dick olango plans green toilet project as symbol of sustainability

dick olango plans green toilet project as symbol of sustainability
all images courtesy of ateliers olango

lixil corporation, a leading housing building and appliances manufacturer in japan, commissioned the creation of the green toilet project. based on a fusion of old and new technology, dick olango of OSA social design group has developed the construct as a squat toilet. in addition, it is non-flushing, all natural, and allows for separation of the excrements to be used as fertilizers.

with the implementation of removable containers, the waste is collected and changed once they are full. as a result, the architect allocated space for the formation of an onsite storage and decomposing section.

side view 

the design also fulfills the need to supply and educate the local community about sustainability. while built-in mechanisms grant 100% rainwater collection, plants are embedded into the framework to add to the aesthetic and provide food. the interior is filled with natural ventilation and lighting. according to olango, ‘this is where kids can spend a majority of their free time, especially girls. girls normally do miss roughly four days per month because of the menstrual period, which accounts for a great loss in the amount of education they receive.’

compost yard

the garden and water tank 

the designer hopes that ‘through information on sanitation, there will be ripple effect where the kids ʻeducateʼ their parents on the importance of regarding waste as a resource. local communities can take charge of the maintenance of the toilet, the plants and will be the pioneer trainers for future endeavors. at the same time, there will be the creation of awareness and jobs; all of this coming from taboo topics: toilets and poop.’

interior of the girls WC

interior of the boys WC

(left) toilets
(right) urinals

waste collection chambers in the back 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.