Committee on Design

Omigoodness.  I asked for ideas about the niche of knowledge that belongs to the Committee on Design and now we are talking about the need for private bathrooms?  There are some weighty issues here and my guess is the general consensus is liquid at best.  For me, its just one more force in the big world of inclusive programming.  I am not convinced that everybody needs to be able to pee in private no matter where they find themselves.  It seems to me a little forethought might make it possible for those with this malady (if that's what it is) to avoid big restrooms.  But its better to know about something and reject it than to be oblivious.
-------------------------------------------
Mike Mense FAIA
Owner
mmenseArchitect
Anchorage AK
-------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------
Dawn Schuette AIA
Principal
Threshold Acoustics LLC
Chicago IL
-------------------------------------------
As I read these discussions, I think about the use of fully enclosed toilet areas, such as is common in many areas of Europe. In many places in France, it is common to see combined sink areas (men and women) and a number of individual toilet rooms assigned to each sex. This is a pretty efficient layout and yet gives more privacy than the typical US toilet partitions. This would not work everywhere, but it is worth some consideration in the US.