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Feature Articles - The Bathroom

The Bathroom

Man on bidet

"The Bathroom” was written for the December 1977 issue of Canadian Interiors magazine, one of few design magazines in Canada at that time. Although now 30 years old, this article still contains points relevant to bathroom design today. Bathroom design has undergone major change, particularly with bathtubs which now include sloped backs and modular units. However, there is still room for improvement for thermal qualities and also size and angle of slope in the bathtub part of the module. Whereas many new designs incorporate slopes and shapes, I have personally yet to find any that are comfortable. In my mind, the best bathtub ever for shape, comfort and safety is still the old caste-iron claw-and-ball. You can grab on to the high sides while getting in and out (especially important for those with disabilities and general aging problems), and mothers can wash their children comfortably while getting support from directly under their armpits. As a bath it provides comfort, real comfort. (A modular unit put out by MAAX Lachine out of Quebec - www.maax.com - is the closest I have seen to a claw-and-ball bath tub shape.) And bidets? They are still non-existent in most bathrooms. And as for toilets - now that I am getting older myself I find low toilets very difficult to use. And what of tall people? How do they find sinking so low then having to pull themselves up? One reader has informed me that some toilet designs now have the front of the toilet bowl very shallow, which can be very uncomfortable and a bit of a surprise for men when they sit down and have their genitals suddenly hit cold water. And have we reduced the amount of water flushed in toilets each time we press the lever? Or reduced the amount of water flow through our faucets? At a time when water shortages are becoming prevalent in many major cities in North America, and power outages force reduced water consumption, it is evident that much of this article is still very relevant today. And as for the book, “The Bathroom” by Alexander Kira, it is still recommended reading. Another reader has informed me that Professor Kira died on October 4, 2005 in Ithaca, New York. The following is the original 1977 article. Let me know what you think.

A design calamity. They go wherever space is left over, with a minimal budget.

Humans are the most adaptable of animals. They have traversed continents through the ages and have adapted to different climates. They have adjusted slowly, sometimes with resentment, to changing environments and technologies. Yet without being aware of it, humans have also adapted to bathrooms which are not only generally very small but are of a design which prevents the basic human needs of elimination and body cleansing being performed in a comfortable and natural manner.

Have you, after all, tried lying comfortably in a standard bathtub lately without getting a crick in your neck and a sore back? Have you noticed that while washing your hands and face you no longer fill up the basin but instead use running water? Try then, once you have adjusted the water temperature to your requirements, to soap up and scrub your hands freely under a standard faucet.

Anaïs Nin, a contemporary American poet, stated in one of her poems, “America errs on the side of health. The health they speak of is hygienic sterility.” One thing Anaïs failed to portray is the superficial attitude of people towards hygiene and cleanliness. One may put on a crisp white shirt and pants to give the impression of cleanliness but is one really clean?

Alexander Kira, in his book “The Bathroom”, tells of a medical survey performed in England which involved white-collared, artisan and labouring classes and revealed that 44% of those surveyed, regardless of class, had faecal contamination in underwear. Kira quotes the author of a report as saying that ‘many are prepared to complain about a “tomato sauce stain on a restaurant tablecloth, whilst they luxuriate on a plush seat in their faecially stained pants.”’

Is this problem, which is not limited to England, a social one or one related to the design and function of facilities used for elimination and cleansing? Maybe we should suggest that it is a combination of the two, as design should not consider only the aesthetics, but also form, function and social requirements. Kira says, “perhaps most important, the architects and builders - who actually are the purchasers and who actually are responsible for the design of our bathrooms - must begin to think of hygiene facilities as an important part of the home and as an important aspect of our daily lives rather than as a necessary evil to be accommodated according to the dictates of some obsolete handbook or drawing template in whatever space is left over with whatever part of the budget is minimally required to meet legal standards.”

Aldo and Francesco Piccaluga:

Aldo and Francesco Piccaluga, architectural, interior and industrial designers in Toronto, have found that in all design projects the space which creates more headaches than any other is that of the bath and washrooms. Their concern for detail and perfection, along with their perseverance and determination to steer away from compromises, has led to hours of frustration and problems for them. Aldo and Francesco explained that attempts by architects and designers to introduce new designs in Canada are restricted by further legal standards within the country.

To investigate and verify this, the author approached designers across the country for their comments. Not only did the following designers confirm those conclusions made by Aldo and Francesco, but they also revealed dramatic concerns for the development of bathroom design.

