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Public Toilets
The Golden Toilet Award exhibition is on now at the Melbourne Town Hall. Was a little cramped at the opening but still managed to have a good gander at the latest in public toilets. The exhibition also has a few strands tying it into Melbourne's commodious history of toilets.
While great to have this exhibition, I was a little blue to think again of this very council's recent track record with public toilet thought. In the '90s the old underground toilets at Russell Street and next to the National Trust (!) got concreted over, causing quite a stink. Then a phalanx of musical Exeloos arrived from New Zealand - "automated self managing public toilets." They have been dropping onto our footpaths ever since. Occasionally on Bridge Rd and Collins St I see the doors get confused and lodge in the open position - giving a full view of the porcelain style stainless steel. Did Exeloo never hear the one about using door swing to obscure the view of the loo? Or privacy screens?
Presumably though the intent is to obscure nothing from view, so that all toilets can be light, surveillable, and fragrant. Oh, and easily serviced. That last point seems to have cut architects out of the public toilet picture.
Recently the City of Melbourne called for registrations of interest in two new toilets for the Fitzroy Gardens. Cool, I thought, and registered. Oops, they don't need designs anymore, they have an ideal standard:
Two ye olde Victorian brunswick green exeloos, being built right now. No matter that the other toilets in the gardens are mostly very adventurous buildings, especially the 1957 Gents near the Cafe. Designed by the City Architect apparently.
All over Australia and New Zealand pre Exeloo public toilets were often the first public commisions for architects, and usually looked it, being well-stuffed with ideas and quirk. But of course there was always the hint of danger, graffiti on one wall and some very odd sounds from that cubicle. Seems we are not to be trusted to share a quiet piss anymore.
While great to have this exhibition, I was a little blue to think again of this very council's recent track record with public toilet thought. In the '90s the old underground toilets at Russell Street and next to the National Trust (!) got concreted over, causing quite a stink. Then a phalanx of musical Exeloos arrived from New Zealand - "automated self managing public toilets." They have been dropping onto our footpaths ever since. Occasionally on Bridge Rd and Collins St I see the doors get confused and lodge in the open position - giving a full view of the porcelain style stainless steel. Did Exeloo never hear the one about using door swing to obscure the view of the loo? Or privacy screens?
Presumably though the intent is to obscure nothing from view, so that all toilets can be light, surveillable, and fragrant. Oh, and easily serviced. That last point seems to have cut architects out of the public toilet picture.
Recently the City of Melbourne called for registrations of interest in two new toilets for the Fitzroy Gardens. Cool, I thought, and registered. Oops, they don't need designs anymore, they have an ideal standard:
Two ye olde Victorian brunswick green exeloos, being built right now. No matter that the other toilets in the gardens are mostly very adventurous buildings, especially the 1957 Gents near the Cafe. Designed by the City Architect apparently.
All over Australia and New Zealand pre Exeloo public toilets were often the first public commisions for architects, and usually looked it, being well-stuffed with ideas and quirk. But of course there was always the hint of danger, graffiti on one wall and some very odd sounds from that cubicle. Seems we are not to be trusted to share a quiet piss anymore.
The Exeloo Vision
Our vision is to provide a public toilet facility which provides the highest standard of hygiene and safety for users, meets the needs of the disabled, and discourages loitering or vandalism. http://www.exeloo.com/automated-public-toilets.htm
Comments
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After dark down the tres chic 'Paris' end of Collins street. The beaming beacon of the local exeloo to guide us on our travels.
Didn't spot it? Here's a close up:
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