(no subject)

[gfish]

Dear architects,

Bathroom doors should open out, not in. I have remarkably little desire to use a handle previously touched by someone I just watched not wash their hands. Much better to simply push open the door with my shoulder. And I shouldn't have to point this out, but stall doors should do likewise. No one wants to straddle a toilet just to get the door closed. It's because of things like this that we all make fun of you. Function first, then form.

Sincerely, gfish

Comments

[dymaxion.livejournal.com]

I think that what divides architecture from sculpture is the possibility of good examples of each supporting that division; sculpture, normally being functionless or close to it, readily supports that division. Architecture, good architecture, cannot.

I agree with you, but...

[avicado.livejournal.com]

...here's a tip.

Keep the paper towel you use to dry your hands, and grip the door handle with it to open the door. Use your l33t basketball skills to toss the crumpled-up paper towel ball into the garbage a few feet away while holding the door open with your foot, then exit.

Similar trick for the bathroom stall, except use toilet paper. Or don't, since you're about to wash your hands anyway, right?

If you're in one of those "new-fangled" bathrooms with the air-blow-dryer (and other auto-sensing devices), wait for someone else to open the door. Amuse yourself in the meantime by seeing how many faucets and dryers you can simultaneously have running by waving your hand under them & zipping to the next one.

Re: I agree with you, but...

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

That's what I do, as does everyone else at work. For much of the year I'm wearing long-sleeved shirts or hoodies, and I pull those over my hands when I have to touch something of dubious cleanliness.

Re: I agree with you, but...

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

...but then your sleeve is dirty! Nothing like carrying the contamination with you all day long...

Re: I agree with you, but...

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

But I *know* it's dirty, and I don't touch my sleeve. It's like disposable gloves.

[airlinepilot.livejournal.com]

It amazes me that airport managers still haven't clued into the fact that if you have a roller bag of ANY size, it's almost impossible to close the door if it's INSIDE the stall.

Most of SeaTac's restroom stall doors open outward...

[beaq.livejournal.com]

Do they now? Huh. It'll be interesting to see if that has any negative consequences. But hooray. I've either not used the restrooms there, not used them since they changed (?), or simply didn't notice hard enough to remember.

[airlinepilot.livejournal.com]

Well, I only know about the men's rooms. No idea what's in the women's rooms.

Long time ago stall doors all opened out, like starting gates at a horse track. Don't know when / why they changed direction.

[beaq.livejournal.com]

I expect that it's an example of function over function. As for stalls, traffic flow (also consider where the door ends up hanging as the hinges loosen), fire codes, privacy, cost, and tradition/habit probably all have a say. As for entrance doors, many public facilities use labyrinth entrances these days.

This is a common frustration, but I don't think it's about architectural arrogance.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

It's my understanding that most building codes require doors to open inwards, because a person walking past the door might get hit by the door opening unexpectedly, whereas a person inside the room presumably expects the door to open, and is most likely to be the one opening it.

[stolen-tea.livejournal.com]

I have hated this for years. A bright spot is that handicap stall doors open outwards, so if no one happens to need them and you don't feel guilty, you can duck inside. And they have plenty of room to stash stuff, too.

[filkferengi]

OED worth of WORD.