A Study On The Design Of Rural Urine Directing Toilet Space Environment And Barrier-free Facilities

2011 is the 11th year since China entered the aging society. With the pace of rural population aging accelerating, the number of the aged in rural areas will probably surpass that in urban areas in the future several years. At the same time, construction of urban barrier-free environment is developing quite fast, while the development of construction of rural barrier-free environment is rather slow. The design of barrier-free toilets is a critical part of the barrier-free design theory. Rural toilets differ greatly from urban ones in aspects such as the area, the type of use and the toilet facilities. Therefore, researches on barrier-free designs in accordance with the environment characters of rural toilets are of great significance in enrichment of barrier-free design theory, barrier reduction for both the aged and the disabled in rural areas, which offers them a comfortable, convenient and favorable toilet environment.This research is of two objectives. On one hand, basing on analysis and studies on a certain type of toilet—rural eco-toilets (i.e. Urine directing toilet), it aims to propose reasonable suggestions and design strategies for problems about relative barrier-free designs; on the other hand, associating with the unique character of Urine directing collection structure, it intends to improve and innovate the toilet facilities in combination with the behavioral characteristics of the aged and the disabled. The thesis follows the design thought that it starts form the analysis of the overall environment and goes deep in details, and then returns from detail design to the overall environment analysis, so that a barrier-free toilet environment convenient for the aged and the disabled can be constructed at last.This thesis is divided into three parts:(1) Analysis of current situation and the design basis. In this part, the thesis aims to conclude the characters of rural toilet environment through comparative analysis between urban and rural toilet environment in China; to collect and study on barrier-free design theories, Human Engineering and Human Factors Science, physical and mental characteristics of the aged and the disabled, during which the behavioral characteristics of wheel-chair users and the dimensions of the wheel-chair will be elaborated. The work both provides design parameters and lays the theoretical foundation for following design research.(2) Investigation and analysis on ecological toilets. The investigation and analysis of the aged, the disabled and ecological toilets in rural areas mainly fall into two parts:investigation and analysis on the population situation and that on general status of toilets. The former will obtain detailed statistical data in aspects like the age composition, the structural component and the residential models in the population, while the latter in aspects such as the current construction situation of barrier-free toilets, problems when using the toilets and opinions about the reconstruction of barrier-free facilities. These supply further design researches with detailed references.(3) Researches on space and facilities design. In this part, the thesis carries on a variety of detailed studies on ecological toilets, including the functional demands, choice of location, ventilation and lighting, space scale and layout, the type and size of doors, differences in elevation or drop, and the railing. It raises new views about barrier-free facilities:one is to reduce accidental injuries of the aged caused by their leaning back when they use the squatting pan by mean of design; the other is to meet the demands of people who are used the squatting pan and those who have to use it at the same time through innovation of design. Also, the thesis proposes a corresponding design plan, that is, the hypsokinesis protection facility of squatting pan and the double-purpose directing pan for both squatting and sitting.