Welcome to this platform which presents the graduate projects from the programs MA Spatial Design and BA Interior Architecture & Furniture Design at Konstfack 2020.

Isabella Werner

KLOAK ELLER OAS? – En omformulering av den offentliga toaletten

isabella@werner.eu

Offentliga toaletter kan ofta vara ofräscha, tråkiga och utformade med kalla material och utan intresse för att skapa en trevlig miljö utöver att strikt tillgodose nödvändigheter. I mitt examensarbete har jag försökt ge liv åt den offentliga toaletten. Här vill jag låta färg, form och lekfullhet ta plats i funktionen. Vare sig du kommer för att ensam pausa en stund, eller om du passerar i all hast och bara söker en vanlig (men bra!) toalett, ska du finna en plats gjord med omsorg. Med grund i feministisk stadsplanering har jag försökt svara på behov som ofta förbises i utformandet av offentlig miljö, t.ex genom att planera barntoaletter och amningsrum.

Toaletten har jag placerat i Slussens tunnelbanestation, eftersom det där idag inte finns en gratis offentlig toalett, trots att tusentals passerar här dagligen. Slussens kakel, konstutsmyckningar och estetik har påverkat toalettens uttryck, i sammanflätning med känslan och arkitekturen i antika bad, hammam och japansk badkultur. Färgglada, udda och omsorgsfullt utformade toaletter jag stött på, i många fall utomlands och gjorda under tidigare delen av 1900-talet, har inspirerat mitt designförslag, men också lagt grunden för mitt val av tema i detta examensprojekt.

Public toilets are often unclean, dull and designed with cold materials and with no interest in creating a pleasant environment in addition to satisfy strictly needs. In my graduation project I have tried to bring life to the public toilet. Here I want to let color, form and playfulness be a part of the functionality. Whether you come to pause alone for a moment, or if you are in a hurry and just search and ordinary (but good!) toilet, you should find a place made with care. Based on feminist urban planning, I have tried to provide for needs that are not always included in the design of the public environment, for example by planning children toilets and a breastfeeding room.

I have placed the toilet in Slussen's metro station, where today there is no free public toilet, despite that thousands of people pass here daily. Slussen´s tiles, art decorations and aesthetics have influenced the expression of the restroom, intertwined with the feeling and architecture of antique baths, hammams, and Japanese bathing culture. Colorful, odd and carefully designed toilets I have come across, in many cases abroad and made during the early part of the 20th century, have inspired my design proposal, but also laid the foundation for my choice of theme in this degree project.

Plan and section of the restroom at Slussen´s metro station in Stockholm.

Entrance of the restroom in the southern part of Slussens metro station in Stockholm.

Restroom with basin, vaulted ceiling and entrances to individual toilets.

View of one individual toilet.

Plan and section of one individual toilet.

Collage made of pictures of materials of Slussen´s metro station. Made during the process of thinking about how a public restroom could look like in this place.

Collage made of pictures of materials of Slussen´s metro station. Made during the process of thinking about how a public restroom could look like in this place.

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