Refashioning an existing product to make it easier to use by all persons takes a great deal of intuitive thinking. Two innovative designers, Changduk Kim and Youngki Hong of South Korea, have practically reinvented the toilet by creating their universal toilet.
Both commode and lavatory come as a set. Transfer from a wheelchair takes a forward approach and the lavatory has handles to grasp and a breastplate to lean onto. The universal toilet can also be used as a conventional toilet with the sink’s breastplate serving as a backrest. There are many advantages to the universal toilet. First, the universal toilet requires a quarter less room than the standard ADA bathroom stall with its 5′ x 5′ turning space. Second, stigmas are removed making the dedicated “handicap” bathroom stall unnecessary because all users use the same stall. Third, the universal toilet conserves water by recycling water from wash basin to toilet bowl.
The designers are still in the process of manufacturing their product so the universal toilet is not yet on the market. Who knows? We may some day see their design in public restrooms, and bath and plumbing showrooms.
Check out the video below and/or the website at www.universal-toilet.com and let me know if you feel this is a workable design (post your comments in the “leave a comment” field below the video).
UT from changduk kim on Vimeo.
copyrightⓒ 2007 Changduk Kim & Youngki Hong. All rights reserved.