Rationale:
We make the assumption that our toilet system is “correct” without knowing how other cultures tackle the issue. This study examines practices around the world and asks whether improvements might be made to Western toilet design

Aims:

• To understand and compare the different ways toilets are used in different cultures
• To examine people’s perceptions of these toilets

Methodology:

• Two separate studies were made:
• Review of 6 major toilet types in different cultures
• Survey of people from different cultural backgrounds in several localities of Sydney to gauge their response to different types of toilets

• Globally there are a surprising variety of approaches to the everyday issue of toileting
• Some approaches may appear unhygienic to Westerners (but are environmentally superior to Western toilets)
• Nobody surveyed would ever use a squat toilet again if possible
• Most people (from all cultural backgrounds) surveyed thought the Australian system was superior to others
• Hygiene and safety were most commonly raised as possible improvements to public toilets
• High tech toilets were the most coveted system