exploring the changing urban landscape - the urilift

Most major cities with an entertainment district face the issue of public urination. It is a problem brought on by the lack of public toilets and club goers relieving themselves in inappropriate places.

Here in Victoria BC local retailers are suffering the consequences (odour) that public urination produces.

The public toilet is an unsightly blemish on the urban landscape.
They are generally disliked by local residents and retailers, require an attendant during peak hours,
and are a target for vandals.

Are more public toilets the answer ? Where do we put them ?

The solution to urban public toilet design...........

"The Urilift is placed where it is needed: at hot spots in entertainment districts, for instance. Three people can use the urinals in the attractively styled stainless steel cylinder at the same time without seeing or being bothered by each other. The Urilift is only above ground when it is needed. For the rest of the time, it is completely hidden underground." via uralift.com

BENEFITS
respects the street landscape
Semi-permanent structure that can be moved if the public area is to be redesigned
Usable at the right time and the right place
Easy to operate by any attendant
These covers are designed to withstand traffic class 45 and come in 200 colours
If desired the existing paving can be used to achieve a fully integrated result - via uralift.com

Retailers and local residents hardly ever object to the Urilift, because it is only above ground during the busiest times. That makes the choice of location much less complicated. A fast-track construction procedure is possible. The Urilift can be installed quickly without causing any significant nuisance to local residents. - via urlift.com

There has been plenty media attention surrounding the Urilifts arrival to Victoria,
but when will its presence grace our downtown core and relieve the pressure being put on our local residents and retailers doorways?

Victoria's Urban Fabric

As part of a follow up to January's successful post, Landscape Fabric, I thought a mass and void study of Victoria's downtown core was long overdue.

Downtown Victoria / Johnson Street Bridge
Victoria mass + void study by Christian Barnard

Does Victoria's urban space work for you?
If not what would you like to see improved?
Where do you live and how do you feel about the design of your city's public space?
What makes a city's urban space work?

landscape fabric

I have a serious infatuation with any type of detailed drawings, urban planning and contour maps. I especially enjoyed these mass and void studies of major cities. Each metropolitan area has its own unique fabric sewn into the landscape. Like an article of clothing the fabric reveals insight to the cities personality.

London
The Mayfair and Soho districts south of Oxford Street

Barcelona
La Ramblas is the main north south promenade

New York
Mid town Manhattan south of Central Park

San Fransisco
Market St splits the central city into two grids

Copenhagen
City features a car-free zone called the Stroget

Toronto
Between Queen and College Street east of Bathhurst

Rome
East of the river Tiber that points to the Vatican

Visuals courtesy of spacing toronto