Canada-Victoria's $60k open-air Urinal

Feuer Frei! · 05-12-11, 03:17 AM

Way to go Canada!

Canada’s battle against public urination has a monument, and it stands in Victoria, B.C.
Prominently located just across the street from one of the city’s premier theatre venues stands the first of many artisanal urinals designed to rid Victoria’s alleys and alcoves of the unwanted stench of urine.
The $60,000 facility isn’t so much a bathroom appliance as a piece of public art. An automatic-flush stainless steel receptacle surrounded by a swirl of light-green tubes, it’s “an attraction in itself,” says Bruce Carter, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. Designers proudly note that it is the first municipally sanctioned open-air urinal in North America.
In 2005, public urination was reaching a breaking point in the B.C. capital, fuelled by a vibrant nightlife and one of Canada’s highest per-capita homeless populations. Bastion Square, the heart of the city’s picturesque Old Town — was getting particularly hard hit. As soon as the bars closed, the darkened square would be swarmed by revellers eager to relieve themselves before hailing a cab home.
After a call for proposals, the city chose Matthew Soules Architects, a hip Vancouver firm with a resume focused more on office interiors and art centres. “When you got to architecture school, your dream would never be to design a urinal,” says owner Matthew Soules. However, the firm relished being at the vanguard of a new North American trend.
In tandem with the new urinals, Victoria Police have increased their nighttime presence in the downtown. Bar-goers caught marking their territory are slapped with a $200 fine. Bylaws have also been revised to allow the city’s restaurants and cafes to stay open later. Traditional public washrooms have been assigned security guards to allow them to stay open 24 hours.
Other cities have shown tentative interest in Victoria’s strategy. Last October, at their annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas, the International Downtown Association even gave it their Downtown Pinnacle Award. Mr. Soules has received queries from a few cities — including Edmonton — but municipalities are keeping their distance until the full extent of Victoria’s urinal experiment is known.
The city has two more urine hotspots due for their own $60,000 urinals — and plans are underway for a more female-friendly design. Still, it’s going to take much more than a well-designed urinals to fix Victoria’s pee scourge. “Awareness and enforcement helps, but ultimately you’d have to get a urinal on every corner to really get a 100% solution,” says Michael Hill, downtown coordinator for the City of Victoria.

SOURCE

Hmm, if you ask me, the Canadians have pi%s poor aim, looks a bit wet to me in the pic.

Betonov · 05-12-11, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

Hmm, if you ask me, the Canadians have pi%s poor aim, looks a bit wet to me in the pic.

Pi** poor aim, capital pun

The urinal was designed by an artist, not an engineer, probibly forgot to ad pipes to the sewer

Torplexed · 05-12-11, 03:43 AM

Victoria B.C. has dumped, for years, tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage every day into the waters separating Washington State and Vancouver Island. I had no idea they were drunkenly fouling their own streets and parks as well.

So much for the clean, green & pristine tourism image that British Columbia always tries to promote locally.

joea · 05-12-11, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Victoria B.C. has dumped, for years, tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage every day into the waters separating Washington State and Vancouver Island. I had no idea they were drunkenly fouling their own streets and parks as well.

So much for the clean, green & pristine tourism image that British Columbia always tries to promote locally.

I had no idea, really ashamed of my home province then.

Plus a "piss" poor way of preventing the pee problem.

Wee 6 "pee" words in a sentence!

I mean to have an impact you'd have to build a lots of these and at $60000 a pop that will get way to expensive.

Besides Victoria besides being a government town (capital and all that*) is full of retirees. Just give a "Depends"---8482; subsidy.

*Though the public urination could just be drunk politicians after a piss-up in a Victoria pub.

Penguin · 05-12-11, 04:38 AM

What is a 24-hour bathroom good for when all the bars in Victoria close so damn early at night?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betonov

The urinal was designed by an artist, not an engineer, probibly forgot to ad pipes to the sewer

Actually he added the pipes, he only used them as a fence, so there were none left to connect to the sewer...

@Torplexed: Now I understand why you live at the dark side of the lagoon...

papa_smurf · 05-12-11, 04:39 AM

Beats the ones you can see in most UK cities on a night out:

Torplexed · 05-12-11, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joea

I had no idea, really ashamed of my home province then.

Plus a "piss" poor way of preventing the pee problem.

Wee 6 "pee" words in a sentence!

I mean to have an impact you'd have to build a lots of these and at $60000 a pop that will get way to expensive.

