How to design Toilets Part 1

Main ideas / lessons (Part 1: Designing a toilet)

• A toilet is a small space but becomes complex due to the number of technical elements involved (plumbing, electrical, ventilation, fittings/sanitary ware) and the need to coordinate layout, finishes, and function.
• Education is often missing, causing people to waste time and make poor decisions (e.g., copying random showroom tile selections or having tiles installed without a correct overall plan).
• Designing a home toilet is often more complex than designing large commercial spaces because homes are smaller yet must accommodate many lifestyle and technical requirements (automation/TV/WiFi/video door phone connections, AC, plumbing, etc.), plus privacy and usability.

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Core methodology: “Wet area vs. dry area” planning (central theme)

Common planning mistake—and why it matters

• People often place the wash basin and then place the shower directly in the same continuous space.
• Result: the wet area and dry area separation is lost, so water spreads throughout the toilet, leading to hygiene and maintenance issues.

Key solution

• Plan the toilet so the wet area is physically/zones separated from the dry area.
• This layout rule impacts comfort, cleanliness, and durability (including issues like tile damage and other water-related problems).

How to implement wet/dry separation (as described)

• Use zoning in the plan layout:
  • Define a dry zone (where water should not reach easily).
  • Define a wet zone (shower/area that can get wet).
• Use shower containment options:
  • Best: a shower enclosure.
  • If cost/space is an issue: shower curtains or partial enclosures/fixed glass are suggested.
• Maintain separation through the door/entry flow:
  • Arrange the toilet so it doesn’t feel wet immediately when someone enters.

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Layout planning details (sizes, shapes, door positioning)

Recommended toilet sizes (guidance given)

• A typical comfortable toilet size starts around: 8 ft × 4 ft (but minimum becomes larger with the wet/dry + enclosure logic).
• With wet/dry zoning and shower enclosure logic:
  • Minimum suggested: 9 ft × 4 ft
• More comfortable options:
  • 11 ft × 12 ft (described as more luxurious)
• For larger comfort:
  • “Anything above that” is flexible based on available space.

Best shapes

• Avoid square-shaped toilets when possible.
• Prefer rectangular layouts to reduce wasted space and improve zoning.

Door position and its effect

• Door placement influences how the wash basin, shower, and WC can be arranged.
• Entry principle (for zoning):
  • When you open the door, the layout should encourage that the dry area is encountered first.
• Door width note:
  • The opening is discussed as commonly around 2 ft to 2.25 ft—which may make fitting large counter basins tight, so smaller basin/toilet scaling is recommended.

Suggested interior zoning example (conceptual)

• Arrange so the user sees/uses dry areas first:
  • Dry area near entry, then wet zone behind/next to the shower enclosure concept.
• In a one-door configuration (described):
  • Wash basin on one side (consider outside wall and ventilation position).
  • Shower next to/adjacent to the ventilation concept.
  • WC after the wash basin, with proper opening priority.

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Dressing room / privacy buffer concept (optional but emphasized)

• The speaker proposes a small “dressing room” buffer near the toilet entrance to:
  • Improve privacy (toilet not directly visible from the bedroom).
  • Improve comfort and circulation (easy dressing and movement).
• Suggested features:
  • Wardrobe
  • Dressing table + mirror
  • Optionally curtains, or sliding doors / frosted glass doors
• Ventilation within this buffer area:
  • Consider lighting and ventilation placement, since toilets often lack natural light.

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Ventilation design (natural ventilation preferred)

Ventilator placement and sizing guidance

• Ventilator position is typically on the side with the shorter exterior wall, where outside air can be reached effectively.
• Minimum ventilator size:
  • ~3 ft wide
• Suggested height:
  • 4 ft or 5 ft depending on design

What to prefer / avoid

• Avoid louvered ventilators if they’re hard to clean (dust accumulation).
• The goal: nothing should be permanently sealed—even ventilators should allow cleaning access for dust/insect control.
• Suggested solution:
  • Use top-hanging doors for ventilator openings so they can be opened for access and managed/closed when away.

