Micro-architecture super light toilet, photo by Azimin Tazilan
1. Above photo that have I took at Nilai, N. Sembilan, Malaysia shown a simple & practical idea of having a washroom near roadside at village/kampung area. This little toilet was built besides a car-wash services corner at the village. By using a 4 wooden stick poles, wrapped around with a PVC canvas screen, raised floor by using a recycle container packaging wood, and water container provided inside is just as good to release your 'light nature calls'. This facility structure which I categorize as Malaysian micro-architecture is a true mobile, light-weight architecture are quite similar to Richard Horden's (1999, 2008) defines his microarchitecture but not taking a consideration on the industry or high profile technology driven. Of cause we are always can argued the issues on hygiene, material, privacy, & etc for this kind of toilet. But after all, is this what we could call a sustainable toilet?
2.This trigger my mind, some how human just need to go back by their basic necessity, especially during the 'emergency' of nature-call. As most of us could see the public toilet issues has been brought to the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Authority’s interest until they have launched a specific campaign under theme, “Heading to Clean Toilet Culture” (Ministry and Minister text campaign 2004). This awareness campaign was directly to stake hold in order to speed up the government’s message to the public. It has been reported that the government has spent RM31.6 million in expenditure within 2003-2004, just to build and upgrade the public toilet for the local authority councils in Malaysia (Azimin Tazilan 2005).
The question that will be pondered around is, what is the actual strategic plan to improve current toilet conditions, and what is the future plans to create more of a sustainable toilet in the country or region?
3. The Super Hi-tech Toilet in KL areas
In Malaysia there is an island type of public toilet, which I classify as a micro-architecture unit due to the architecture building archetype. Most of these unit has been place at remote public areas simply because the typical toilets are smelly and didn't look 'avant-garde' to public.
DBKL hi-tech public toilet
To date a a few 'hi-tech public toilet' in built-up size +- 2.25m x 5.25m x 3.25m height, which cost almost RM400-450k per unit have been built around Kuala Lumpur city centre (Anon. 2006, News Straits Time 20 Jan 2009); This implementation, I could see to overcome and to educate public for using a very clean or modern environment of toilets. However this hi-tech toilets that I have been visited recently; only have a:
+2 units cubicles, +1 cleaner/maintenance counter space
+Ventilation:using a 2 split units Air Cond. (ceiling mounted, may produce a hi-energy consumption)
+Material built: Tempered glass + Stainless steel body (very good sustainable materias indeed)
+System: Automation, with auto door, wash and dryer, etc
+Service charge: RM0.30 (if not mistaken), for 15 minutes usage, and the door will automaticaly open.
What I did discover during the visit this hi-tech toilet is surprise me, because you can't use the toilet after 5 users used it earlier. It will be disable automatically, and the cleaner assistant have to do a manual clean up, etc. (Estimated maybe around 15 minutes). Secondly I saw an additional blower fan (after market product) infront of the cleaner that blowing to her face directly. When I ask her whether the space is warm to be working over there; she said the fan is to blow away the bad smells during each time if someone using or auto-flushing the toilets.
Now this makes me wondering what's actually happening to this so call 'hi-tech Japanse technology' toilets in Malaysia? What i did discover the exhaust fan from the toilet actually is blowing out directly above the cleaner's head as infront of the counter...
3. Lesson & Solutions:
Think simple, functional but yet innovative way and you won't go wrong. Generally the main typical problems that have been raised about public toilet in Malaysia mainly at urban and suburban areas are: ventilation, natural lighting, security and privacy (Azimin 2006). I have wrote a paper published at Bung Hatta University (Azimin et. al 2005) describing how we can produce an eco-sustainable public toilets in Malaysia and the region.
On my latest invention on ECSTRACT™ (an eco-sustainable active public lavatory), I have addressed all the issues and the idea of sustainability design approaches. I have always been inspired by our local Malay vernacular architecture houses that I use to stay during my childhood days at Parit Buntar, Batu Kurau and Selama, Perak. By utilizing the idea of an ultra energy such as photovoltaic power, rainwater harvesting system, landscape, homogenous + natural base material applications; it has been a great tremendous elements that actually contributes the green technology application. The most important, this patent-filed ECSTRACT™ is more economically to built, cheaper and less maintenance...
ECSTRACT™: Micro-architecture eco-street active public lavatory invented by Azimin Tazilan.
(All rights reserved: azimintazilan+ UKM)
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