NATIONAL REPORT 1977

West Coast:
Robert Leddingham, designer from Vancouver, was ironically detained at a local bathroom boutique while the author was attempting to locate him. He later found time to comment that, because of milder weather conditions, custom bathrooms are being designed with indoor/outdoor relationships. Robert relies heavily upon fixtures from the U.S., specifically California, and hardware from Toronto and New York. Selection of these items has to be made mostly from catalogues because there are so few showroom facilities.

Robert feels strongly that the bathroom has been neglected in design over the last 50 years, in comparison with other areas of the house. He explained that many European products are able to bridge that gap but use of such fixtures and fittings becomes difficult due to the lack of C.S.A. (Canadian Standard Association) approvals, a tough building code lobby, and “sticky” building inspectors.

Mid West:
Leaping over the Rockies we land in Calgary where Robert Krogseth tells of how clients are now willing to pay the price for good design. He explained that the availability of products is not good although selection is. The Establishment, a boutique in Calgary, has been a good resource for American and European items, but Robert states that he would prefer to use products made in Canada if they suit the required application. He hopes that Canada will update in bathroom design and believes the designers should lead the way to the improvement.

Quebec:
Mention the word ‘bathroom’ to designer Jean Carsley of Montreal and time will disappear down the drain. Jean commented that bathrooms are finally coming out of the closet but trying to accommodate this change is strenuous, especially when limited to such standard fixtures. She has not found a boutique in Montreal which can provide her with choices that are available in Toronto. Jean states that of the three manufacturers to choose from - Crane, American Standard and Kohler, the latter has the better range but higher prices.

Jean explained that another problem which has nothing to do with fixtures. Architects, unless planning condominiums, do not want interior designers to ‘put their two-cents worth in,’ and are confused as to where their role ends and that of the interior designer begins.

To end the conversation Jean gave the following suggestion: “to help improve the design of bathrooms in Canada there should be a yearly Bathroom Design Contest.”

East Coast:
Betty Lou Pugh of Nova Scotia expressed her concerns over limited availability of products. Suppliers are unwilling to stock non-standard items, so choice is restricted to those items used by contractors. A bathroom that would be fairly easy to put together in Toronto would be a massive headache on the East Coast. The designer, according to Betty Lou, is controlled by the manufacturer.

Chicago:
Gene Dreyfus of Childs-Dreyfus in Chicago was approached for an outside opinion. Gene has for the past few years been designing for the Palace Pier, a luxurious apartment complex on the Lake Ontario waterfront in Toronto. He explained that for the sake of economics and architectural spaces, multi-housing relies upon standard bathroom fixtures, but the specific design problem determines which fixtures are to be used. At Palace Pier, Gene added to the standard by installing bidets and single lever faucets, which have all proven to be successful.
Gene then said that Europeans have gone back to the basic concepts of development of design, a step that has resulted in exciting fixtures and hardware. He predicts that the next few years will see more European influence in North America.

“The Bathroom” by Alexander Kira:
After a seven-year research project, Alexander Kira, professor of architecture at Cornell University in the U.S., was able to compile sufficient data to warrant his writing “The Bathroom”, first published in 1966, now revised, expanded and available in paperback (1977). “The Bathroom” is a study of ‘use’, for as Kira states, “it is not surprising that having a well-functioning plumbing system, and fixtures placed in such a manner as to conserve costs, took precedence over the human aspects related to the use of the fixtures themselves.”

The fixtures he speaks of include the sink, bath, shower, bidet, water closet, urinal and the accessories.

While discussing sinks, Kira states that during hand washing the body should be in a relaxed vertical position and hands should be manipulated just in front of the body. He comments that, “present lavatory installation practices and recommended standards, however, preclude such a posture…. The heights used at present are so low as to be ideal only for small children.” Other design considerations for sinks include the movements of the body while bending; movement of hands and arms; splashing and water source; all of which should determine height, width, depth of sink and type of faucet - preferably fountain type “to resolve the problem of interference with a spout”, and lever controls which are “easier to grasp with wet and soapy hands.”

On baths, Kira says, “it is probably fair to say that the only substantive reason for taking a tub bath (other than pure personal idiosyncrasy) is to ‘relax”, and yet it is precisely this that the vast majority of tubs have not permitted the user to do, particularly in the U.S.” Kira examines not only the comfort factors such as slope or lack of it, but also hazards of getting in and out of tubs, hazards which are created by lack of height considerations, slippery surfaces, and a lack of grab bars.
The simpler and quicker method of body cleansing is showering, but as Kira explains, “when an enclosure is provided that is precisely the same dimensions as the actual area used, people begin to restrict their range of movements to accommodate the body in a more or less constant relationship with the space actually available.” Space for free movement is essential but so is the need for seating, storage and easy water control. “Almost without exception, the controls are located directly under the water source and in most cases where a tub is used as a shower receptor, at a height so low as to be usable only from a sitting not from a standing position.” Making adjustments in the water temperature then “becomes an extremely hazardous undertaking.” Accidents occur through scalding or through movements to avoid the stream of water.

