Masterplan @ Finham Park [1. how it started [2. research [this page] [3. choosing themes [4. designing the girls toilets [5. designing the boys toilets [6. designing M-block lobby [7. transformed: J-block Girls [8. transformed: J-block Boys [9. transformed: M-block Girls [10. transformed: M-block Boys [11. transformed: M-block Lobby [12. before & after [* PLEASE HAVE YOUR SAY!!

2a. What we think of the toilets We started by listing all the things we really don't like about the school toilets: dark; smell; people smoke in there; vandalism; pipes smashed in; broken doors; no locks; ceiling wrecked; paper on ceiling; unhygienic; they are never open; people feel intimidated and won't go in; awful toilet roll - greaseproof paper; often flooded; no soap; hand dryers don't blow strongly enough and they blow cold air instead of hot; the sinks are coming off the wall; the toilet paper holders are never filled properly and there's never enough paper; the cubicles are falling down; they are drab, dirty, greasy and grimey; they don't look nice. Then we listed what toilets should have or should be like: mirrors; colours; modern; air freshener; drinking water fountain; radio/sound; clean; space; security; smoke detectors; interesting and good lighting; more bins; pattern; more secure ceilings; lights on movement sensors; metal taps which push down; pipes boxed in; stable, colourful anti-graffitti walls; automatic taps; all-in-one sink and dryer units like Mcdonalds; disguised smoke alarms; toilets should only be locked during lessons but open at break and dinner time.

2b. Measuring up and surprise poems Next we went and had a good look at all the toilets...including getting the girls to look at the boys toilets and the boys to look at the girls toilets. We measured up and drew out a ground plan for each toilet block and also for the lobby/locker room in M-block. We also went to look at the toilets in D-block which are the newest and nicest ones in the school (because they are always locked). When we got back to the art room, Janet (artist/designer from Talking Birds) asked us to imagine ourselves back in front of something that we had seen and to write some stuff down. Although we didn't realise it, the things we wrote became surprise poems. Here are some of them:

Broken sinks, broken taps, graffited walls, blocked toilets, unemptied bins Water gushing in the pipes - Then silence, there's no-one there. Sewage, smoke, uncleanliness Need to get out Makes me feel sick I can't go to the toilet... Broken ceilings, urinals and taps Nasty tiled floor; Almost-broken hand dryer Very soft and quiet. Smoke and a weird vegetable smell Don't want to touch - sticky and wet; I don't really want to be there, let alone use the toilet. Torn down sinks Pushed up ceilings Water in the pipes Hand dryers don't work. Revolting, sickening Don't want to touch anything Don't want something like that in our school. Vandalism, mess, graffiti, dirt and grime Not very private Smells like a wet dog Damp, cold, dirty I want to be sick A broken sink on the floor A puffed out dryer on the wall Damp smoke Too horrible and dirty Going to be sick... Empty soap dispenser Sink on the floor Random tap lurking Water in the pipes. No-one will come in - All too disgusting Blue in boys, pink in girls Hand dryers not working; Horrible smells, not clean Greasy walls Don't want to use them Cleanliness, space Flushing every few minutes Nice, neutral Warm air, working water Like a clean person! Now safe and secure.

Find out more about the project by following the links below: [1. how it started [2. research [this page] [3. choosing themes [4. designing the girls toilets [5. designing the boys toilets [6. designing M-block lobby [7. transformed: J-block Girls [8. transformed: J-block Boys [9. transformed: M-block Girls [10. transformed: M-block Boys [11. transformed: M-block Lobby [12. before & after [* PLEASE HAVE YOUR SAY!!