盥筒之境—香港公共廁所的新意念

從1904年的磅巷公共廁所到1970-2010年代的九龍和新界公共廁所，香港公共廁所的發展經歷了一段漫長的歷程。現時廁所的衛生環境惡劣，令人反感，並臭名昭著。過去，公共廁所的目的是防止在擁擠的生活環境下爆發鼠疫和慢性疾病。目前，尤其是在新冠大流行的情況下，公共廁所更是維護公眾健康及促進公民教育。

現在是公廁改革的時候。盥筒之境是有機流線設計的洗手間建築群，表現出流動性及創造了良好的氛圍環境。它具有組裝合成的衛生設施及配備了綠色參數種植，可以屏蔽外部的灰塵和噪音，創造良好的使用環境。

設計理念

盥:「盥，澡手也。」《說文解字．皿部》

筒:「截竹為筒，破以為牒。」《論衡·量知》

境:「檻外諸境。」《天演論》

人們通常短暫使用洗手間設施(盥)。 我們(筒)是孤立的，尤其是在新冠感染隔離期。現在是時候設計為用戶帶來愉悅的廁所體驗(境)，有生動的盥筒之境設計，步入公共廁所的新階段。

佈局安排

憑藉其有機的佈局設計，圓筒衛生艙和洗手盆是向着中央公共空間，方便用戶使用。彎曲的行道可為使用者提供隱私。我們還為用戶提供公共路線（現場）和私人路線（洗手間內）。

衞生艙

此組裝合成的衞生艙是挑戰目前的典型設計。它具有自動沖洗系統及獨立的管道空間，易於維修和保養，確保更好的衛生控制。它配備傳感器，可以通過物聯網和空氣淨化來測量濕度和溫度，還設有獨立的機械抽氣系統抽出異味。衛生艙內部定期每月噴上抗菌塗層。

社會和經濟可持續性

這公共空間不僅提供良好的衛生服務，而且重新塑造公共廁所的形象。憑藉其有機形式，促進更好的地面空氣通風。物聯網傳感器（濕度和溫度）監控洗手間環境，並即時向用戶提供反饋。該建築還使用可回收的混凝土，並引入了綠色屋頂以降低室內溫度。

Silo in the Paradise: The New Prototype of Washroom For Hong Kong

It has been a long journey for the development of Public Toilet in Hong Kong, from the Pound Lane Washroom in 1904 to the network of public toilets in Kowloon and New Territories during 1970-2010s. It has been notorious for its unhygienic environment. In the past, the purpose of Public Toilet was to prevent the outbreak of bubonic plague and chronic diseases under congested living environment. At present, it is more crucial as it safeguards the public health and promotes civic education, in particular under the pandemic of COVID-19.

It is time for the revolution of Public Toilet Development. We change the image of Public Toilet. Silo in the Paradise is an organic form of the washroom complex, expressing fluidity and creating an ambience environment for the users. It equips the MIC facilities and parametric green façade with screening the dust and noise from the exterior, thus becoming user-friendly and benefiting the environment.

 

Design Concept— Silo in the Paradise

 “Silo”

(n.) a large, round toer on a farm for storing grain or winter food for cattle;

(v.) to separate something or someone from other things or people;

 

“Paradise”

(n.) a place or condition of great happiness where everything is exactly as you would like it to be;

We act as a silo that we isolate ourselves, in particular during the COVID quarantine period. It is time that we design an attractive place to bring joyful experience to users, which is the vivid organic design (Paradise). We will start a new stage of journey for public toilet.

Layout Arrangement

With its organicity shape, the water closets and wash basins are centrifuging towards the central common space, which are highly-accessible for the users. The curved walking path can secure the entrance and create a high-sense of privacy for the users inside. We also provide Public route (On site) and Private routes (Inside the Washroom) for the users.

MIC Cubicle

This cylindrical prototype of water closet is challenging the present typical design. It has an Auto-flushing System with individual pipe duct space for easy repair and maintenance, in securing better hygiene control. It has sufficient sensors for measuring the humidity and temperature with an IOT network, with air purification. It has a separate mechanical exhaust system for bringing-out the odour. The Cabin interior would have Anti-bacterial coating sprayed per month.

Social and Economic Sustainability

It is a communal space not only performing hygienical service, but also rebuilding a better image of public toilet.

With its organic form, it facilitates better ground air ventilation. The IOT Sensors (Humidity and Temperature) can monitor the washroom environment and give immediate feedback to the users. This architecture also uses recyclable concrete, with the introduction of green roof to reduce indoor temperature.