Perineal hygiene, states Kira, is the cleansing of the genital, urinary and anal regions of the body. “Of all the normal body cleansing activities these are undoubtedly the least understood the least discussed, and the least performed.” Kira, in elaborating, explains that even though the bidet is used for a “wide-range of washing and soaking purposes, it is generally treated as an adjunct to the water closet … so that in many instances its functional utility has been sacrificed for the sake of a matching appearance.”

Western culture, psychological hang-ups, dress and fixture designs restrict natural performance of defecation and urination. Existing water closet design may not only be uncomfortable to sit on, too high, and limiting in support and spreading of buttocks, but may also produce splashing during urination, and awkwardness of body cleansing after defecation. The fixture should be “conceived of as a part of a comprehensive modular system of personal hygiene facilities.”

When discussing the bathroom Kira says that “the three fixture, five-by-seven-foot bathroom … dates approximately from the building boom of the early 1920s … the bathroom remains the single most undeveloped area in the average house today.”

What are the reasons?

What are the reasons for this lack of development? Aldo and Francesco suggest government bodies set standards which are used by manufacturers to produce items which the dealers request to sell to the market.

In North America the primary concern of these manufacturers is volume. Louis Petro of Allied Technical Services (ATS), engineers in Toronto, stated that the larger percentage of homes are built by developers who squeeze in the standard 5 ft. X 7 ft. bathroom and want the cheapest items that pass C.S.A. standards. Joe Dunleavy, also of ATS, explained that American Standard has a duty to upgrade its products. These upgradings may not be to the level of Europe but AMS has produced many items above the normal standard. Unfortunately, these items are at a level beyond the price maximum of developers.

Louis gave an example of developers’ attitudes by stating that in an office building that specifies a marble exterior and improved bathrooms, should the costs after tender be too high, the developer will cut back on the bathrooms rather than the marble.

B.C. Diebert, standards administrator for the C.S.A., explained that the committees responsible for standards are approved by the Standards Policy Board which stipulates that all committees should be balanced not only in types of members but in regional representation. The committee on plumbing includes representatives from the major manufacturers, government, consulting engineers, architects and users (that is if contractors can be considered as users) across the country. One third of the representation is for the manufacturer. When going through the list of representatives Aldo Piccaluga pointed out the lack of independent engineers as consultants. P.G. Spenst, member of the C.S.A. committee and advisor for the Building Code Branch of the Ontario Government, pointed out that the committee has had trouble in getting independent consultants to attend.

At present, should a company wish approval for a fixture or fitting, that company sends an application (along with a large cheque) for tests to the C.S.A. Should that fixture or fitting not meet up to the documented specifications, approval will be denied. These specifications were set in about 1950, and since then slight changes have been made to them. Six years ago (1971) the Ontario Plumbing Code adopted these standards as being mandatory. When asked if the committee plans to update the standards, P.G. Spenst diverted the conversation to another topic.

Energy Conservation and the C.S.A.:
According to Mr. Weyler, of Groh in Chicago, and Aldo Piccaluga, the C.S.A. minimum standards for water flow are above and beyond required amounts. The minimum discharge rate for supply fittings for lavatory, kitchen, sink, bath, shower, laundry and lawn is 4.5 Imperial gallons of water per minute! A sink or lavatory supply with diverter and spray must have a minimum of 2.25 gallons, and automatic compensative valves of two gallons per minute. The U.S., in many areas, according to Weyler, has already prohibited such minimums in their attempts to conserve water. When P.G. Spenst was asked as to why such minimums have been set and if they will be reduced he answered by asking, “what would we save water for?”
Aldo and Francesco, while designing washroom facilities for a building in Toronto, requested approval for a high quality European faucet. The fitting, during testing, only emitted 1.7 gallons instead of the required 2 gallons per minute. It would be interesting to note here that the user of such a faucet, if it were turned on full flow, would be soaked because of the force of the water. Approval was rejected. Ironically though, B.M. Diebert of the C.S.A. explained that devices are now available that can be attached to existing faucets to reduce flow. Doesn’t that seem to be a little backwards?

