RANT: Architects & Contractors: Stop building dumb bathrooms!

[Merkuri]

hole-in-the ground toilet and about 1 inch away was where you had to stand for the shower. if you stepped slightly to the side you'd have a foot in the toilet. if you turned around, you'd be staring down the toilet.

I wonder if this was somebody's answer to those folks who like to pee in the shower.

My mom used to tell this story about the time her and my dad were honeymooning in Europe ~35 years ago. They were on a train and my mom had to pee. She couldn't read the signs, not being able to speak anything but English, but she managed to find her way to the bathroom and was surprised to see that it was just a drain in the floor. She felt a little awkward about it, but she figured that's probably how it was done in the country they were in, so she used the drain.

A little while later after she had returned to their seats someone else on the train had to go to the bathroom and went in a completely different direction. To this day she does not know where she peed.

I only found out many many years later that she was drunk at the time.

 

[fba827]

lol (Merkuri). Your train story reminds me (though not a "worst bathroom design" story) when I was on a high class train in an asian country that i won't name, you'd lift the toilet seat and see the train tracks moving below... no plumbing, just straight down hole out the bottom of the train onto the tracks below.

yeah, it was an awesome 'high class' experience. makes me wonder what the lower-class trains were like

 

[Merkuri]

no plumbing, just straight down hole out the bottom of the train onto the tracks below.

Mental note... do not walk on train tracks in Asia.

And I'd say that qualifies as an odd bathroom.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Actually, I had the same experience on a train traveling from Nice, in France. There were signs posted about not using the train's facilities while in the station...but our train was running late and one member of our travelling party was a touch ill...

 

[Merkuri]

Revised mental note... do not walk on train tracks. Period.

 

[Dire Bare]

lol (Merkuri). Your train story reminds me (though not a "worst bathroom design" story) when I was on a high class train in an asian country that i won't name, you'd lift the toilet seat and see the train tracks moving below... no plumbing, just straight down hole out the bottom of the train onto the tracks below.

yeah, it was an awesome 'high class' experience. makes me wonder what the lower-class trains were like

That's how it used to be on trains EVERYWHERE! It's only been relatively recently that US passenger trains changed to airplane style toilets for hygienic reasons.

 

[Dire Bare]

5) And all across the world- even in so-called 1st world nations, even in big cities...please- get rid of the "abyssal hole in the ground" style bathroom! I've seen them in Cannes & Nice (France), Moscow (Russia)...don't tell me those cities don't have the money to replace them.

This isn't an example of bad design, just cultural differences. Not that I'm eager for my first poop-in-a-porcelain-pit experience, mind you. If the "abyssal hole" toilets are designed and installed properly, they are more hygienic than western style toilets . . . . but of course, westerners require training and practice to actually use them!

You can find images on the net of signs placed above western style toilets warning those used to the "hole" not to squat on top of the toilet seat . . . they are hilarious!

http://www.funnypictures.net.au/images/weird-toilet-signs-no-standing1.JPG

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, they do minimize aerosolization of waste...but the poop-pits of my experience seem to be frequented by patrons with poor aim.

And believe me, a mix of urine & feces is every bit as slick as ice.

 

[Relique du Madde]

That's how it used to be on trains EVERYWHERE! It's only been relatively recently that US passenger trains changed to airplane style toilets for hygienic reasons.

So trains magically bombard suburban cities with "blue chunky ice" from miles above the earth? AWESOME!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

So trains magically bombard suburban cities with "blue chunky ice" from miles above the earth? AWESOME!

Thomas the Tank Engine is an evil SOB.