“In a warm climate like India people have a very different relationship to built form. One needs but minimal protection, such as a chhatri (an overhead canopy), during the day. In the early morning and at night, the best place to be is outdoors, under the sky." - Charles Correa
‘Restroom’ is not just a polished word for toilet, here a Restroom is a public toilet that is unique in terms of both form and function. Beyond the obvious toilet blocks, the Restrooms aim to provide women an exclusive social space, something that is atypical of the urban landscape in India.
The design of the restroom has been conceptualized around a tree for two reasons. One is to express the idea of integrating nature and context in the built form and using its characteristics to protect from climate. Secondly, the shade of the tree protects the garden below from the sun allowing filtered light, and then it only needs a transparent cover to protect it from rain. This intervention helped to maintain the light quality, as exactly it was when the site was empty. This was a crucial factor from a designer’s point of view. As a result of this intervention during the day the natural light lights up the box filtering through the trees and at night the box lights the surroundings.
The Restroom for women measures 10’ x 30’ is built around an existing tree. It has four blocks at two ends. At one end there are two toilets with a common washbasin and at the other end there is a nursing room and a toilet for handicapped and senior citizens. The center of the restroom is a garden measuring 15’ x 10’ that is used for various activities like a place to rest, a free gallery to display art for amateur artists, a place for lectures and awareness campaigns, and celebrating festivals, seasonal activities, and events. The central garden is a metaphor to spaces where people can sit and relax under a tree in shade and socialize.
The Restroom with toilet blocks is fitted with a biodigester to reduce the use of fresh water and improve waste management. It also includes a nursing room and has amenities like sanitary pads vending machines and incinerators, CCTV cameras, Mobile charging points, and a panic alarm system in place. “For us, providing a safe environment for women was as important as providing hygienic toilets. We have created space for an ATM machine and are looking to collaborate with banks that can provide this facility along with a security guard to make the restrooms more secure.
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