by the French company JC Decaux. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/36/12/transgender
2. ^ http://www.herizons.ca/magazine/issues/fal01
3. ^ Jan. 23, 2007, DAN GERINGER, 35 self-cleaning facilities could be operating by fall, Philadelphia Daily News

External links

• American Restroom Association America's advocate for the availability of clean, safe, well designed public restrooms
• Shutting down vandalism (modern washroom design)
• The use of glass brick as an industrial architectural aesthetic in underground washrooms/changerooms
• Australia's National Public Toilet Map shows the location of more than 14,000 public and private public toilet facilities across Australia.
• Public Toilets Database Locations of public toilets in 18 countries. New locations and comments can be added. Detailed information includes the geographic coordinates and quality of the facility.
• ToiletZone French website with toilets picture
• The Paradox of Public Toilets