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Arty lift for School Washrooms

Washroom latrine, bathroom, lavatory were all words that pointed towards a tiny, dull closet that reeked of excretory bodily functions. All that is about to change or at least part of it. Efforts are in hand to brighten the little room by introducing a decorative and artistic touch to its decor.

"Creative Design for Washrooms in Primary and Secondary Schools" is an on-campus project organised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) to upgrade school washrooms in Hong Kong through the collective efforts of artists, teachers and students. Since its launch by the end of 2003, the project has attracted teachers and students from 40 primary and secondary schools to work in collaboration with 18 local artists.

Participants from Rosaryhill School (Secondary Section) and Lok Sin Tong Yu Kan Hing Secondary School recount their involvement and contribution to the brand new washroom experience.

Green Zone

The exercise at Rosaryhill School kicked off with a competition inviting submissions about the dream washroom based on the theme of "Green Zone". A panel of judges reviewed the entries, and the selected works were put into effect by members of the school's Arts Club.

Visual artist Pow Cheuk-mei and art teachers at Rosaryhill organised members of the Arts Club into smaller groups according to different grade levels and delegated each with a specific task: forms one and two students were responsible for handicraft work; form three students were assigned the painting of wooden panels of toilet doors; the centerpiece, a wall mural, was composed by a team of forms four and six students wielding their brushes together. With help from the school carpenter in the final assembly, a washroom exuding the exotic charm and vibrancy of a tropical rainforest materialised! The subdued lighting coincidentally helped to create and accentuate an eerie, almost foreboding atmosphere of a deep forest.

Upon completion, Rosaryhill School conducted a review with participating students and artists. Students found the creative process thoroughly enjoyable, informative and stimulating, and valued the opportunity to master skills and knowledge that would be useful in the world outside the classroom. Teachers praised it as a unique collective experience which enabled them to interact with students and to foster a spirit of co-operation in executing a challenging project.

Ms Pow was particularly impressed with how quickly the students grasped the essence of the project, their level of commitment and their fascination with new ideas and challenges. Even those not participating in the project gave their thumbs-up to the refurbished washrooms, appreciating the originality of its design.

Where the Rain Forest Meets the Ocean

With a motif also inspired by nature, Lok Sin Tong Yu Kan Hing Secondary School encouraged students to come up with an environmentally friendly design using recycled materials for their washroom refurbishment project. The restrooms for girls and boys are each decorated in a different motif, one reminiscent of a forest, the other of the ocean.

In recreating the fauna of a rainforest, the boys' facility retains its blue and green shades on the walls. Toilet door panels are decorated with meticulous tree-patterned wood-carvings. The wall tilts are hand-embellished with plant specimens embedded in acrylic resin, and the collection extends to include a range of fittings including tree branches and trimmings that the students gathered earlier on. The mirrors are bordered with a garland of coloured cellophane leaves to emphasise the lush greenery of a forest.

The original pink dŽcor sets the tone for the ocean-themed restroom for girls. Individual wooden doors are embroidered with pastel blue wave patterns drawn with acrylic paint, complete with a realistic wood-carved dolphin. Three-dimensional sand paintings adorn the otherwise drab flushing cisterns and the wall tilts are animated with an array of resin marine specimens like shells and stones. Two murals take centre stage of the main doors and exterior walls of the girls' and boys' rooms carrying the theme that echoes their respective interior decor.

The newly refurbished washrooms are no doubt the result of teamwork through which the students foster a sense of belonging and a heightened awareness of environmental issues, such as the importance of reducing waste. The teachers said that the washrooms have become such a hype that even old graduates return to take snapshots of the new attraction!

The 40 Schools of the Project: