LAUFEN and EOOS design first gravity flushed urine-diverting toilet

nitrogren levels caused by sewage and the agricultural use of fertilizers threaten our planet more than rising CO2 levels, says a series of scientific studies. to solve this, the swiss federal institute of aquatic science and technology (eawag) has been examining potential alternatives for wastewater treatment, especially in domestic scenarios. the results sees eawag, LAUFEN and EOOS delve into the dirty work to design the first gravity flushed urine-diverting toilet.

image © EOOS
(main image © LAUFEN)

eawag has developed a technology that separates wastewater into urine, faeces and greywater, which can then each be sustainably processed. their first mission was to focus on urine as it contains the most harmful nutrients on ecosystems. from micropollutants to medical residues, their small yet highly efficient decentralized reactors can be fitted domestically and aim to remove 80% of the nitrogren found in sewage.

image © LAUFEN

to fit the innovations into the home, EOOS has designed a urine-diverting toilet with LAUFEN, called ‘save!’. as an evolution of their ‘blue diversion toilet’ from 2012, the design studio has now invented a ‘urine trap’ that directs urine towards a concealed outlet using only surface tension. this was then applied to a new design for LAUFEN, which features a ceramic bowl that is optimally shaped to guide the water flow. the result remains easy to maintain, low-tech and indistinguishable even with its high sustainable achievements.

called ‘circular flows: the toilet revolution!’, the project was shown at the XXII international exhibition of la triennale di milano, as part of the ‘broken nature‘ exhibition.

image © EOOS

installation of the official austrian contribution’ circular flows. the toilet revolution!’
designed by EOOS, commissioned and curated by MAK – museum for applied arts, vienna, XXII triennale di milano 2019
image © EOOS

installation of the official austrian contribution’ circular flows. the toilet revolution!’
designed by EOOS, commissioned and curated by MAK – museum for applied arts, vienna, XXII triennale di milano 2019
image © EOOS

installation of the official austrian contribution’ circular flows. the toilet revolution!’
designed by EOOS, commissioned and curated by MAK – museum for applied arts, vienna, XXII triennale di milano 2019
image © EOOS

product info:

name: save!

manufacturer: LAUFEN

designers: EOOS

researcher: eawag

exhibition: broken nature

venue: triennale di milano