Dongseo University (DSU) Architectural Engineering students, Jin Myung Jong and Lee Jong Gi, won a gold award and a prize of two million won at the 6th Exhibition of Public Restroom Design Contest, hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Public Administration and Security.
The ceremony was held at the Press Center in Seoul on November 25, 2011. The title of the winning work was “A Leaf; Find the Path of Purification through Nature.” As indicated by the title, the public restroom motif they suggested was a leaf.
When people examine the exterior of this restroom, the roof, embodying a leaf, will be the first feature to attract their attention. It represents the photosynthesis system of a leaf. Inside, the designers applied environment-friendly elements such as functional awnings, natural lighting, and the purification of the air through the roof. The design also effectively gathers rainwater through a large slanted board; also, a recycling system uses water from the bathroom.
“We started the design by thinking about how a public restroom could be designed to function practically as scenery, just like a park in a downtown area,” explained Jin Myung Jong. “We chose to emphasize the leaf, as that provides us with clean air by undergoing photosynthesis.”
“I’m very happy to win such a great award,” exulted Lee Jong Gi. “This award motivated me to study hard. I want to design many nature-friendly buildings from now on.”