There’s a saying that home is where the heart is. And when inside our homes, it is important for us to feel secure and comfortable. That also goes to the bathroom, which is one of the most important parts of any home.
In an episode of Bathroom Redefined on Plus Network, Architect Dondon De Guzman, 2021 United Architects of the Philippines President, shares how to bring comfort to our comfort rooms. De Guzman, who has been in the profession for 25 years, shares that he tells his clients that they have to spend on two important areas in their home: the kitchen and the bathroom.
According to De Guzman, when designing toilets, we have to consider the natural movement of every person. This is called “Anthropometrics” in architecture. For example, most people would read newspapers or bring their phones to the toilet.
We spend a lot of time in the toilet so it’s something that should be comfortable. We have to make sure that everything is within reach, but still comfortable. The primary consideration of architecture are three things:
- Light – We must get natural light in.
- Vent – We must get the natural air in.
- Anthropometrics – Consider the person that will be using the place.
Presently, there are a lot of trending fixtures – smart fixtures or fixtures hanging from the wall. We have different sitting positions so fixtures should also vary in comfort and angles. This adds up to the comfort level of people whenever we’re in the toilet.
Faucets have also evolved over the years. The lever-type faucet is where we can use our elbows to open because we don’t want our dirty hands to touch the faucet. There are also automated faucets where we can just place our hands right under them and water begins to flow.
Mr. De Guzman shared that when it comes to designing toilets, measurements are important. We must be very particular about the height and the anthropometrics of the fixtures. By the millimeter, it matters to De Guzman – if it’s .15, it should really be .15 right on the dot.
Designing a toilet isn’t just putting a lavatory, water closet, or shower there. It’s more of the comfort-reach level of every user of that particular toilet. When considering these important factors, homeowners can make sure that their comfort rooms will really be comfortable not only for themselves, but also for their family and guests.
For more stories about improving one of the most important parts of your home, catch more episodes of Bathroom Redefined or follow FamilyWise Asia on Facebook, Instagram, or visit our website.
