Getting to bottom of toilet design
In the afterflush of World Toilet Day, we plumb the depths of all things, um, sanitary. Here Masood Boomgaard looks at the history – and evolution – of the toilet Lavish loos flushed with success
THE flush toilet is an entity of modern life we take for granted. Few of us give much thought to its design and engineering – apart from being grateful for its existence.
It’s only when you delve into the history of the toilet that you’re able to understand the significance of today’s flush toilet.
Such is the importance of the modern loo that Dutch architect and architectural Professor RemKoolhaas considers it to be the “ultimate” architectural element, “the fundamental zone of interaction on the most intimate level”.
It was invented in 1596 by Sir John Harrington, but the concept did not catch on until much later. People continued to use outhouses, chamber pots, cesspits and holes in the ground. It was also socially acceptable to defecate publicly until the 19th century.
In 1775, Alexander Cumming patented a flushing toilet and Joseph Bramah improved on the design in 1778. Flushing toilets inside homes only became a common feature in around 1851.
Thomas Crapper (who died in 1910) was a plumber who founded Thomas Crapper & Co in London. Contrary to widespread misconceptions, Crapper did not invent the flush toilet. He did, however, do much to increase the popularity of the toilet, and developed some important related inventions, such as the ballcock.
Historians believe that people were initially horrified by the idea of having a toilet in the home, preferring that it be situated further away from the living quarters.
While modern drainage systems were only developed in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, archaeological evidence suggests that ancient civilisations experimented with drainage-based toilet systems thousands of years ago.
In Ancient Egypt the wealthy had bathrooms and toilets in their homes. The seats were usually made from limestone. Less affluent members of society used wooden stools with holes and a container of sand underneath.
In the Indus Valley, inhabitants of the area between 2600BC and 1900BC built streets on a grid pattern with a sewer network dug underneath. It is believed that toilets were flushed with water.
Around the same time the Minoans built drainage systems on Crete. Streets were built on a grid pattern and networks of sewers were dug under them. Toilets were flushed with water.
The Romans built a more intricate sewage system designed to collect rainwater and sewage. While some homes had private toilets there were also public lavatories – stone seats next to each other. Sticks with sponges at the end were used for self-cleaning purposes.
But despite their availability, many still used the street.
The Middle Ages saw the wide use of chamber pots and outhouses. In many instances chamber pots were emptied out on to the street, leading to the spread of disease.
It wasn’t until the 11th century that bathrooms became an integrated part of castles and homes. Early bathrooms included bottomless bays. In castles, waste dropped into moats or on to the ground.
While flushing toilets as we know them started to emerge in the 18th century, they were a luxury at first and only became common in the 19th century. Around the same time the earth closet was in use, a box of granulated clay over a pan. When you pulled a lever, clay covered the pan’s contents.
It was only at the dawn of the 20th century that flushing toilets replaced all other designs. Pans were made of porcelain in the 19th century and some decorated. Seats were wood and cisterns were emptied by pulling a chain.
According to website histories.org, the first modern public lavatory, with flushing toilets opened in London in 1852. Toilet paper went on sale in the US in 1857. It was initially sold in sheets, then in rolls in 1890. Soft toilet paper was available in 1942.
Various designs for “space” toilets have also been developed as space exploration has become more common. IF YOU had a few extra million rand to burn, a fancy toilet would probably be at the bottom of the list of things you wanted.
For some, however, spending on a luxurious commode is a worthy investment.
We highlight a few of the world’s most expensive and fanciest toilets.
First, it’s interesting to note that the world’s most expensive toilet is, in fact, not on earth, but in outer space, and costs an impressive $19 million (R207m).
It was built by the International Space Station in 2008, and has leg braces to keep the astronauts in position. It also contains special fans that suck all of the waste into a septic tank.
The waste then goes through a very advanced filter which extracts water from the waste and purifies it for drinking.
The “Dagobert” Wooden Toilet Throne by Herbeau (R160 000), named after King Dagobert, the last ruler of the Merovingian dynasty in 8th-century France, has everything a luxury-loving person expects. The five-foottall throne-like toilet plays music and has candleholders and an ashtray.
Solid-gold loos are also popular. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia gifted a toilet and fixtures made completely from gold to his daughter when she was married.
There is also a 24-carat solid-gold toilet owned by the Hang Fung Gold Technology Group, which is available for public viewing.
The Swarovski-studded toilet at $75 000 is available for those who want added bling in their lives.
For those despairing of ever affording these lavish loos, there are options available for the ordinary man.
The IntiMist costs $450, and can be fitted to any regular toilet. It comes equipped with warm water, a warm air blow-dryer, and a heated seat.
For the environmentally conscious, there is a Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Self-Contained Composting Toilet ($1 500), which converts waste into fertilising soil for use in the garden and doesn’t use any water.
Locally, South Africans are opting for high-end but affordable toilets.
Mark Smith from Creative Bathrooms in Gillitts said the mechanism of the toilet system was the most expensive part, and cost between R5 000 and R6 000. He said the toilet itself could cost between R3 500 and R4 000.
“A good toilet can set you back about R10 000. The market is varied – people are buying toilets across the board. We have seen a trend of people opting for toilets mounted on the wall that flush at the press of a button. The cistern is not displayed. People want toilets that look high-end, but are affordable.”
Farzana Suleman, retail sales consultant for Geberit Southern Africa, said the toilet was a key part of a home, with toilet technology growing in “leaps and bounds”.
“The large part of emerging technology concentrates on what is sustainable and water-saving, yet still attractive to the consumer.
“The toilet has become a showpiece in the bathroom, and has a multitude of functions. There are even electronic options.”
One of the many products they offer is the Geberit DuoFresh toilet with proven odour extraction behind the wall, as well as the many concealed cistern options.