Involving pupils in social design improves students' washroom hygiene practices

摘要

Lovair's 'social' approach to designing school washrooms shows how design can become a catalyst for social change in the challenging educational sector. British statistics alone paint a grim picture of daily life for pupils across the country: 50 per cent regularly avoid going to the washroom at school, 40 per cent fear fellow pupils' behaviour in the washroom and only 40 per cent wash their hands at school. To improve these statistics, the British government's Department for Education endorsed the Open Plan Concept, which has been shown to reduce both bullying and vandalism with greater visibility. To increase visibility, the main entrance door to the washroom is often eliminated while cubicles may be outfitted with floor-to-ceiling doors and dividers.