Halve It Component:

My design project focuses heavily on the wellness pillar of our school’s framework, with a secondary link to the environment pillar.

Wellness means more than just making sure we aren't sick, it is an active ongoing pursuit of health. Emotional   health, body health and mental health.The english dictionary meaning of wellness is ‘the active, deliberate pursuit   of holistic health and well-being’. My project will not only try to help the community's health, but it will also help the community feel protected and safe.

Sustainable Development Goal:

SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing:
The Flush & Flourish meets SDG 3 because transforming our Middle School bathrooms into a comforting, happy space serves as a protective shield for your mental wellbeing. Making clean and comfortable restrooms with good vibes and energy will help alleviate stress and anxiety, stopping students from making it a place to hide out and cry. Turning our bathrooms into a bright, uplifting sanctuary, directly boosts Middle Schooler’s mental wellbeing. By adding cheerful quotes, luxurious soaps, and a cozy atmosphere, we create a dedicated space of comfort and peace, turning a room often associated with stress into a daily reliable retreat for relaxation and joy while using the toilets.

School Context:

If you look closely at our new school campus design, there is a big problem: You may notice most of our bathrooms are plain, with wood scraps and metal holding it together. It gives off a depressing and lonely atmosphere. People say toilets are only supposed to be used for its purpose, but that's the problem. A bathroom’s design can affect how students feel. A dull and unwelcoming space can make students feel uncomfortable, stressed or lonely. On the other hand, a clean and welcoming bathroom can improve students’ moods and help them feel more relaxed.

Transforming our school bathrooms with brighter colours, better lighting and more comfortable designs could have a positive effect on a student’s wellness. A more inviting environment would make students feel safer, happier and more respected. Since students use these spaces every day and most of the time it's for hiding out when you're sad. Improving them could make a small but meaningful difference in our overall school experience, changing it from being a place where you're sad into a place where you're happy, calm and welcomed.

Ancient China:

Ancient China was connected to toilets and wellness because people created early toilet systems to keep their homes and cities clean. These toilets helped move waste away from where people lived which made places healthier and more comfortable. People also used waste to help grow crops which provided food for many people. By keeping areas cleaner and supporting farming these practices helped improve the health and wellness of the community. This shows how toileting has been a focus and priority for civilisations throughout time, and should continue to be a focus and consideration, even in new buildings. 

Liveability:

Toilets enhance the liveability of a place because they help keep people clean and healthy. They give people a safe place to go to the bathroom and stop germs from spreading. Toilets also make places cleaner and more comfortable for everyone. Without toilets people would have a harder time staying healthy and keeping their surroundings clean. This is why toilets are important for a good quality of life. This also extends to considering factors around toileting in schools, particularly for adolescents, who require facilities that support their changing needs.

How might we design a calm, stress free bathroom where students feel safe and comfortable, creating a positive environment that supports student wellbeing and confidence?

Flush and Flourish is the ideal solution to our bathroom problems. By creating a specific bathroom design, many of the challenges of Middle School’s behaviour and students missing from class will be solved.

The proposed bathroom design will be dedicated to having a calm, neutral aesthetic, relaxing your muscles and putting you at ease. This will be implemented in all the bathrooms at Brown and Jolly, for both staff and students.

The colour of the bathroom walls is key. The walls should be a light pastel yellow, combining a mood boosting warmth of sunlight with a low earthy gentleness. Additionally, there will be natural plants in some corners of the room, creating a nice air system and it's also scientifically proven that plants help with stress reduction.

To support the physical changes of adolescence, there will be hygiene products provided for students to use. These will be discretely stored in the bathroom cubicle for students' comfort and privacy. There will always be a bin in the cubicle and next to the sinks so people will not leave wet towels on the floor and maintain hygiene.

In one of the bathrooms, there is a large, thick, wooden plank area that used to be urinals that has been covered. This creates the perfect space for us to utilise. On top of this, we can add extra toilet paper to ensure our supply is always stocked. We will also have natural scents such as lavender, lemon grass leaves or a natural oil to make the room smell nice, but not intoxicating.

Next, there will be a water absorbent floor mat to prevent people from slipping or making the floor a wet mess which could lead to mould and bacteria, affecting students' health. Lastly, there will be posters on walls, doors and in the toilet cubicle with feel good/important quotes, contact lists and messages that will make their day a little brighter.

The toilet space is not just a necessary room in schools, it is a vital space to support teen development, wellbeing and health. It is essential that Living School invests in this space to show their support of all students.