If direct ventilation isn’t possible

• Use ceiling fans and ensure the toilet ceiling and finishes allow airflow.
• Ceiling strategy suggestion:
  • Prefer high-end villa-style ceiling tape, and even bubble ceiling if space/choices are limited.

Ventilator placement relative to the wash basin

• If the ventilator is placed behind the toilet, ventilator sizing might be difficult.
• If the ventilator is behind the wash basin, installing a good mirror can be problematic.
• Best practice described:
  • Place the ventilator to support ventilation while still keeping the mirror area usable.

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Shower and bathtub configuration (options and spacing)

Shower enclosure vs alternatives

• Ideal: shower enclosure (helps enforce wet/dry zoning).
• Alternatives include:
  • Curtains
  • Fixed glass partitions
  • Combination approaches

Shower/bath positioning and ventilation

• For showers:
  • Recommend a ventilation fan so the shower doesn’t become “stuffy.”
  • A “center ventilation” concept is said to improve lighting and comfort.

Bathtub sizing and requirements

• For adding a bathtub:
  • Minimum space guideline: at least ~5 ft in one dimension (space is consumed by fixing and tiles).
• When the bathroom is too small for a proper shower enclosure:
  • Shower curtain
  • Shower attachment over bath table
  • Two-in-one approach
• Alternative containment:
  • Use fixed glass instead of a full enclosure so the bathtub can function like a shower zone.
• Safety/access concern:
  • Notes about pain/slipperiness and difficulty entering/exiting a bathtub for showering alone.

Bathtub placement strategy

• Suggested layout:
  • Side bathtub with the shower on the adjacent side to keep zoning workable.
• Wet/dry allocation:
  • The center area can remain dry while side areas may become wet depending on partitions.

Bigger-luxury concepts (terrace / jacuzzi / steam)

• For luxury setups:
  • Terrace bathrooms can host:
    • a steam room (steam generator noted as becoming cheaper)
    • Jacuzzi concepts (family/large-scale use implied)
• Also noted for larger bathrooms:
  • His & Her wash basin arrangements.

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Vastu integration (how it connects to wet/dry zoning)

• The speaker states Vastu is required (presented as mandatory).
• Specific focus:
  • How toilet orientation (North/South) affects wet/dry planning.
• Method to reconcile Vastu with wet/dry zoning:
  • Build a partition/wall creating separation from the main entrance, forming a shower enclosure separation zone.
  • Include a concealed tank inside that partition/wall region.
  • Use glass above and a glass door to complete the enclosure.
• Spacing requirement mentioned:
  • Maintain a minimum gap of at least ~9 inches between the toilet and the partition/tail area (as described).
• Claimed outcome:
  • The approach keeps the dry area maintained while allowing other areas to become wet where appropriate, and it is said to satisfy Vastu.

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Summary of actionable instruction list (condensed)

• Plan layout first, then finishes later.
• Always implement zoning: keep wet area separate from dry area.
• Avoid placing the shower and basin in the same continuous unzoned space.
• Use shower control:
  • Prefer shower enclosure
  • If needed: curtain or fixed glass partition
• Select size and shape thoughtfully:
  • Prefer rectangular over square
  • Target around 9 ft × 4 ft as a baseline with wet/dry + enclosure logic
• Position the door so the dry area is encountered first.
• Plan ventilation early:
  • Prefer natural ventilation with ventilators
  • Suggested minimum ventilator size: ~3 ft wide, 4–5 ft high
  • Avoid permanently sealed louvers; prefer top-hanging doors for cleanable ventilation access
• If ventilation is difficult: use ceiling fans and suitable ceiling strategy.
• For larger bathrooms:
  • Consider a dressing room buffer for privacy and comfort
  • Consider His/Her wash basins and multiple enclosures
• For Vastu compliance:
  • Align toilet orientation and adjust zoning using partitions/walls, concealed tank placement, and glass enclosure doors to maintain wet/dry separation.

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Speakers / sources featured

• Primary speaker: an architect/designer (referred to as “I” throughout) representing their firm/office with ~20 years in the field and ~24 years since starting the firm.
• No other named speakers or external sources are clearly identified in the subtitles.