Introducing: The Public Toilets at Pratt Institute Blog Series!

 

This summer, Interior Design graduate students at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York have been studying public toilet availability, access, and design with a mission to make an impact on the New York City public restroom experience and share our findings along the way. A topic that affects us all, we hope to grow awareness and dialogue about the important issue and contribute to the future restroom designs. 

The course is taught by Margot Kleinman, a PHLUSH volunteer, researcher, architect and founder of Vagus Workshop Inc., and Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute School of Design. Margot first became interested in public toilets as a traveler, then when she was working on her Master of Architecture at the University of Southern California, and finally connected with PHLUSH in 2020 to become a graphic designer and advocate. She is passionate about using her design training to make an impact on the public and people in need, and has been excited to share this mission with her students this summer.

 

Margot created a research based course called “Public Toilets” for Pratt Institute School of Design, which asks the students to first study the who, what, where, when and why of public toilets in NYC. Next, the students each examined a city abroad, to learn about different approaches, design, and availability relating to public toilets. After completing the research locally and at a distance, each student prepared a proposal for a new restroom design and approach in New York City.

The class challenged the many nuances of this difficult challenge:

• What does it mean to be a “public” toilet? Who has access?
• What is the appropriate amount of privacy, without being too private?
• How do you balance budget with quantity and quality?
• Where are the areas in most need of public restrooms and for whom?
• Why do so many toilets close after dark, when we don’t stop needing a bathroom?
• How are different cities approaching this issue, and what can we learn from them to shape NYC future public toilets?

 

This is the beginning of a blog series which will highlight students’ research on case studies of various cities abroad. People need public toilets in every country and every city. By investigating a handful of cities globally, we collectively gather lessons learned to inform our New York City based designs. 

Follow along to see the biweekly posts of research to learn more about public toilets design! All work included belongs to Pratt Institute. Please feel free to reach out to Margot with any questions or to discuss at mkleinma@pratt.edu.