Besides Victoria besides being a government town (capital and all that*) is full of retirees. Just give a "Depends"---8482; subsidy.

*Though the public urination could just be drunk politicians after a piss-up in a Victoria pub.

To Victoria's credit they finally have addressed the issue. Waste treatment plants are due to be completed by 2016.

Quote:

@Torplexed: Now I understand why you live at the dark side of the lagoon...

The darker it is, the better...I don't want to be able to see what's floating out there.

DarkFish · 05-12-11, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

Beats the ones you can see in most UK cities on a night out:

Except that those are much cheaper, relocatable and have room for 4 people

FIREWALL · 05-12-11, 09:47 AM

At first glance I was pissed. But as an after thought. I really don't give a Crap.

Fish In The Water · 05-13-11, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

“Awareness and enforcement helps, but ultimately you’d have to get a urinal on every corner to really get a 100% solution,” says Michael Hill, downtown coordinator for the City of Victoria.

A urinal on every corner, isn’t that a lovely thought. Maybe they can just rename Victoria “the city of urinals.”

Jimbuna · 05-13-11, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

Beats the ones you can see in most UK cities on a night out:

Where's the female version?

em2nought · 05-13-11, 09:18 PM

Bangkok could use a few of those

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

Beats the ones you can see in most UK cities on a night out:

Jimbuna · 05-14-11, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Where's the female version?

Found it

papa_smurf · 05-14-11, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Where's the female version?

How would that work? and would you really want to see women urinating in the street....oh wait they already do....

Jimbuna · 05-14-11, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

How would that work? and would you really want to see women urinating in the street....oh wait they already do....

Sadly that is case now in so many of our towns and cities.

05-12-11, 03:17 AM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	Canada-Victoria's $60k open-air Urinal Way to go Canada! Canada’s battle against public urination has a monument, and it stands in Victoria, B.C. Prominently located just across the street from one of the city’s premier theatre venues stands the first of many artisanal urinals designed to rid Victoria’s alleys and alcoves of the unwanted stench of urine. The $60,000 facility isn’t so much a bathroom appliance as a piece of public art. An automatic-flush stainless steel receptacle surrounded by a swirl of light-green tubes, it’s “an attraction in itself,” says Bruce Carter, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. Designers proudly note that it is the first municipally sanctioned open-air urinal in North America. In 2005, public urination was reaching a breaking point in the B.C. capital, fuelled by a vibrant nightlife and one of Canada’s highest per-capita homeless populations. Bastion Square, the heart of the city’s picturesque Old Town — was getting particularly hard hit. As soon as the bars closed, the darkened square would be swarmed by revellers eager to relieve themselves before hailing a cab home. After a call for proposals, the city chose Matthew Soules Architects, a hip Vancouver firm with a resume focused more on office interiors and art centres. “When you got to architecture school, your dream would never be to design a urinal,” says owner Matthew Soules. However, the firm relished being at the vanguard of a new North American trend. In tandem with the new urinals, Victoria Police have increased their nighttime presence in the downtown. Bar-goers caught marking their territory are slapped with a $200 fine. Bylaws have also been revised to allow the city’s restaurants and cafes to stay open later. Traditional public washrooms have been assigned security guards to allow them to stay open 24 hours. Other cities have shown tentative interest in Victoria’s strategy. Last October, at their annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas, the International Downtown Association even gave it their Downtown Pinnacle Award. Mr. Soules has received queries from a few cities — including Edmonton — but municipalities are keeping their distance until the full extent of Victoria’s urinal experiment is known. The city has two more urine hotspots due for their own $60,000 urinals — and plans are underway for a more female-friendly design. Still, it’s going to take much more than a well-designed urinals to fix Victoria’s pee scourge. “Awareness and enforcement helps, but ultimately you’d have to get a urinal on every corner to really get a 100% solution,” says Michael Hill, downtown coordinator for the City of Victoria. SOURCE Hmm, if you ask me, the Canadians have pi%s poor aim, looks a bit wet to me in the pic. __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

05-12-11, 03:43 AM	#3
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Victoria B.C. has dumped, for years, tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage every day into the waters separating Washington State and Vancouver Island. I had no idea they were drunkenly fouling their own streets and parks as well. So much for the clean, green & pristine tourism image that British Columbia always tries to promote locally. __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

05-12-11, 04:39 AM	#6
papa_smurf Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 2,851 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Beats the ones you can see in most UK cities on a night out: __________________

05-12-11, 09:47 AM	#9
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	At first glance I was pissed. But as an after thought. I really don't give a Crap. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???