Other concerns in energy conservation would include the need to have all pipes in a building insulated to keep water at constant temperatures. Too much water is wasted in adjusting temperatures to individual requirements - waiting for the water in the pipes to get hot before adjusting. Energy Probe is presently working on alternate methods to another problem, that of water wasted in flushing toilets. At present (1977) the amount used in one flush for residential fixtures is five gallons, and three gallons for commercial. Units from Europe flush from 1.5 to two gallons.

C.S.A. and Design:
Aldo stated that the C.S.A. almost never recommends any standard of design because they have no direction in design for use performance, such as comfort, simplicity of line, cleaning and safety. There are no standards to ensure that bathtub surfaces will be non-slip, or that faucets will not project into a tub, eliminating risk of fall and injuries. When the C.S.A. recommends minimum standard for dimensions, manufacturers will then work to those exact specifications.

Trends:
Ginger Eisen of Ginger’s Bath and Boudoir in Toronto tells with great pride that her campaign over the last few years to educate the consumer in bathroom design has been very fruitful. The customer is now more aware and more demanding.
Along with her range of bathtubs, showers, W.C.s and bidets are pedestal sinks, which Ginger has reintroduced to the Canadian market. These sinks have been in use in Europe for many years but are only just recently catching the interest of the Canadian consumer. The same can be said for the many faucet fittings that are now available through Ginger.

Bath, shower and toilet designs are changing but only in the more expensive lines where one, as usual, has to pay for comfort. The bathroom itself is undergoing a face-lift, but wrinkles are still quite prominent. Remember the faecially-stained pants from several paragraphs ago? One way to avoid that kind of situation would be to use a bidet. North America though still has a mental block concerning that fixture, relating it only to sex. Phil Commit of The Jon, in Toronto, explained that manufacturers have failed to illustrate to the public the many functions of the bidet to help eliminate the myths and therefore reduce the number of blushing faces. What other unit in the home could be so useful? How do you normally wash your feet? In the sink? Where do you wash your hands when the sink is full of soaking laundry? What better way is there to soothe haemorrhoids and bowel discomforts than in a mini-bath?

As for the bigger bath, the last 30 years or so have seen design changes, often for the worse. This regression could be due to a change in materials that allow for mass production. With the old cast iron tub one could lie back comfortably and relax in water that would remain warm. Louis Petro of ATS stated that the introduction of steel eliminated the sloping back and created heat loss. Fibreglass, however, retains heat and can be formed into all shapes and slopes. Unfortunately, in the case of standard units, manufacturers have not taken advantage of this scope but have instead used fibreglass in tubs which duplicate the shape of pressed steel.
Other manufacturers have taken fibreglass much further into design, from the bathtub to the prefabricated, modular bathrooms. Aldo Piccaluga stated that prefabricated bathrooms have been produced in England now for 20 years, where they work, and are accepted not only by the public but also by the labour union. Canadian attempts have been unsuccessful except for the custom design by Moshe Safdie for Habitat at Montreal in 1967. Jack MacPherson of Fibreglas Canada explained that a survey was performed in the complex (Habitat) to examine user reactions. All the responses were favourable.

At a time in Canada when prefabrication is used for hotels and housing, the bathroom still remains conventional. Logically speaking, the bathroom is the one room of the house which can be fixed and therefore be prefabricated and modular while other spaces adjust to user needs.

Peter Shakespeare of Luxury Plumbing explained that the last five years have seen great improvements in design but as some architects and interior designers insist Canada has a long way to go. The Canadian public is ready for change but that change will not come about unless designers and architects are willing to take the lead, to approach manufacturers through the C.S.A. to allow them more design freedom.

Revisions through the C.S.A. to accommodate new design concepts can be made by requests directed to the B45 and B21 committees. One lone voice will not move the mountain.

Sources:
“The Bathroom” by Alexander Kira
Interviews with -

Aldo and Francesco Piccaluga
Joe Dunleavy and Louis Petro, ATS
Robert Leddingham, Vancouver
Robert Krogseth, Calgary
Jean Carsley, Montreal
Betty Lou Pugh, Nova Scotia
Gene Dreyfus, Childs-Dreyfus, Chicago
B.M. Diebert, C.S.A.
P.G. Spenst, C.S.A., Ontario Plumbing Code
Mr. Weyler, Grohe, Chicago
Ginger’s, The Jon, Luxury Plumbing and Aqualine
Jack MacPherson, Fibreglas Canada.

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