Sustainability and a toilet flush

God is in the Detail

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe believed that “Less is More”. It was argued many times in the history of architecture and his main opponent was Robert Venturi who said, “Less is Bore”.

The philosophy of Mies is closer to my understanding and vision of architecture. In my design I prefer simple and pure forms. The richness of an architectural form is not in excessive ornamentation and decorative elements, but in carefully designed details.

In the contemporary architecture MIes van der Rohe’s legacy is particularly relevant. “Less is more” could be a great slogan for sustainability. It is true that architecture greatly influences our daily lives, which means it has the power to reshape the social thinking. Sustainability often perceived as making sacrifices and giving up our convenient lifestyles. The goal of the sustainability movement should be changing people’s minds. It is possible to do more with less.

Sustainability starts from the toilet flush 

Architects should not aim earning LEED certification points, but restructuring patterns of people’s daily lives. It is crucial to realize that design doesn’t stop once a building is finished. How a building serves its occupants and how it is being used afterwards is way more important. A designer should keep in mind how a building performs. An architect’s task becomes embedding elements early in a design that will encourage occupants to make better choices and change their daily habits.

As Mies van der Rose noted, God is in the detail. These smaller details collectively form our lives. All kinds of appliances and technologies that surround us determine choices we make.

How do you use a toilet? You press a button that flushes it. It uses the same amount of water every time, whether it is needed or not. What if there are two buttons on the toilet tank? It will prompt thinking and give an opportunity to make a choice. One button uses less water per flush and depending on the necessity now you have a choice to use more or less water. If every house has such a toilet, it will significantly reduce water consumption. Moreover, providing people with a choice, even a smaller one, “forces” people to reshape their everyday habits.

Danish manufacturer Vola specializes in designing bathroom taps and personal hygiene necessity products. In Aarhus Arkitekterne-designed Round Series they have presented their “clean” design for a bathroom. All the features in the bathroom are high-tech and operate based on sensors. It helps to regulate the operation of the bathroom more efficient and prevent “irresponsible” behavior of its users. “Even better’ you’re not left wondering whose hand you’re shaking when you flush”.